CNN and Taiwan’s Global News Channel have both submitted bids for the television channel 52 left vacant after the island’s regulator denied the license renewal of CTi News.

The National Communications Commission banned CTi’s application last week, citing the channel’s failure to uphold journalistic standards. CTi has since applied to the Taipei High Administrative Court for a suspension on the decision, and the court will hear the case next Monday.

NCC spokesperson Wong Po-tsung said it respected CTi’s legal action but its existing license would expire on Dec. 11, and the removal of the channel would continue despite the legal action.

The two broadcasters hoping to obtain CTi’s frequency include the Global News Channel run by the China Network Systems, and CNN which is run by the Dafeng Media Group in Taiwan. If CNN is moved to channel 52 from its existing channel 80, it will be the first foreign media in Taiwan to obtain a frequency considered to be within the “golden channel area.”

The NCC would review the applications in accordance with the law by seeking advice from local governments, and considering the development of the industry, consumer rights, program diversity and other public interests, Wong said. The review would take time and if a decision had not been reached before CTi’s license expiry, channel 52 could be taken offline entirely, Wong said.

NCC chair Chen Yaw-shyang had said last week that he hoped the public television service could obtain CTi’s frequency. Wong said in response that this was Chen’s personal view, and the NCC would not intervene in the business operation between channel operators and cable television.

CTi’s parent company CTiTV had earlier criticized the NCC decision and described it as being politically motivated. CTi News is often critical of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, and takes a friendlier stance towards China.

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