Chung T'ien Television

Chung T'ien Television, commonly known as CTi TV, is a Taiwan-based nationwide cable television network and media brand. Its programming has included news, current affairs, entertainment, variety and international broadcasting. The network is associated with the Want Want China Times Group, a Taiwanese media conglomerate that also owns China Television. CTi TV is particularly notable for the political and regulatory controversy surrounding its former CTi News channel, whose terrestrial and cable license was not renewed by Taiwan's National Communications Commission in 2020. The business originated in 1994 as the Chinese Television Network, or CTN. At launch, CTN operated two principal services, Chung Tien and Da Di. The company went through several ownership and structural changes during the following decade. On January 30, 1997, control moved from Yu Pun-hoi to the Koos Group. In 2000, the company changed hands again, moving to the Wisdom Group, also known as the Hsiang Shan Group. That group operated China Television and reorganized CTN together with CTV Satellite under the Power TV name. The Power TV period produced several subsequent channel identities. CTV Satellite became Chung T'ien Entertainment, while CTN's Chung Tien service was divided into Power TV News and Power TV Variety. Power TV News later became Chung T'ien Information and then Chung T'ien Main in January 2004. The former Da Di service was given a degree of autonomy after the ownership transition involving He Hsin and Hsiang Shan. It later became associated with Videoland Television Network and was renamed the Videoland Drama Channel. In June 2002, Power TV was transferred from Hsiang Shan to the China Times group and adopted the Chung T'ien Television name used today. The network subsequently developed a portfolio centered on CTi News, CTi Entertainment and CTi Variety, with CTi International serving viewers outside Taiwan. CTi News became one of the group's most politically visible services and was frequently criticized by opponents for a perceived pro-China and pro-Kuomintang orientation. The network and its parent group rejected allegations that editorial decisions were directed by the Chinese government. The channel's regulatory history has been central to its public identity. Taiwan's National Communications Commission cited repeated violations involving news accuracy, verification, balance and editorial practice when it declined to renew CTi News' license in November 2020. CTi News ended its cable broadcast shortly before midnight on December 11, 2020, but continued to publish or stream programming through online channels and its own application. CTi Entertainment, CTi Variety and CTi International continued operating in their respective distribution arrangements. In May 2023, the Taipei High Administrative Court overturned the NCC's non-renewal decision. The ruling did not restore CTi News to cable distribution, and the network did not receive compensation from the government according to the referenced account. CTi TV therefore remains an active media brand, but its post-2020 presence is centered on non-news channels, international distribution and digital availability rather than the former domestic cable news service.

Chung T'ien Television was established in Taiwan in 1994 under the name Chinese Television Network, abbreviated CTN. The original operation included the Chung Tien channel and the Da Di channel. Its early history was marked by repeated changes in control and corporate structure. On January 30, 1997, ownership moved from Yu Pun-hoi to the Koos Group. In 2000, the company was acquired by the Wisdom Group, also called the Hsiang Shan Group, which at that time also operated China Television. The Wisdom Group consolidated CTN with CTV Satellite and created Power TV. Within that structure, CTV Satellite became Chung T'ien Entertainment. The original Chung Tien service was divided into Power TV News and Power TV Variety. Power TV News later changed its name to Chung T'ien Information and subsequently to Chung T'ien Main in January 2004. Da Di was treated with some operational autonomy after an ownership transition involving He Hsin and Hsiang Shan, but it eventually entered the Videoland Television Network and became the Videoland Drama Channel. In June 2002, ownership of Power TV transferred from Hsiang Shan to the China Times group. The service adopted the Chung T'ien Television name and later became part of the wider Want Want China Times Group. The network's portfolio came to include CTi News, CTi Entertainment, CTi Variety and CTi International. The domestic news service was the most politically prominent component and developed a reputation among critics for a pro-China and pro-Kuomintang editorial stance. The group disputed allegations that it was controlled or funded by the People's Republic of China. CTi TV faced a series of controversies involving reporting accuracy, source attribution, political balance and verification. In 2012, its coverage of an incident involving food being taken into a cinema was challenged by the cinema operator, which said the broadcaster had identified the company incorrectly and misrepresented the basis of its interview request. The same year, CTi coverage of an interview with Noam Chomsky connected to Taiwan's anti-media-monopoly movement was criticized for omitting relevant translation and subtitles. The station later apologized and replayed the material with corrected translation. In 2013, it mistakenly used footage of Queen Elizabeth II while reporting Margaret Thatcher's death and subsequently apologized. The controversy intensified in 2019 and 2020. Reports questioned alleged Chinese subsidies and political influence, although the group denied the allegations and the cited investigation did not substantiate the main claims. CTi TV was also criticized for using pirated footage in a report about The World Between Us. The NCC imposed multiple penalties, including a NT$1.6 million fine in 2019 and a NT$600,000 fine in 2020 for separate reporting and verification failures. The NCC stated that CTi News had accumulated 25 media-regulation breaches between 2014 and 2020, with total fines reported at NT$11.53 million. In November 2020, the NCC refused to renew CTi News' broadcast license, citing repeated violations involving bias and disinformation. CTi News ended its domestic cable transmission at 23:59 on December 11, 2020. The service continued through YouTube and CTi's own application, while CTi Entertainment, CTi Variety and CTi International continued under their available distribution arrangements. The Taipei High Administrative Court overturned the NCC's decision in May 2023, but the judgment did not reinstate the cable license or provide compensation. CTi TV remains active as a multi-channel and digital media brand, although its domestic news presence is no longer carried in the same cable format.

