China Times owner hits out at regulator

The NCC approved Want Want Holdings’ purchase of the China Times Group, initiated last November, but the regulator’s decision is contingent on changes in how the China-based Want Want Group will operate the Taiwan media conglomerate’s broadcast and print properties.

Included in the purchase were namesake daily China Times, weekly China Times Weekly and terrestrial China Television Co (CTV) and cable firm CTVi.

Much of the NCC’s concerns centre around the splitting of the two broadcasters’ boards and managements and keeping them strictly independent. Other stipulations were on percentage of local programming content and advertising sales. 

Want Want spokesperson Wu Ken-cheng described the NCC’s demands as "Want Want regulations" that did not apply to its competitors.