[quote=“shifty”]
It it just me or is this really scary? :s[/quote]
Have a little perspective, please? Scary was back when Chiang Ching-Kuo and his scumbag KMT buddies ruled the roost. Taiwanese TVs only had 3 channels on the dial. People used to be openly murdered by the government here. Your mail would be opened and phone be tapped.
Life in Taiwan today is a cakewalk in comparison.
Comrade
That is so true.
The plan to set up a media review committee called NCC has been stuck in the legislature for a while because the blue camp wants to have political parties appoint the committee members according to the proportion of seats they have in the legislature. This is of course a big joke. Far easier and less hypocritical to just have the legislature review all the media licensing. In any case that will be no less terrible than having the GIO do the job. The green camp is fighting hard against this blue plan, which now seems to be gaining some momentum because of all this howling over the GIO review.
But I am curious about what the greens have in mind. How exactly do they propose to set up the NCC or have the reviews done? Does anyone know?
[quote=“Comrade Stalin”][quote=“shifty”]
It it just me or is this really scary? :s[/quote]
Have a little perspective, please? Scary was back when Chiang Ching-Kuo and his scumbag KMT buddies ruled the roost. Taiwanese TVs only had 3 channels on the dial. People used to be openly murdered by the government here. Your mail would be opened and phone be tapped.
Life in Taiwan today is a cakewalk in comparison.[/quote]
Granted that was then and this was now, however does that make this anyless scary?
Does the Pan Green camp actually undertsnad how a Democratic system actually works?
To say “oh well those guys were so much worse!” does not to mind excuse the actions of the present.
C Stalin you know what I mean?
I agree, but this is a power that is exercised governments in pretty much every liberal democracy. The FCC in the United States has plenty of power to punish broadcasters when they go over the line. I’d like to know two things. First, would the TV channels that are being closed down be allowed to broadcast what they do in a North American or European regulatory environment? Second, are there checks and balances in place that prevent the GIO from acting arbitrarily, as there are on the FCC in the US?
That is always a valid fear, but is there evidence of that in this case? Is the GIO moving only against broadcasters that are critical of the government?
[quote=“Jive Turkey”]
That is always a valid fear, but is there evidence of that in this case? Is the GIO moving only against broadcasters that are critical of the government?[/quote]
I’m curious too. There’s this committe of scholars set up by the GIO to review the TV stations. I haven’t seen anything in the local media - blue or green - about how this committee is set up, if and why it is biased or not biased, etc. All I’ve seen in the local media is rant, rant, rant. No meaningful discussion. Does anyone know?
Also, the GIO claims it is doing the review only as a stopgap measure before the NCC is set up. But the way the blues are driving the NCC isn’t looking very good, as I said in my previous post. I’m curious to know what proposals are on the table from the greens.
I agree, but this is a power that is exercised governments in pretty much every liberal democracy. The FCC in the United States has plenty of power to punish broadcasters when they go over the line. I’d like to know two things. First, would the TV channels that are being closed down be allowed to broadcast what they do in a North American or European regulatory environment? Second, are there checks and balances in place that prevent the GIO from acting arbitrarily, as there are on the FCC in the US?
That is always a valid fear, but is there evidence of that in this case? Is the GIO moving only against broadcasters that are critical of the government?[/quote]
True enough most Governments do exercise some form of media control but as I have said in the past at least the pros manage to hide their game. Whereas here, yet again the DPP is jackhammer subtle and clumsy as fuck.
As for checks and balances I am not really sure. I imagine the sub-committee in charge of submitting proposals has commissioned a report as to what propositions should be considered.
That should take 5 years and about 25 million N.T.
In regards to your second question:
I think that any station that has been consistently critical of the DPP will, for the next few months, think twice as the GIO gets ready for the next round of cuts.
A gun-shy form of self-censorship
This is suppose to be a free market economy on “Free China.” Why not let the mighty NT advertising dollars decide who stays in the market and who goes out of business due to poor programming decisions.
Could it be that these so call “subpar” channel did provide some entertainment value to a segment of the market on Taiwan. Perhaps not to you, but there were people watching and enjoying themselves.
But who are they to judge? I mean literally who are they. Nobody knows. What makes them experts and keepers of purity on Taiwan? There are other stations with more violations than these 7 and their license were renewed.
There is evidence that they moved against stations that refuse to participate in CSB “special interview” when Lien Chan was making his historic trip, which confirms his legacy in ROC history, to meet the compatriot leadership in the PRC.
Along with at least another eight stations that DID get their licenses renewed, so that’s that conjecture up the spout.
Sandman,
Thank you for pointing out that this was not about CSB “special interview”
After reading today’s official government news…
[quote]http://english.www.gov.tw/index.jsp?id=13&recid=108830&viewdate=0
Yao added that most of the problems in the channels whose licenses were not extended concerned illegal or false advertising, particularly about supposed cures or methods or products to reduce weight. [/quote]
I see this was all about that crappy info-mercial for the diet patch. Where there is a fat girl in the “before” photo that looks nothing like the sexy skinny girl they interview.
I must say I was also disturbed by the commerical about the “silcone bra” that suctions itself to Taiwanese women’s breast.
The wisdom of the GIO decision now so clear. Instead of going after the companies that make false advertising claims, go after the broadcasting companies.
No wonder prostitution is no longer a problem on Taiwan anymore. 
