Taiwan’s largest telecom operator, Chunghwa Telecom, revealed 10 new content investments during its “Chunghwa Telecom Content Slate and Partnership Showcase.” The company presented the projects as a strategy to support original Taiwanese intellectual property and connect local creators with international partners.
The announcement took place at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF), an event Chunghwa has sponsored for five consecutive years. Taiwan’s Minister of Culture Li Yuan attended the showcase, where he compared Chunghwa Telecom to a pyramid. Li stated that while the company has a thriving core business foundation, he was grateful that it is also willing to invest at the top of the pyramid to support film and television professionals.
Chunghwa Telecom chief business officer and senior executive VP Lin Wen-chiyh said the company is more than just a platform operator and acts as a driving force behind the long-term development of the content industry. He added that the company plans to continue connecting funding, creative talent, and domestic and international partners to help Taiwanese content reach global markets.
The investment slate includes four scripted series: the police crime drama “Gunshot,” produced with S11 Partners and PTS Taigi TV; the family fantasy “Yesterday’s Daughter, Tomorrow’s Mother” from producer Phoebe Ma and director Hung Tzu-peng; the fantasy adventure “Guides to the World Below,” which is adapted from a popular Taiwanese comic; and the urban drama “C’est la Vie,” which focuses on food and personal growth with actress Esther Liu serving as executive producer. The company also invested in “Next Z Chef,” which is billed as Taiwan’s first cooking competition show for young people.
Film investments include the horror project “Demon of the East: Black Condo,” which is part of a cinematic universe spanning four Asian countries, and “Call of Lobster.” The latter won the Chunghwa Telecom Award at the 2024 TCCF pitching sessions and was selected for the Culture Ministry’s first international flagship cohort under its Great Voyage Project.
The company also invested in the music tour “Speak in Silence” by the Taiwanese indie band Shallow Levée. The tour is scheduled to run approximately 50 shows in Taiwan and eight other Asian countries.
In addition to project financing, Chunghwa Telecom and Chunghwa Digital Cultural and Creative have taken equity positions in two production companies: DaMou Entertainment and Horiza Creations. DaMou Entertainment has produced series such as “The World Between Us II” and “Wave Makers,” while Horiza Creations utilizes crowdfunding and community engagement to determine audience interests.
Chunghwa Telecom operates mobile and broadband networks, the MOD IPTV service, and the Hami Video streaming platform, which together have more than 3 million subscribers. The company previously backed the films “Arrested Memory” and “The Photo From 1977,” which received a combined 12 nominations at the 63rd Golden Horse Awards.
