Taiwan's public television service is facing financial difficulties, despite the fact that the local authorities subsidize the lion's share of its budget, a report from Taipei said Monday.

Yeh Kuo-hsing, a local information official, was quoted as saying that the public television service has tried to become a TV station favoring the interests of minority groups as well as inspiring cultural awareness among the viewing public.

Since it began broadcasting on July 1, 1998, the station has focused on educational programs, documentaries, dramas, cultural programs, news forums and investigative reports, Yeh said.

While the station has proved its ability to attain excellence in programming as a commercial-free station, it has been constantly under financial pressure, the official said.

The local authorities donated 1.2 billion new Taiwan dollars (US$34.7 million) to subsidize the first year of operation, with the amount reduced by 10 percent annually in the next six years.

( April 9, 2002)