
An Empty Chair for PTS
Taiwan’s public broadcaster is caught in a political double bind: its sitting board chair has been expelled from parliament, and the opposition is blocking a replacement.

Gala Television (八大電視公司), also known as GTV, is a nationwide cable television network in Taiwan established on June 13, 1997, and headquartered at 455 Ruiguang Road, Neihu District, Taipei. According to the company’s about page, it launched initially as GTV International Communications Co., Ltd. (八大國際傳播股份有限公司), operating two channels, GTV27 (GTV One) and GTV28 (GTV Variety). It was renamed Gala Television Co., Ltd. in 2001 and established a dedicated drama channel, GTV Drama (八大戲劇台), in 2000 and an entertainment channel in 2006. The company underwent a series of ownership changes: it was acquired by MBK Partners in 2008, sold to EQT Partners in 2011, and acquired by Yung Tsai Investment Co., Ltd. (永在投資股份有限公司), a Formosa Plastics Group affiliate, in 2014. Gala Television operates five channels — GTV One (八大第一台), GTV Variety (八大綜合台), GTV Drama (八大戲劇台), GTV Entertainment (八大娛樂台), and GTV Premium (八大優頻道) — and also acts as advertising agent for additional channels including MOMO Kids TV. The company reports a staff of more than 300 and describes itself as among the top-ranked cable networks in Taiwan by penetration rate and viewership. It has received multiple Golden Bell Awards (金鐘獎), Taiwan’s top broadcasting honor, including six awards in 2012 for the drama In Time With You (我可能不會愛你).
