TaiwanPlus
{{Short description|Taiwanese public broadcasting company}}
{{Infobox television channel
| image = TaiwanPlus Logo.svg
| name = TaiwanPlus
| country = Taiwan
| area = international
| language = English
| picture_format = HDTV 1080i
| founder =
| owner = Public Television Service
| launch_date = {{start date and age|2021|8|30|df=y}} (online service)
{{start date and age|2022|10|3|df=y}} (linear TV channel)
| website = {{URL|taiwanplus.com}}
| terr_serv_1 = DVB-T (Taiwan)
| terr_chan_1 = channel 7
| online_serv_1 = TaiwanPlus Official Website
| online_chan_1 = [https://www.taiwanplus.com/ TaiwanPlus]
| online_serv_2 = TaiwanPlus YouTube
| online_chan_2 = [https://www.youtube.com/taiwanplus/ YouTube]
}}
TaiwanPlus is a public media company based in Taipei. Launched on 30 August 2021, it offers live streaming and an international television channel, delivering a variety of content, including news, lifestyle features, technology, travel shows, entertainment programming, cultural insights, food content, and documentaries. The platform provides access to its streaming services through its website, mobile app, and 24-hour TV channel.
History
The service was launched on 30 August 2021.{{cite news |title=TaiwanPlus video, news platform officially launched |url=https://www.taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=10&post=206941&unitname=Politics-Top-News&postname=TaiwanPlus-video%2C-news-platform-launched-in-Taipei |access-date=28 May 2022 |work=Taiwan Today |date=31 August 2021}} It is overseen by the Ministry of Culture (MOC) and operated by the Central News Agency (CNA).{{Cite web|title=Government launches new English video platform Taiwan Plus|url=https://en.rti.org.tw/news/view/id/2006024|access-date=31 August 2021|website=Radio Taiwan International|language=en}} The MOC first publicly expressed interest in an international streaming service in July 2020, but a proposal involving the Public Television Service (PTS) was met with backlash that led to the proposal's abandonment, over criticism that it would be a vehicle for propaganda and constitute government interference with the PTS.{{cite web|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4279651|title=Government media platform 'TaiwanPlus' goes live|work=Taiwan News|last=Chiang|first=Stephanie|date=31 August 2021|accessdate=5 March 2022}} The decision to give the operation responsibility to the CNA was made in May 2021 and the news agency promised to run the news on TaiwanPlus independently from its other operations.{{Cite web|title=Culture Ministry selects CNA to operate English-language video platform|url=https://focustaiwan.tw/culture/202105050008|access-date=2021-08-31|website=focustaiwan.tw|date=5 May 2021 |language=en}} Starting in June 2022, the service is under the management of PTS.{{cite web |last=Shan |first=Shelly |date=18 August 2022 |title=TaiwanPlus' TV bid approved |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2022/08/18/2003783740 |access-date=9 September 2022 |website=Taipei Times}}
The government of Taiwan has financed the service with NT$775 million ($23 million) and the aim of the service is to tell Taiwan's stories to the world through an all-English-language medium.{{Cite web|date=30 August 2021|title=Facing China 'squeeze', Taiwan launches English-language news platform|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/facing-china-squeeze-taiwan-launches-english-language-news-platform-2021-08-30/|access-date=31 August 2021|website=Reuters|language=en}}
In 2022, the documentary series Road to Legacy—about indie pop in Taiwan—was released on the service.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/tv/taiwans-indie-music-scene-takes-center-stage-in-10-part-docuseries-road-to-legacy-3140101|title=Taiwan's indie music scene takes center stage in 10-part docuseries 'Road To Legacy'|work=NME|last=Ng|first=Scott|date=18 January 2022|accessdate=5 March 2022}} The show has received three nominations at the 57th Golden Bell Awards.
