China Television

China Television Company, Ltd., commonly known as CTV, is a Taiwanese television broadcasting company headquartered in Taipei. It was established on September 3, 1968, by the Kuomintang, which at the time held the majority of the network. The company initially operated under the name Taiwan Daytime TV, or TDT, before adopting the China Television name in 1975. Its creation formed part of the development of Taiwan's television broadcasting system during a period when the island's broadcast media were closely connected with the political order and state institutions. CTV began trial transmissions on October 9, 1969, and formally commenced regular broadcasting on October 31 of that year. The network became particularly notable for introducing full-colour television service across Taiwan, an important technical and cultural milestone in the development of the island's television industry. Over time, its terrestrial channel became a major national platform for news, serial programming, variety shows, entertainment, and other general-interest content. The company entered a new phase on August 9, 1999, when it became publicly listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. This made CTV the first publicly listed broadcasting company in Taiwan, according to the cited reference material. Public ownership and the wider liberalization of Taiwan's media environment placed the broadcaster within a more commercial and competitive television market, alongside expanding cable and satellite services. A major ownership change followed Taiwan's media reform requirements concerning political-party control of radio and television companies. In 2006, approximately 90 percent of CTV shares were sold to the China Times media group. The transaction shifted effective control away from the Kuomintang and linked CTV more closely with the China Times media businesses, including Chung T'ien Television, commonly called CTi. Some CTV programs subsequently appeared on CTi's cable channels, creating closer relationships between the terrestrial broadcaster and the group's satellite and cable operations. CTV has historically been described as one of Taiwan's largest television channels. Its programming has included a broad general-entertainment schedule and prominent news output. The network's early-evening newscast, CTV News Global Report, has been identified in the reference material as Taiwan's most watched early-evening newscast during the period being described. The broadcaster's terrestrial portfolio has also included CTV Main Channel, CTV News Channel, CTV Classic, and CTV Bravo. CTV Bravo was launched as a high-definition terrestrial channel in 2012, while CTV Classic and CTV Bravo have previously operated under other names. CTV remains associated with the broader Want Want China Times media group and serves audiences primarily in Taiwan. Its identity combines the reach of a long-established terrestrial network with news, entertainment, archival, and high-definition channel offerings. Its history also reflects the changing relationship between political ownership, media regulation, public listing, private-sector consolidation, and editorial scrutiny in Taiwan's broadcasting industry.

China Television was founded in Taipei on September 3, 1968, by the Kuomintang, which held the majority of the network during its early period. The broadcaster was initially known as Taiwan Daytime TV, abbreviated TDT. Its establishment took place during the formative period of Taiwan's television industry, when broadcast outlets operated within a highly regulated environment and political organizations had a direct relationship with media ownership. CTV conducted its first trial broadcast on October 9, 1969. Regular broadcasting began on October 31 of the same year. The network became a significant part of Taiwan's television development and is credited with being the first channel to provide full-colour television service across the entire island. Its terrestrial service developed into a broad general-interest network carrying news, entertainment, variety programming, serial productions, and other content for a nationwide audience. The broadcaster changed its name from Taiwan Daytime TV to China Television in 1975. As Taiwan's media environment became more commercial and competitive, CTV expanded its role beyond a single terrestrial service. It built a reputation as one of the island's major television channels and became particularly associated with its news operation. The network's early-evening CTV News Global Report was described in the reference material as Taiwan's most watched early-evening newscast. CTV programming also gained exposure through relationships with affiliated and related cable services. On August 9, 1999, CTV was listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. The listing was historically important because it made CTV the first publicly listed broadcasting company in Taiwan, according to the cited source. The development represented a shift toward a more commercially organized broadcasting model while the company continued to operate a mass-market terrestrial service. Ownership changed substantially in 2006. Taiwan's media reform framework required political parties to divest control of radio and television companies. In response, approximately 90 percent of CTV's shares were sold to the China Times media group. The transaction ended the Kuomintang's majority ownership and placed CTV within a private media group with interests extending into newspapers, cable television, and satellite programming. The change also created closer operational and programming links with Chung T'ien Television, or CTi, a major Taiwanese cable programmer. Some CTV programs were subsequently broadcast on CTi's cable channels. CTV's channel portfolio has included the CTV Main Channel, CTV News Channel, CTV Classic, and CTV Bravo. CTV Classic was formerly known as CTV MyLife. CTV Bravo, previously called CTV HD, began high-definition terrestrial broadcasting on July 21, 2012. These services reflect the broadcaster's effort to organize its output across general entertainment, news, archival or classic programming, and higher-definition terrestrial distribution. The broadcaster has also faced public scrutiny because of its ownership and political context. In November 2019, Wang Liqiang, a self-described intelligence operative from the People's Republic of China who had defected to Australia, alleged that CTV received PRC funding in return for airing reports unfavorable to Taiwan's government. The Want Want China Times Group rejected the allegations. Espionage experts cited in the reference material disputed or questioned the credibility of the claims, including the possibility that they were opportunistic. The episode became part of wider debate surrounding foreign influence, media ownership, and editorial independence in Taiwan. Today, China Television remains a Taiwanese broadcasting brand associated with a long-running terrestrial network, news production, general entertainment, and related cable and high-definition services. Its institutional history traces the transformation of Taiwan's television sector from politically connected broadcasting, through public listing and media reform, to private-group ownership and multi-channel competition.