[quote]http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=27598
Sunday not to renew the licences of the seven channels, including news, movie and finance channels. Mr Hsieh cited financial problems, irresponsible journalism and the broadcast of soft porn as reasons behind the decision.[/quote]
Wow a fincance channel with financial problems and a premium movie channel with soft porn. What has the world of cable come to. Thank goodness reality tv is not popular on Taiwan yet.
[quote]http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=27598
He dismissed speculation that the decision to shut ETToday-S was taken because it appeared to report only about Democratic Progressive Party chairman Su Tseng-chang rather than Mr Hsieh. Both are possible candidates for the 2008 presidential election.[/quote]
This speculation actually makes more sense then the official government reasons.
[quote=“shifty”][quote=“Comrade Stalin”][quote=“shifty”]
It it just me or is this really scary? :s[/quote]
Have a little perspective, please? Scary was back when Chiang Ching-Kuo and his scumbag KMT buddies ruled the roost. Taiwanese TVs only had 3 channels on the dial. People used to be openly murdered by the government here. Your mail would be opened and phone be tapped.
Life in Taiwan today is a cakewalk in comparison.[/quote]
Granted that was then and this was now, however does that make this anyless scary?[/quote]
I think it all depends on ones level of paranoia. Remember, there are some who seem to believe George Bush has [color=red]666[/color] on his forehead. 
Can you imagine? Man I would actually get cable TV to watch that.
Does anybody remember that show called
[color=red] sports girl?[/color]
Where they basically got a bunch of model wanna be’s and made them cry with physical activities.
Friggin brilliant!
Taiwanese reality TV would be must see t.v.
I actually think the government needs to do more to reign in the media here. I think Taiwan is one of those places that needs more societal control than less, as long as their is a clear and transparent legal basis, and the law is applied fairly and evenly (I’m not going to hold my breath, though).
Needless to say, I would love to see the government take a more proactive role in controlling the crap that is broadcast every day on the so-called “news,” especially allowing TV cameras and reporters into hospital emergency rooms, police stations, etc. The Taiwan governing authorities are very good at cosmetic gestures, but not very good at getting to the root of certain problems, in this case the CRAP Taiwanese media.
As Elton John has said, they’re a bunch of “vile pigs.”
there is potential, but with the GIO arbitary termination of broadcasting licenses, I don’t see many people taking the risk anymore. They will just kowtow to CSB and his cronies to ensure they can broadcast another day.
I concur, I think James Soong should to assigned to run the GIO again. He’ll teach these green amateurs a thing or two about control and self-censorship.
Anyhow, enjoy the channel changes for as long as it will last … knowing the Taiwanese they are going to backtrack on the licenses very soon :s
I have HBO. I don’t watch it. You can have it.
[quote=“LittleBuddhaTW”]I actually think the government needs to do more to reign in the media here. I think Taiwan is one of those places that needs more societal control than less, as long as their is a clear and transparent legal basis, and the law is applied fairly and evenly (I’m not going to hold my breath, though).
Needless to say, I would love to see the government take a more proactive role in controlling the crap that is broadcast every day on the so-called “news,” especially allowing TV cameras and reporters into hospital emergency rooms, police stations, etc. The Taiwan governing authorities are very good at cosmetic gestures, but not very good at getting to the root of certain problems, in this case the CRAP Taiwanese media.
As Elton John has said, they’re a bunch of “vile pigs.”[/quote]
Great post Lil Buddha!
A few years back I had this great Economics Prof who was an out spoken libertarian and one of his best lectures was on how Government passes laws to protect us from ourselves.
The outrage of the students was deafening!
However, he illustrated his point this way:
When a society relies on common sence to govern its behavior one is generally amazed at how many people lack it, i.e. worker safety, public conduct.
I am often reminded of this when I see construction workers with no helmets, dangling from the fourth floor with no safety line or paint shop guys sanding paint off with no mask or eye wear.
Now if we apply this idea to what can or can not be broadcast on the public airwaves it works again. Why should we expect common sence and decency to arbitrate T.V. when they do not function at street level.
Hence the need for a unbiased 3rd party social watchdog ( I know i am laughing to) to act as a filter for the crap that seems to float here rather than sink.
I could not agree more regarding the allowance of cameras into emergency rooms. besides the fact that no life is improved by seeing that human carnage, the questions they ask these people are moronic and ignorant, " Your daughter has just been mangled in a horrible bloody car crash that killed 3 people! How do you feel?"
What the F!@# is that? 
In the past I started threads about how Taiwanese couldn’t handle democracy and freedom … some posters said I was wrong … I still think I’m right :s
So are we all in agreement that Singapore has the proper process in monitoring the airwaves?
The blue camp clearly isn’t interested in having an unbiased third party watchdog. They are demanding that all members of the future NCC must be appointed by the legislature. The greens are insisting they must be appointed by the Cabinet and ratified by the Legislature. The greens are basically following the US FCC model, where the president appoints the members and the Senate ratifies them. The blues are just going after their own short-term interest because they have a majority in the legislature now. What if they lose their majority in the next election? They clearly don’t give a damn about long-term functionality. They just want to cover their backsides for now.
Whether or not the GIO should be playing police before the NCC is set up is a more complicated question, given the GIO’s unsavory history on the one hand and the sorry state of the media on the other. But the way the blues are pushing the NCC it’s going to be far worse than what we are seeing now.