TVBS E!
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcasting |
| Predecessor | Liann Yee Production Co., Ltd. |
| Founded | September 28, 1993 in Taiwan |
| Founder | Partnership between TVB and Era Group |
| Headquarters | Taiwan , Taiwan |
Area served | Taiwan, Asia (international) |
Key people | Cher Wang (owner) |
| Products | Television broadcasting (TVBS, TVBS News, TVBS Entertainment, TVBS E!, TVBS Asia) |
| Owner | HTC Corporation Chairwoman Cher Wang |
| Website | www |
TVBS Media Inc. (), previously known as Liann Yee Production Co., Ltd. (), is a commercial television broadcaster based in Taiwan. Originally established as a partnership between Hong Kong's TVB and Taiwan's Era Group, TVB took over Era's shares in 2005 before transferring its ownership to HTC Corporation Chairwoman Cher Wang.
By 2019, TVBS managed a portfolio of four domestic channels alongside one international outlet: the primary channel TVBS; the round-the-clock news channel TVBS News; the entertainment-oriented TVBS Entertainment; TVBS E! (formerly TVB8), available on the CHT MOD IPTV platform; and TVBS Asia, which serves audiences beyond Taiwan.
History
The main channel, TVBS, commenced broadcasting via satellite DTH and cable on 28 September 1993. Initially branded as "TVB Superchannel" (Chinese: Wuhsien Weihsing Tienshiht'ai ), it was part of the "Gang of Five" consortium competing with Star TV throughout Asia, alongside CNN International, HBO, ESPN International, and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The channel first transmitted through the Palapa satellite before expanding to Apstar. In 1997, TVBS introduced its international service, TVBS Asia.
As Taiwan’s pioneering private broadcaster, TVBS disrupted the long-standing triopoly held by three state-owned terrestrial stations. It also led the industry by adopting full HD production and transmission early on and was among the first to utilize 4K cameras equipped with cinema-grade lenses for its dramas, shows, and news specials.
TVBS channels
The network operates five distinct channels:
Controversy
- The head of the Government Information Office (GIO), Pasuya Yao, accused TVBS of breaching Taiwan’s media ownership regulations, which forbid foreign legal entities from holding majority shares in local satellite broadcasters. On 1 November 2005, GIO imposed a NT$1 million fine on TVBS and demanded rectification within a reasonable period. After appealing to the Executive Yuan, the ruling deemed TVBS’s ownership structure lawful and ordered GIO to rescind the penalty.
- The Bitumen duck incident (瀝青鴨事件) on 29 December 2006 caused significant harm to the reputation of duck farmers despite an apology issued by TVBS.
- In the Chou Cheng-pao Video Tape incident (周政保影帶事件) dated 26 March 2007, TVBS received criticism for broadcasting contentious footage. The NCC penalized the station with a NT$2 million fine on March 30 and required a change in general management. Subsequently, several journalists were dismissed.
See also
- List of Taiwan companies
- List of Hong Kong companies
- Taiwan Major League
- TVB
- TVB News
- HKTV
- List of Taiwanese television series