Cabinet confirms that NCC will investigate TBC’s suspension of FTV News

Описание: Premier Lai Ching-te''s cabinet spokesman has confirmed that the broadcasting watchdog, the NCC, is looking into cable TV provider TBC''s decision to take the FTV News channel off the air. He stressed that viewers'' rights would be safeguarded. Meanwhile independence groups have raised suspicions that Hon Hai executives, who recently acquired the cable provider, could be behind the incident, alleging political interference by Beijing.Independence lobby groups including the Taiwan Society held a press conference over TBC''s suspension of its FTV News broadcast. They accuse China of meddling in Taiwan''s media freedom by manipulating Taiwanese magnates.Chang Yeh-senTaiwan Society chairmanTerry Gou makes vast profits in China. Is it not a case of Terry Gou, like Shi Wen-long, being coerced or controlled by China, trying to control Taiwan''s media climate, our freedom of speech, and thus jeopardize our national security?Terry Gou and another Hon Hai executive bought TBC for an unusually low sum - 30 times less than the typical market price for cable providers. This year TBC has refused to pay FTV licensing fees, instead demanding broadcast fees from the TV network. Now some suspect there is money changing hands behind the scenes. The suspension of FTV News has been a serious violation of over 700,000 viewers'' consumer rights, which the cabinet has tasked the NCC with investigating.Hsu Kuo-yungCabinet spokesmanSome people are suspicious that political forces, or foreign forces are involved here. Of course the NCC will conduct investigations into this. But we must emphasize again that we will guarantee the rights of viewers and the rights of citizens.The Executive Yuan reiterated that all stakeholders must come to an agreement that puts viewers first. But resolving the dispute will be a real test of the NCC''s mettle.