• 2012

  CTV Bravo launches

  [1]China Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  CTV launches its high-definition terrestrial channel, CTV Bravo, on July 21; the service was formerly known as CTV HD.

• 2006

  Majority ownership transfers to the China Times media group

  [1]China Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  Media reform requirements concerning political-party control lead to the sale of approximately 90 percent of CTV shares to the China Times media group.

• 1999

  Public listing

  [1]China Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  CTV is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange on August 9 and becomes the first publicly listed broadcasting company in Taiwan according to the cited reference.

• 1975

  The network adopts the China Television name

  [1]China Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  The broadcaster, previously known as Taiwan Daytime TV, adopts the China Television name.

• 1969

  Trial and regular broadcasting begin

  [1]China Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  CTV begins trial transmissions on October 9 and formally starts broadcasting on October 31.

• 1968

  China Television is established

  [1]China Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  The Kuomintang establishes China Television on September 3, with the party holding the majority stake during the network's early period.

A long-established Taiwanese general-interest broadcaster combining national terrestrial television, news programming, entertainment content, archival programming, and associated cable-channel distribution.

• Terrestrial television channel

  CTV Main Channel

  CTV's principal general-interest terrestrial service. It represents the core of the China Television brand and carries a broad mixture of news, entertainment, variety programming, serial productions, and other mass-market television content for audiences in Taiwan.

• News television channel

  CTV News Channel

  A China Television service centered on news and current-affairs programming. It extends the broadcaster's news identity beyond the main terrestrial schedule and supports CTV's role as a source of domestic and international reporting for Taiwanese viewers.

• Classic and archival television channel

  CTV Classic

  A channel focused on classic or library-oriented programming associated with the CTV catalogue. It was formerly known as CTV MyLife and forms part of the broadcaster's multi-channel offering alongside its main, news, and high-definition services.

• High-definition terrestrial television channel · 2012

  CTV Bravo

  CTV's high-definition terrestrial service, launched on July 21, 2012. The channel was formerly known as CTV HD and represents the brand's move to provide a dedicated high-definition offering within Taiwan's terrestrial television environment.

• Television news program

  CTV News Global Report

  CTV's flagship early-evening news program. The reference material identifies it as Taiwan's most watched early-evening newscast during the period described, making it a central component of the network's news identity.

• 2019

  Allegations of PRC funding and editorial influence

  In November 2019, Wang Liqiang, a self-described PRC intelligence operative, alleged that CTV had received funding from the People's Republic of China in exchange for broadcasting reports unfavorable to Taiwan's government. The Want Want China Times Group denied the allegations, and espionage experts questioned the reliability and motivation behind the claims.

  Source

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• 2012

  Launch of CTV BravoProduct launch

  Background

  CTV expanded its terrestrial channel portfolio as high-definition television became an increasingly important format.

  Action taken

  The broadcaster launched CTV Bravo on July 21 as a high-definition terrestrial channel; the service had previously been called CTV HD.

  Aftermath

  CTV added a dedicated high-definition service to its portfolio alongside its main, news, and classic-programming channels.

  Source

• 2006

  Transfer of approximately 90 percent of CTV sharesM&A

  Background

  Taiwanese media reform rules required political parties to divest control of radio and television companies. CTV had historically been established and majority-owned by the Kuomintang.

  Action taken

  Approximately 90 percent of CTV shares were sold to the China Times media group.

  Aftermath

  The transaction shifted effective control away from the Kuomintang and connected CTV with the China Times media businesses, including Chung T'ien Television. Some CTV programs subsequently appeared on CTi cable channels.

  Source

1. 1China Televisionen.wikipedia.org
2. 2China Television official websitectv.com.tw