Television in Taiwan

Chinese-language television
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China · Hong Kong · Macau Singapore · Taiwan
Regulatory agency
State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film, and Television (China) Communications Authority (Hong Kong) Government Information Bureau (Macau) Media Development Authority (Singapore) National Communication Committee (Taiwan)
Censorship
China · Hong Kong · Macau Singapore · Taiwan
See also
Chinese-language TV channels

Television channels in the Republic of China, commonly known as Taiwan.

Analogue television

Analogue television of 3-free-to-air terrestrial television station and channels as:

• 10 October 1962 at 19:00 TST: 1st free-to-air terrestrial television station Taiwan Television (TTV) on VHF Channel 1 (174.250-MHz) was officially launched and initially broadcasting hours were from 17:00 until 23:00 TST, a total of six hours daily.
• 31 October 1969 at 19:00 TST: 2nd free-to-air terrestrial television station China Television (CTV) on VHF Channel 3 (186.250-MHz) was officially launched and initially broadcasting hours were from 18:00 until 23:00 TST, a total of five hours daily.
• 31 October 1971 at 19:00 TST: 3rd free-to-air terrestrial television station Chinese Television System (CTS) on VHF Channel 5 (198.250-MHz) was officially launched and initially broadcasting hours were from 19:00 until 23:00 TST, a total of four hours daily.

On 11 June 1997, two new free-to-air television channels were officially launched:

• Formosa Television (FTV), on 11 June 1997 at 18:00 TST on UHF Channel 28 (557.250-MHz).
• Public Television Service (PTS), on 1 July 1998 at 19:00 TST on UHF Channel 26 (545.250-MHz).

Taiwan terminated over-the-air analogue broadcasting on 30 June 2012, and the remainder of the analogue system ended in 2014, when the analogue cable television broadcasts were terminated.

Digital television

Digital television launched terrestrially throughout Taiwan on 1 July 2004. Currently, there are simulcasts of analogue and digital television. Taiwan plans to replace analogue broadcasting with a digital system by 2014 after the analogue cable broadcast terminated.^[1] The Republic of China Cabinet approved a measure mandating that all new televisions are to be equipped with a digital television tuner from 2006. The rule will apply to TVs measuring between 21 and 29 inches in 2007, and to sets of all sizes in 2008, the Cabinet said in a statement. To assist lower-income families with the switch to digital television, the government plans to provide NT$300 million in aid to purchase converters or for the purchase of new digital televisions.^[2] In February 2009, the National Communications Commission proposed amendments to the Cable Television Act; they include mandating cable companies to provide free set-top boxes.^[1]

HDTV

High-definition television broadcast was introduced to Taiwanese audiences with the trial run of HiHD, provided by Public Television Service.^[3]

Cable television

Cable television is prevalent in Taiwan, as a result of cheap subscription rates (typically around NT$550, or US$15 a month) and the paucity of free-to-air television, which comprises four channels. Programming is mostly in Mandarin and Taiwanese, with some English, Japanese and other foreign-language channels. Miniseries, called Taiwanese drama, are popular. There is a dedicated station for Taiwan's Hakka minority as well as the arrival in 2005 of an aboriginal channel. Almost all programs are in the original language with traditional Chinese subtitles.

The Republic of China government is pushing for a switch to digital television services in the near future - this will be provided through a set-top box and will increase the number of available channels.

List of channels

Free-to-air

In Taiwan, there are seven nationwide free-to-air television networks, as follows:

See also

• Media in Taiwan
• List of Taiwanese television series
• List of Taiwanese dramas
• Censorship in Taiwan
• Press Freedom Index

References