•Publication Date：06/22/2011
•Source： Taiwan Today
•By Kwangyin Liu
Taiwan is planning to quadruple its annual subsidies for the production of high-quality television programs as part of an effort to foster the entertainment industry, the Government Information Office said June 22.
“A budget of NT$900 million (US$31 million) is expected to go into sponsoring development of the local television industry in 2012,” said Patrick Chen-tai Wang, director of the GIO’s Department of Broadcasting Affairs.
“At least NT$600 million will be allotted to subsidizing the production of TV programs,” he said, adding that the proposed sum is four times the average annual budget of NT$150 million.
“With digital convergence becoming ever more prevalent, content providers face the challenge of transforming their technology,” Huang Hui-chuan, an official with the department, said.
TV content producers in Taiwan have been adopting techniques for shooting high-definition digital programs, in the wake of a decision to switch the nation’s terrestrial television broadcasting system from analog to digital by June 2012, Huang said.
“As more countries are turning digital, Taiwan content producers are encouraged to comply with international standards for image quality and format, to remain competitive in overseas markets,” she added.
Taiwan-produced TV programs have registered improved sales at recent international trade fairs, bringing in US$750,000 at the Hong Kong International Film & TV Market and US$420,000 at the Cannes Film Festival, sources said.
The GIO is targeting at least US$50 million for the overseas sales of Taiwan’s TV programs at the 8th Taipei TV Festival scheduled Sept. 21 to 23, up 28 percent from last year, officials said. (THN)
