TaiwanPlus
 | |
| Country | ROC (Taiwan) |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | international |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Picture format | HDTV 1080i |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Public Television Service |
| Key people | Michael Yu (Acting CEO) |
| History | |
| Launched | 30 August 2021 (online service) 3 October 2022 (linear TV channel) |
| Founder | Government of the Republic of China |
| Links | |
| Website | https://www.taiwanplus.com |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| DVB-T (Taiwan) | channel 7 |
| Streaming media | |
| Official website | TaiwanPlus livestream |
| YouTube | Streaming page |
TaiwanPlus (stylized as Taiwan+) is a state-owned free English-language streaming service and international television channel based in Taiwan. It was launched on 30 August 2021 and targeted at an international audience. The platform provides international and local news, along with other programming centered on Taiwan.
History
The service was launched on 30 August 2021. It is overseen by the Ministry of Culture (MOC) and operated by the Central News Agency (CNA). The MOC first publicly expressed interest in an international streaming service in July 2020, but a proposal involving the Public Television Service (PTS) was met with backlash that led to the proposal's abandonment, over criticism that it would be a vehicle for propaganda and constitute government interference with the PTS. The decision to give the operation responsibility to the CNA was made in May 2021 and the news agency promised to run the news on TaiwanPlus independently from its other operations. Starting in June 2022, the service is under the management of PTS.
The government of Taiwan has financed the service with NT$775 million ($23 million) and the aim of the service is to curb the influence of China Global Television Network operated by Beijing and project Taiwanese soft power through an all-English-language medium.
In 2022, the documentary series Road to Legacy—about indie pop in Taiwan—was released on the service. The show has received three nominations at the 57th Golden Bell Awards. In August 2022, the National Communications Commission (NCC) announced that TaiwanPlus would be made available on local television for domestic audiences following the platform’s transfer to PTS. The official launch took place on 3 October 2022.
On November 11, 2022, TaiwanPlus's website was blocked in China and the app removed from Apple China's App Store, didn't provide further explanation on the blockage.