Focus Taiwan
Date: 10/20/2020
By Su Ssu-yun, Wen Kuei-hsiang
and Matthew Mazzetta

Taipei, Oct. 20 (CNA) Taiwan's National Communications Commission (NCC) on Tuesday invited the chairman of Chung T'ien Television (CTiTV) parent company Want Want Holdings to testify at a controversial hearing next week on the renewal of the station's broadcast license.

In September, the commission voted to hold an unprecedented public hearing on Oct. 26 to review a license renewal request submitted by CTiTV, a cable news network that is frequently critical of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

The move was assailed by critics as proof that the government is looking to close the station, effectively threatening Taiwan's media freedom, while supporters argue that the station's alleged ties to the government in China need to be fully investigated.

In a statement on Tuesday, the NCC invited Tsai Eng-meng (蔡衍明), founder and chairman of the Want Want Holdings conglomerate that owns CTiTV, to voluntarily attend the hearing, based on his extensive knowledge of the company's operations and strategy.    [FULL  STORY]