In August 2022, the National Communications Commission (NCC) announced that TaiwanPlus would be made available on local television for domestic audiences following the platform’s transfer to PTS.{{cite web |last=Shan |first=Shelly |date=18 August 2022 |title=TaiwanPlus' TV bid approved |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2022/08/18/2003783740 |access-date=9 September 2022 |website=Taipei Times}}{{cite web |last1=Lin |first1=Sean |last2=Ssu-yun |first2=Su |date=August 17, 2022 |title=Government-funded video streaming service to feature on terrestrial TV |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/culture/202208170022 |access-date=15 September 2022 |website=Central News Agency (Taiwan)}} The official launch took place on 3 October 2022.{{cite news|date=3 October 2022|title=Taiwan's first English TV channel to tell its side of China story|work=South China Morning Post|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3194656/taiwans-first-english-tv-channel-tell-its-side-china-story|access-date=4 October 2022|url-access=subscription}}
On 11 November 2022, TaiwanPlus's website was blocked in China and the app was removed from Apple China's App Store, and didn't provide further explanation on the blockage.{{cite web|url=https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202211110015|title=TaiwanPlus removed from Apple's China App Store, website blocked|website=Focus Taiwan|date=11 November 2022|url-access=subscription}}
On 5 November 2024, a TaiwanPlus journalist reporting on the 2024 United States presidential election referred to Donald Trump as a "convicted felon". TaiwanPlus later took down the report in response to criticisms of the report.{{cite web | last= Watson | first= Jim |agency=AFP - Agence France Presse | title=Taiwan Video Taken Down After Reporter Calls Trump 'Convicted Felon' | website=Barron's | date=12 November 2024 | url=https://www.barrons.com/news/taiwan-video-taken-down-after-reporter-calls-trump-convicted-felon-817571c2 | access-date=16 November 2024}}{{cite web | last=Kukreti | first=Shweta | title=Who is Louise Watt? Taiwan in panic mode as journalist stirs uproar with 'very serious' comments against Trump | website=Hindustan Times | date=12 November 2024 | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/who-is-louise-watt-taiwan-in-panic-mode-as-journalist-stirs-uproar-with-very-serious-comments-against-trump-101731409779718.html | access-date=16 November 2024}} On the other hand, Shin Hung Lo (羅世宏), a Taiwanese media scholar, supported the report. He criticised TaiwanPlus for its self-censorship, which he said damaged its reputation.{{cite web |author=羅世宏 |title=羅世宏專欄：為公視和Taiwan Plus的美選報導辯護 |url=https://www.upmedia.mg/news_info.php?Type=2&SerialNo=216885 |website=Up Media |accessdate=16 November 2024 |date=16 November 2024 }}
= Timeline =
- August 2021 TaiwanPlus is established.
- August 2022 Viewership reaches an all-timepeak following then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.
- October 2022 TaiwanPlus launched its TV channel in Taiwan, accompanied by a 24/7 YouTube livestream of the channel's content.
- October 2022 Original series “Road to Legacy” wins Best Sound Design at the 57th Golden Bell Awards.
- November 2022 TaiwanPlus Live broadcast presents the special program “Decision 2022”covering the vote counting for nine-in-one elections.
- December 2022 TaiwanPlus channel has achieved a cable television penetration rate of over 90%.
- December 2022 TaiwanPlus social media platform has over 500,000 followers and subscribers.
- April 2023 An exclusive documentary on director Tsai Ming-liang, “The Pursuit of a Cinematic Dream”won the Bronze Award at the New York Film and TV Awards.
- August 2023 TaiwanPlus’s TV channel launches in the United States and Singapore.
- August 2023 Original program “The Jennie Show” wins a Silver Award for Best Asian Comedy Show at Content Asia awards.
See also
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- [https://www.taiwanplus.com/ TaiwanPlus official website]
{{Television in Taiwan}}{{World news channels}}
Category:2021 establishments in Taiwan
Category:Television stations in Taiwan
Category:Taiwan Broadcasting System
Category:English-language television stations
Category:International broadcasters
Category:Internet properties established in 2021
Category:Television channels and stations established in 2022