NTD AP and Taiwan Chunghwa Telecom Renew Satellite Broadcast Contract

[Ruey-lan Chang, CEO of NTD Asia Pacific]:
“On behalf of all of NTD AP’s staff, I’d like to thank Taiwan’s main and opposition parties, and the support from various channels, in helping NTD AP secure service with the ST-2 Satellite, which has state protection.”

On Tuesday, CEO of NTD Asia Pacific Ruey-lan Chang announced the renewal of its contract with Taiwan’s Chunghwa Telecom. It was signed on Monday evening. It ensures that our partner station will continue to broadcast NTD’s programming to the region, and to parts of mainland China.
After two months of negotiations and widespread support from both domestic and international calls, this outcome has been warmly welcomed.

[Zan Aizong, Freelance Journalist]:
“Whether it’s Ma Ying-jeou’s government or the telecom company, they weren’t able to reject this contract. I feel this is good. I feel this is a form of support for press freedom and universal values.”

NTD AP is known for broadcasting news that is usually censored by the Chinese Communist Party. Even with the contract renewal in hand, the station has appealed for continued support to guarantee its broadcast is free from any signal interference. This comes after NTD AP had experienced severe signal blockage in 2009 when the Chinese regime marked its 60th anniversary of rule over China.

[Lin Baohua, Political Commentator]:
“After this renewal, there will be many technical issues, especially when these are used to create problems. These issues are hard to understand, but everyone should work together and support a media like this which represents people’s voices.”

NTD AP will notify its viewers in July about how to continue watching its programs, once its signal is transferred to Chunghwa’s ST-2 Satellite in August.

– NTD TV