| TaiwanPlus | |
| Country: | ROC (Taiwan) |
| Area: | international |
| Language: | English |
| Picture Format: | HDTV 1080i |
| Founder: | Government of the Republic of China |
| Owner: | Public Television Service |
| Key People: | Michael Yu (CEO)[1] |
| Launch Date: | (online service) (linear TV channel) |
| Terr Serv 1: | DVB-T (Taiwan) |
| Terr Chan 1: | channel 7 |
| Online Serv 1: | TaiwanPlus Official Website |
| Online Chan 1: | TaiwanPlus |
| Online Serv 2: | TaiwanPlus YouTube |
| Online Chan 2: | YouTube |
TaiwanPlus is a public media based in Taipei. Launched on August 30, 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. TaiwanPlus is known for its diverse team of journalists, which includes both local and international reporters. The platform provides access to its streaming services through its website, mobile app, and 24-hour TV channel.
The service was launched on 30 August 2021.[2] It is overseen by the Ministry of Culture (MOC) and operated by the Central News Agency (CNA).[3] 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.[4] 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.[5] Starting in June 2022, the service is under the management of PTS.[6]
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.[7]
In 2022, the documentary series Road to Legacy—about indie pop in Taiwan—was released on the service.[8] 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.[9] [10] The official launch took place on 3 October 2022.[11]
On November 11, 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.[12]
On November 5, 2024, a TaiwanPlus reporter reported 2024 United States presidential election, and described Donald Trump as a "convicted felon". TaiwanPlus later took down the report in response to criticisms of the report.[13] [14] On the other hand, Shin Hung Lo (羅世宏), a local media scholar, supported the report and criticised TaiwanPlus self-censored themselves that will hurt public trust of them.[15]