TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Culture Minister Li Yuan (李遠) urged lawmakers Friday to reject proposals to cut or freeze more than NT$1 billion (US$31.5 million) in funding for Public Television Service.
CNA reported that the legislature is reviewing the central government’s 2026 budget. The proposed cuts and freezes would affect nearly half of the government funding received by the Public Television Service Foundation.
Lawmakers have also proposed removing all government funding for TaiwanPlus, the country’s English-language news and media platform. The foundation’s board has opposed the proposals, while more than 50 producers have signed a petition calling for public media funding to be protected.
Li said public broadcasters already receive limited funding compared with similar organizations in other countries. The public broadcasting system includes Public Television Service, PTS Taigi, the children’s channel PTS XS, and Chinese Television System.
He said lawmakers proposed cutting NT$2.3 billion from public television funding during last year’s budget review. Public opposition later reduced the final cut to NT$23 million.
Li said public broadcasters provide important services and promote social and cultural values. He questioned why their funding repeatedly becomes a target during legislative budget reviews.
Additional funding would allow Public Television Service to produce more high-quality programs, Li said. He added that its television dramas often set new standards for the industry.
The culture ministry receives less than 1% of the government’s total budget and must divide its limited funding among many organizations, Li said. He called on lawmakers not to reduce support for cultural programs and institutions.
