The so-called “Public Television Service System” consists of government-funded PTS, Hakka TV, TITV, and Taiwan Macroview TV and CTS which is fully supported by advertising revenues and is still under the process of going public. Since the Public Television Act is under revision, concerns over governance and development of the PTSS require systematic analysis so as to come up with constructive suggestions for the government.
This study examines the public television systems in the UK, Japan, the U.S., and Korea to grapple with the feasible budgeting system, governance structure, and supervision mechanisms for Taiwan’s public television. In the course of eight months, the study collected data from the above four countries, and conducted in-depth interviews, focus groups, public hearings, and a telephone survey in Taiwan.
The major findings from overseas data collection include:
- The British BBC model consists of Trust and Executive Board with the former sets the course for the BBC and the latter manages the BBC.
- In Japan, members of the Board of Governors (aka trustees of the BBC) are appointed by the prime minister and approved by the Houses of the Diet.
- In the United States, although public television is marginalized by commercial television, it produces programs that commercial television is unwilling to invest, develops close connections with local communities, and demonstrates strong fundraising abilities.
- The Korean public television is supported by license fee as well as advertising revenues, a mixed model that strives to reach a balance between public values and commercial interests.
The major findings from domestic data collection include:
- It is highly unlikely to collect license fees in Taiwan. The public television will have to rely on government funding.
- To ensure the public television produces programs with public values, its budget and operation must still be supervised by the government, but officials and legislators must refrain from giving advices to particular programs. The operation of the Board of Directors of the PTS is inefficient and ineffective due to its unreasonably large size and unnecessarily complicated appointing process.
- The performance of the PTS has been improved, while CTS devotes its resources to develop a platform for local commercial television stations.
- PTS developed an index, modeled from those of the BBC and NHK, to measure its public value and created a system for the audience to make complaints.
- Findings from the telephone survey show that the respondents are inconsistent in their evaluation of the programs and their action to support public television. A majority of them approve the program quality, but are reluctant to pay license fees.
This study provides the following suggestions:
- The term “Public Television Service System” should be replaced with “Public Radio and Television.”
- Public radio and television stations should be supported mainly by government funding, which should undergo annual revision. Some public radio or television stations should be allowed to be partially supported by advertising revenues as long as they remain provide significant public value.
- The Board of Directors of the PTS sets strategy, approves top-level budgets, and appoints top executives, while the Executive Board is responsible for operational management and for the delivery of quality services to the public.
- The PTS should establish a content advisory committee, increase community service, and improve fundraising ability to raise public recognition.
This study also provides the following suggestions for the revision of the Public Television Act:
- Change the “Public Television Act” to “Public Broadcasting Act.”
- Ensure the PTS is governed by the Board of Directors and managed by the Executive Board.
- Ensure public radio and television stations are regulated by the future Ministry of Culture, while their communication behavior should be regulated by the National Communications Commission.
- Ensure the budgets of public radio and television stations are reviewed and adjusted annually. Allow some stations to be partially supported by advertising revenues as long as they continue to provide significant public value.
R&D Center
Report
