OTT services

OTT services are not regulated, although some NCC members have proposed draft amendments to the broadcasting legislation, contemplating on the extension of regulation to this area. It is not yet clear to which online content services the amendments are intended to apply nor how the provisions would be enforced against offshore operators. Chinese OTT platform iQiyi set up a webpage in traditional Chinese characters targeting Taiwanese subscribers and like Netflix, started charging them a monthly service fee for access to its content. iQyi did not establish an office in Taiwan, unlike Netflix. This is due to the fact that there is no law that requires OTT content providers to establish a branch in Taiwan.

Key developments

January saw Netflix in Taiwan, as part of its Asian extension plan. Once launched, internet users will be able to subscribe to Netflix and instantly watch a programme from the popular TV shows and movies in high-definition or even Ultra HD 4K on any Internet-connected screen. Additionally, younger viewers will find a wide selection of programming for kids. This was due to the consumer demand for more foreign movies in Taiwan. Netflix added Chinese, in both traditional and simplified characters, to cater to the Taiwanese and Chinese speaking audiences.

In April this year, Sesame Workshop, through its master licensee for content distribution in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, Thaole Entertainment, closed deals to broadcast a slate of Sesame Street programmes in 2016. Cookie’s Crumby Pictures was dubbed into Mandarin for Taiwan’s Eastern Broadcasting’s cable channel – YOYO TV.

In March, CatchPlay introduced a new on-demand service in Taiwan, featuring content from Warner Brothers, Walt Disney, NBC Universal, various independent Hollywood-based production studios and not forgetting, Asian and Chinese-language films. CatchPlay has a library of some 2,000 movies, and is charging NT$60 (US$1.81) or NT$80 for a streaming movie or NT$250 (US$7.70) a month for unlimited titles.