TAIWAN: Pan-green supporters to 'invest' in radio stations

A group of Democratic Progress-ive Party (DPP) supporters who work in the IT sector intend to invest in a number of radio stations to stem the influence of pan-blue radio stations

Taipei Times
Thursday, July 15, 2004

By Cody Yiu

A group of Democratic Progress-ive Party (DPP) supporters who work in the IT sector intend to invest in a number of radio stations to stem the influence of pan-blue radio stations, a Chinese-language newspaper reported yesterday.

The report indicated that Super FM 99.1, the No. 1 radio station in the Taichung area, was the first on a list of stations to take on the pan-blue stations.

The supporters plan to compete against UFO Radio and News98, two radio stations managed by former New Party heavyweight Jaw Shaw-kong. The group felt that the two stations were too supportive of the blue camp.

During the presidential election, the stations participated in the referendum debates as well as condemning President Chen Shui-bian and the DPP.

Super FM 99.1 chairman Lai Mao-chou is a long-time DPP member, having served as a National Assembly representative and in DPP headquarters in Taichung City.

Lai Ching-hsien, Lai Mao-chou's daughter and general manager of Super FM 99.1, said the report was a rumor.

"We have not been approached by anyone regarding such an investment," Lai said in a telephone interview yesterday.

no intervention

DPP Deputy Secretary-General Lee Ying-yuan yesterday also said he had been advised by "technology specialists" that the party should intervene in broadcast media management.

"The DPP will not be involved in managing any media outlets, given that political parties should not be involved with them," Lee said. "If the technology sector feels that the media might be a profitable business, people in the sector can invest off their own backs."

Date Posted: 7/15/2004