HONG KONG television company has been fined over an advertisement beamed into Taiwan - the first time a local agent has been held responsible for a satellite broadcast.
A raunchy advertisement aired on TVB's Mandarin-language satellite TVBS for the striptease film Showgirls attracted a NT$600,000 (HK$169,800) fine - the largest which could have been imposed.
The action was taken two weeks ago after officials searched law books to find a way of tackling international channels and discovered they could hold local agents responsible.
It was the culmination of a number of problems with the channel, which was not subject to controls because of its status as a satellite station, said Broadcasting and Television Affairs Department section head Kent Yang Kuo-tien.
But co-operation improved after the fine was imposed, and laws to control satellite broadcasting were being introduced, he said.
The Government was also concerned about a cognac advertisement, which Mr Yang said was unacceptable because it promoted the idea consumption could bring good luck.
And a warning has been issued over a show called Famous Miss TV, sponsored by a weight-loss company, because it was unclear whether it was a programme or an advertisement, he said.
