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NCC demands Want Want
explanation
‘UNIFICATION’: The group has been accused of
compromising media independence by using its own outlets to defend its position
over controversial remarks by its chief
By Shelley Shan / Staff Reporter
The National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said it had asked Want
Want-China Broadband to brief the commission on how it handled the repercussions
of remarks by Want Want China Times Group chairman Tsai Eng-meng (蔡衍明) in an
interview with the Washington Post last month, adding that the company must
provide written information as soon as it receives an official notice from the
commission.
The media regulator made the announcement during a review of change of
management applications from 11 cable service providers previously owned by
multiple system operator China Network Systems (CNS), which was purchased by
Want Want China Broadband last year.
Chen Kuo-long (陳國龍), director of the commission’s business management
department, said the official notice would be delivered within two weeks.
Kao Fu-yao (高福堯), director of the commission’s legal department, said the
commission had asked the company to clarify a number of things, including the
Washington Post incident.
“At this point, the commission is trying to understand some basic facts and has
yet to discuss whether the company should make any substantial commitment,” Kao
said. “Based on the NCC Organization Act (通傳會組織法), the commission is charged
with preserving the independence of media, which we will consider when we review
the case.”
The Jan. 21 Post article quoted the Taiwanese billionaire as saying “unification
with China is going to happen sooner or later,” whether people like it or not.
Commenting on the decision to fire an editor at the Chinese-language China Times
for describing a top Chinese negotiator on Taiwan as “third rate,” Tsai said the
person was dismissed because the description offended people, not just the
Chinese.
In the interview with Andrew Higgins, Tsai also said he did not believe the
reports of a massacre in Tianamen Square in 1989 were true.
Last week, however, he said in a letter in the China Times that he was wiling to
apologize to the victims of the Tianamen Square Massacre if his comments
offended them, adding that his words had been “severely twisted” by the
journalist.
Media experts also criticized Want Want China Times Group for using its own
media outlets to report the Post incident, but failing to balance those reports
by including different opinions.
Kao said the case involved several media laws, including the Cable Television
Act (有線廣播電視法), the Statute For Investment By Foreign Nationals (外國人投資條例) and the
Telecommunications Act (電信法).
The commission will review the information provided by Want Want-China Times and
decide whether it should hold more public hearings on the case or take other
actions, he said.
Prior to the meeting yesterday, several university professors urged the
commission to reject the Want Want China Times-CNS deal, saying it would create
a “cross-media monster” that controls the press, TV and almost one-third of the
cable TV market.
Kao also confirmed that NCC Deputy Chairperson Chen Jeng-chang (陳正倉), as well as
commissioners Chung Chi-hui (鍾起惠) and Weng Hsiao-ling (翁曉玲), had withdrawn from
reviewing the case.
The three have yet to pursue legal action against Want Want China Times, after
the group threatened to sue them for giving it such a difficult time in
approving the Want Want Group’s purchase of China Times Group in 2009. The group
later published their photos on the front page of the China Times in a manner
resembling those of wanted criminals.
Meanwhile, the commission said it had decided to send some of the media coverage
on the altercation involving singer-actress Makiyo and her friends and a taxi
driver to the Content Review Committee, formed by media experts not affiliated
with the commission, for review.
“Some channels have repeatedly broadcast images and content reinforcing physical
and psychological violence, which could be harmful to children and teenagers and
violate regulations governing TV ratings,” it said.
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