• 2023

  Court overturns the non-renewal decision

  [1]Chung T'ien Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  The Taipei High Administrative Court overturns the NCC decision, without restoring CTi News' cable license.

• 2020

  CTi News license is not renewed

  [1]Chung T'ien Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  The NCC refuses to renew CTi News' domestic broadcast license, and the channel leaves cable distribution in December.

• 2019

  Regulatory penalties and political-funding allegations intensify

  [1]Chung T'ien Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  CTi TV faces reporting-related penalties and public allegations concerning Chinese funding and influence.

• 2004

  Power TV News becomes Chung T'ien Main

  [1]Chung T'ien Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  The news service, previously known as Power TV News and Chung T'ien Information, takes the Chung T'ien Main name.

• 2002

  China Times takes control

  [1]Chung T'ien Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  Power TV changes ownership from Hsiang Shan to the China Times group and adopts the Chung T'ien Television identity.

• 2000

  CTN is reorganized under Power TV

  [1]Chung T'ien Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  The Wisdom Group acquires the operation and combines it with CTV Satellite to form Power TV.

• 1997

  Ownership moves to the Koos Group

  [1]Chung T'ien Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  On January 30, ownership transfers from Yu Pun-hoi to the Koos Group.

• 1994

  Chinese Television Network is founded

  [1]Chung T'ien Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  The operation begins in Taiwan as the Chinese Television Network, with Chung Tien and Da Di as its principal channels.

A Taiwanese multi-channel television network with a strong news and current-affairs identity and a perceived pro-China editorial orientation.

• Television news channel

  CTi News

  CTi News was CTi TV's principal domestic news and current-affairs service. It covered Taiwanese politics, international affairs and breaking news and became one of the group's most politically visible properties. Taiwan's NCC declined to renew its broadcast license in 2020 after citing repeated regulatory violations. The service ended domestic cable transmission on December 11, 2020, but continued to distribute content through digital platforms and applications.

• Entertainment television channel

  CTi Entertainment

  CTi Entertainment is an entertainment-oriented channel within the CTi TV portfolio. Its lineage is connected to the former CTV Satellite service, which became Chung T'ien Entertainment during the Power TV reorganization. The channel represents the network's non-news programming business and continued operating after CTi News left domestic cable distribution.

• Variety television channel

  CTi Variety

  CTi Variety is a general entertainment and variety channel associated with Chung T'ien Television. It developed from the network's variety-programming lineage, which was represented during the Power TV period by Power TV Variety. The channel remained part of CTi TV's post-2020 portfolio alongside CTi Entertainment and CTi International.

• International television channel

  CTi International

  CTi International is the group's overseas-oriented television service. It is intended for audiences outside Taiwan and operates separately from the domestic cable distribution of CTi News. Its programming extends the CTi brand to international viewers through available satellite, cable or other distribution partnerships.

• 2023

  Accusations of anti-American disinformation

  CTi was accused of broadcasting misleading claims about an alleged United States plan to destroy Taiwan.

  Source

• 2020

  Non-renewal of CTi News license

  The NCC refused to renew CTi News' license after identifying multiple violations involving alleged bias, inaccurate reporting and disinformation. CTi News stopped domestic cable broadcasting in December 2020.

  Source

• 2019

  Allegations of Chinese funding and editorial influence

  Reports and testimony alleged that CTi TV's parent group received Chinese government subsidies and that CTi TV had received funding in exchange for politically favorable coverage. Want Want China Times Group denied the allegations, and the referenced investigation found no evidence supporting the main national-security claims.

  Source

• 2019

  Use of pirated television-drama footage

  A report about The World Between Us used a pirated source and displayed a watermark suggesting that the footage had been recorded from Public Television Service.

  Source

Read more

• 2012Coverage of the anti-media-monopoly movement

  Taiwan

  During Taiwan's 2012 anti-media-monopoly campaign, CTi TV covered an incident involving Noam Chomsky and a campaign placard. Critics argued that the broadcast did not fully translate or subtitle Chomsky's comments, creating a misleading impression of his position.

  Outcome. After public criticism and complaints to the NCC, CTi TV apologized and replayed the interview with corrected translation and subtitles.

  Source

• 2020

  Domestic cable shutdown of CTi NewsOther

  Background

  The NCC declined to renew CTi News' broadcast license after citing repeated breaches of media regulations.

  Action taken

  CTi News ended its cable broadcast at 23:59 on December 11, 2020, while retaining digital distribution.

  Aftermath

  CTi Entertainment, CTi Variety and CTi International continued operating, and CTi News remained available through online services. A 2023 court ruling overturned the NCC decision but did not restore the cable license.

  Source

• 2002

  Transfer to the China Times groupM&A

  Background

  Power TV was transferred from the Hsiang Shan Group to the China Times group after earlier ownership and consolidation changes.

  Action taken

  The network adopted the Chung T'ien Television identity and became part of the media structure that later formed the Want Want China Times Group.

  Aftermath

  The transfer established the corporate ownership lineage associated with CTi TV today.

  Source

1. 1Chung T'ien Televisionen.wikipedia.org