TV station Chinese Television System (CTS) faces a fine of up to NT$2 million (US$68,240) for accidentally running several false news tickers on morning news programs on its cable channel earlier this week, according to the National Communications Commission (NCC).
An ongoing investigation into the incident conducted by the NCC has found that CTS can be held liable for violating Article 21-3 of the Radio and Television Act that radio/television programs "shall not disrupt public order," according to a report the NCC presented to the Legislature seen by CNA on Saturday.
Such a violation can result in a fine of between NT$200,000 and NT$2 million, according to the NCC report sent to the Legislature's Culture and Education Committee which has scheduled a meeting on April 25 to discuss the airing of the erroneous news tickers.
The CTS cable station ran news tickers stating "New Taipei hit by People's Liberation Army missiles" and "Vessel explodes in Taipei Harbor, facilities and ships destroyed" during the 7 a.m. news on Wednesday.
More false news tickers appeared at 9:34 a.m. and 9:36 a.m. during the news the same morning stating "Oil field discovered in the Bashi Channel," "Fist-sized hailstones fell on Taipei at midnight, downtown traffic a mess," and "Datunshan eruption."
CTS informed the NCC that the messages about a Chinese attack were used in a program recorded on Tuesday and its staff failed to reset the path resulting in those news tickers popping up, NCC said in the report.
CTS said that its staff also failed to double check the content of the news tickers before the Wednesday morning news program began, the NCC said.
The second time the news tickers were erroneously run was a result of staff failing to follow standard operating procedure, CTS told NCC, according to the report.
CTS told NCC that it would increase the number of staff working on early morning and late night shifts and ensure they work through a studio recording procedures checklist drafted following the accident, NCC said.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel