Network of Educational Television


The Network of Educational Television was the first television station in Taiwan under the National Education Archives of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of China. It was also a member of the Taiwan Public Radio and Television Group and the predecessor of China Television Corporation.
Due to its experimental nature and limited broadcast range, NETV is not typically cited as Taiwan's first television station. However, it holds the distinction of being the island's first non-commercial, purely educational broadcaster. NETV was eventually succeeded by today's CTS Main Channel.

History

Build-up

In 1956, during his tenure as Minister of Education, Zhang Qiyun initiated the establishment of an educational television station. Two years later, in 1958, Liu Xianyun the Director of the National Educational Archives, made a proposal to use the seventh and eighth floors of a building in Taipei City to house the television station.
In August 1961, Minister of Education Huang Jilu proposed the establishment of an educational television station at the Yangmingshan Education Conference. The conference recommended that the station be established as soon as possible and requested the Executive Yuan to approve the plan for its construction. The Ministry of Education partnered with the Institute of Electronic Engineering at National Chiao Tung University to quickly establish the new television station, and by November of the same year, the TV station was launched as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Chinese Society of Engineers.
In December 1961, the Ministry of Education outlined a detailed phased development plan for the educational television station. Once approved by the Executive Yuan, the National Education Archives began preparations for its establishment.

1960s

The Educational Television Preparatory Office was established on 1 January 1962 to develop Taiwan's educational broadcasting system. It was supported by key education and engineering figures, with technical work led by National Chiao Tung University Institute of Electronic Engineering and programming assisted by the China Television Engineering Research Institute. Funding came from the Executive Yuan's US Aid Utilization Committee and the National Science Committee for Long-term Development.
On 14 February 1962, the Fourth National Education Conference was convened at the National Museum of Art, which marked the launch of the Educational Television and Broadcasting Experimental Station. The station used a 100-watt television transmitter built by teachers and students at the Institute of Electronic Engineering at National Chiao Tung University. This experimental station covered approximately 10 kilometers and operated on channel 3. Its program schedule focused on comprehensiveness and enjoyment, with the primary objective of providing social education, while experimental teaching programs made up only 30%.
On 1 December 1963, the Educational Television and Broadcasting Experimental Station underwent a significant transformation. It was renamed the Network of Educational Television and upgraded to a 1000-watt television transmitter, once again built by the Institute of Electronic Engineering at National Chiao Tung University. The transmitting station was relocated to Yuanshan Mountain in Taipei City, extending its coverage to approximately 50 kilometers. The viewing areas included Yingge Town, Tamsui Town, Yangmingshan, Xizhi Town, Xindian Town, and Muzha, aiming to improve both audio and video clarity. Plans were also underway to establish eight additional relay stations across Taiwan, as well as one branch station each in Hualien County and Taitung County. Each relay station would be equipped with relay equipment to broadcast the main station's programs, while each branch station would use video equipment to relay these programs.
From 14 February 1962 to 30 June 1962, the Educational Television and Radio Experimental Station aired a two-hour program daily, starting at 19:30 and ending at 21:30. On 1 July 1962, the station expanded its daily programming to three hours, with broadcasts beginning at 19:00 and concluding at 22:00. Later, adjustments were made to accommodate an increase in school teaching experimental programs. As a result, NETV began airing teaching experimental programs from 13:30 to 14:30 daily, and general programs from 19:00 to 21:00.
In the spring of 1963, further advancements were made when NETV received subsidies from the National Science Committee for Long-term Development. It launched an experimental research project on television teaching in collaboration with National Chengchi University. Six elementary schools in Taipei City were selected for the experiment:
As a result, the experimental station began airing daily programs from Monday to Saturday at 12:50. Additionally, broadcasts were scheduled for 10:00, 12:50, and 16:40 every Sunday, following the introduction of additional TV series.

Later years and replacement by CTS

In 1968, a proposal from Wang Sheng, Deputy Director of the General Political Operations Department of the Ministry of National Defense, paved the way for the creation of a third TV station. This led to negotiations between the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Education, which ultimately resulted in an agreement. On 6 December 1968, Minister of Defense Chiang Ching-kuo and Minister of Education Yan Zhenxing jointly approved the expansion of the educational television station into China Television. This decision was driven by several key factors:
  1. The extension of the Republic of China's national education to nine years highlighted the issue of out-of-school youth. The Ministry of Education believed that by establishing a third TV station and creating a television network, it could effectively educate out-of-school youth through an air school.
  2. The Republic of China's National Army had successfully implemented various educational and recreational initiatives, such as patriotic education, in-camp remedial education, reserve soldier education, and employment guidance for retired officers and soldiers. However, due to the dispersed locations of military units, finding teachers was challenging. Therefore, using television to unify teaching was seen as an effective solution.
  3. The limited equipment and funds of the educational television and radio stations made it necessary to adapt and evolve in order to fulfil their mission effectively.
On 16 February 1970, the Executive Yuan made the momentous decision to invest NT$100 million in expanding the educational television and radio station into the China Culture Television Corporation, which was later renamed the Chinese Television System. In May 1970, during the 117th Executive Yuan meeting, the establishment of China Television Station, received official approval. Finally, on 31 January 1971, CTS was officially launched. With the conclusion of the fifty-ninth school year on 30 June 1971, the educational television and radio station became part of history.

Schedule example

A typical NETV schedule from Monday to Saturday, starting 1 October 1968:
Start timeMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday
12:50Test pattern and national anthemTest pattern and national anthemTest pattern and national anthemTest pattern and national anthemTest pattern and national anthemTest pattern and national anthem
12:58Schedule summarySchedule summarySchedule summarySchedule summarySchedule summarySchedule summary
13:00Advanced CalculusAdvanced BookkeepingAdvanced Mathematics: AlgebraIntroduction to EconomicsAdvanced Mathematics: AlgebraAdvanced Bookkeeping
13:20Advanced CalculusAdvanced AccountingEconomic GeographyAdvanced Mathematics: TrigonometryAdvanced AccountingAdvertising Painting
13:40Advanced CalculusBank AccountingBusiness ArithmeticsAdvanced Mathematics: GeometryBusiness ArithmeticsBank Accounting
14:00Middle Grade
Life and Ethics		Fourth Grade
Nature		Third Grade
Nature		Fifth Grade
Nature		Sixth Grade
Nature		Lower School
Life and Ethics
14:20Educational videosEducational videosEducational videosEducational videosEducational videosEducational videos
14:40Fourth Grade
Nature		Middle Grade
Life and Ethics		Fifth Grade
Nature		Third Grade
Nature		Lower School
Life and Ethics		Sixth Grade
Nature
15:00FrenchSpanishGermanFrenchGermanKids' Time
15:10Elementary EnglishIntermediate EnglishElementary EnglishIntermediate EnglishAdvanced EnglishEducational videos
15:20News and weatherNews and weatherNews and weatherNews and weatherNews and weatherNews and weather
15:30Schedule summary, sign-offSchedule summary, sign-offSchedule summary, sign-offSchedule summary, sign-offSchedule summary, sign-offSchedule summary, sign-off

The Sunday schedule was as follows:
Start timeSunday
12:50Test pattern and national anthem
12:58Schedule summary
13:00Craftsmanship
13:20Advanced Mathematics: Trigonometry
13:40Advanced Mathematics: Geometry
14:00Children's Paradise
14:20Educational videos
14:40Have Fun With You
15:00Educational videos
15:20News and weather
15:30Schedule summary, sign-off