Azio TV and the Taiwan Variety Channel were fined NT$300,000 and NT$100,000 respectively by the National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday for repeatedly failing to distinguish between program content and advertisements.
Commission spokesperson Chen Jeng-chang (陳正倉) said both channels had failed a review of their programming during the second quarter of 2009 after repeated violations of Article 19 of the Satellite Broadcasting Act (衛廣法), which states that program content must maintain its completeness and be distinguishable from advertisements.
The commission later ruled that the two channels were required to rectify the matter between March 8 and May 7 last year.
Chen said the stations were also warned that they would face additional penalties if they committed further infractions during that period.
“Unfortunately, they again broke [the rules] during those two months,” Chen said, adding that both channels were fined and given another two months to address the situation.
Chen said the channels were penalized based on Article 36 of the act and each was fined differently based on their past records.
Both channels were specifically told at the quarterly review to reinforce their content and controls, Chen said, adding that if the channels failed to improve the situation, the commission could keep punishing them under Articles 37 and 38 of the act, which allows the commission to raise the fines.
“The commission can also suspend broadcasts from three days to three months or even revoke [broadcasting permits] if a violation is deemed severe enough,” Chen said.