Goto Main Content
:::

Chapter Law Content

Title: Public Television Act CH
Category: Ministry of Culture(文化部)
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1
This Law is enacted to promote the effective development of public television, ensure that broadcast content conforms to the needs of a multicultural society, best utilize digital technology, and safeguard the citizens' freedom of expression and right to know, provide news and information services, advance the development of broadcast industry and democratic society, and enhance social wellbeing through diversified planning.
Article 2
In order to realize the objectives of this Law, the Public Television Service Foundation (referred to hereinafter as the "PTS Foundation") shall be established to operate the Public Television Service (referred to hereinafter as "PTS").
In addition to the provisions of this Law, the provisions of the Foundations Act, the Civil Code, and regulations concerning communications and related matters are applicable to the establishment, organization, and operation of the PTS Foundation.
A budget for the PTS Foundation shall be made by the government as a budgetary donation in accordance with this Act.
In addition to the aforementioned donation, the government should discuss adjusting its budget every year in line with the PTS Foundation’s operational needs, annual work plans, and medium and long-term plans.
Article 3
The competent authority for the PTS Foundation shall be the Ministry of Culture.
Article 4
The establishment fund of the PTS Foundation shall be provided by the regulatory agency with a budgetary contribution of NT$100 million, and property purchased with the budgets allocated for PTS establishment preparations in the previous years shall also be contributed, where the restrictions in Paragraph 1 of Article 25 of the Budget Law notwithstanding.
National property required for conducting the affairs of the PTS Preparatory Committee at the time of its establishment shall be provided gratis by the regulatory agency for use by the PTS Foundation, except when otherwise contributed under the preceding article. However, this provision shall not apply when there is a change in situation such that the operations of the PTS Foundation and its program productions and broadcasts no longer meet the objectives of its establishment.
Article 5
The PTS Foundation shall be established in the same location as the central government, and branch offices may be established when necessary.
Article 6
(Repealed)
Article 7
The required electromagnetic wave frequencies for PTS shall be planned and designated by the Ministry of Culture in coordination with the competent authority for over-the-air frequencies.
The aforesaid frequencies shall not be leased, loaned, or transferred.
Article 8
(Repealed)
Article 9
When it is necessary for PTS to obtain or utilize certain land to establish a branch station, transmitting station, repeater station, or relay station, the relevant government agencies shall provide assistance.
Article 10
The PTS Foundation operations shall include the following:
1. Plan and operate television channels
2. Produce and distribute broadcast content
3. Provide broadcast services that meet the needs of varied groups and locales
4. Offer international broadcast services and conduct international exchanges
5. Produce, distribute, and promote audiovisual products and publications related to broadcast content
6. Train broadcast professionals
7. Research, innovate, and promote broadcast technology and content production
8. Other operations that contribute to the objectives in Article 1.
The PTS Foundation shall establish dedicated channels via which to perform the operations listed in Subparagraph 3 and 4 and shall ensure that its budget and special funds are earmarked.
The PTS Foundation shall establish dedicated channels to perform the operations listed in Subparagraph 3 of Paragraph 1 and ensure that their operation remains independent and safeguards the subjectivity of different groups.
Article 11
Public television belongs to the entire body of citizens. It shall operate independently without interference, and shall observe the following principles:
1. Furnish complete information, fairly serve the public, and not serve profit-making objectives
2. Provide the public proper access to PTS, and especially protect the rights and interests of disadvantaged groups
3. Offer or sponsor the production and presentation of various folk arts, literature, and arts, in order to promote balanced cultural development
4. Introduce new information and concepts
5. Produce and broadcast programs that safeguard human dignity; meet the fundamental constitutional spirit of freedom, democracy, and rule of law; and maintain diversity, objectivity, fairness, and balance of different ethnic groups.
Article 12
If techniques and budget permit, the PTS Foundation shall offer complete TV reception of the same quality to viewers nationwide.
Article 12-1
Operators of cable television systems that provide multimedia content streaming services shall provide channel location free of charge and broadcast content from the PTS Foundation’s over-the-air channels, community-specific channels, and international broadcast channels. Operators may not change the format, content, or channel. Cable television system operators shall offer these as basic channels.
No costs shall ascribe to cable television system operators offering multimedia streaming services that provide the broadcasting services mentioned in the preceding Paragraph and their provision of said services does not connote copyright infringement.