The National Communications Commission again turned down Next Media Ltd.’s application to set up TV news, information and entertainment channels Sept. 8.
The commission’s reason for rejecting the request was that content intended for the channels violated programming regulations.
“The news programs are presented in the form of animations, employing drama techniques, and do not tally with professional journalistic standards of truthful reporting,” NCC spokesman Chen Cheng-tsang said. “The proposed operational plans and sample video clips also violated the classification system for TV programs.”
“The media has a social responsibility not to broadcast programs running counter to the ethics of society,” Chen noted. “The application materials still fail to eliminate audience doubts regarding programming content,” he said.
He added that “there is a great deal of overlap in the programs planned for the three channels, and so the application was rejected.”
Next Media applied to set up five channels at the end of 2009. However, the NCC approved only its movie and sports channels in March and July, respectively.
While waiting for the go-ahead from the NCC, Next Media has been broadcasting its programs on other platforms in collaboration with other independent production companies. Currently, the organization’s news can be viewed through Chunghwa Telecom’s multimedia-on-demand service. (THN)
Write to Grace Kuo at morningk@mail.gio.gov.tw