The appointment of Kuang Hsiang-hsia as the new General Manager of Taiwan's Public Television Service (PTS) was confirmed in a board meeting last weekend. Kuang is currently the chairperson of Radio Taiwan International and used to serve as the vice president of CTV. Some media reform groups are concerned that her connections with the KMT may put the political impartiality of PTS at risk.

The PTS general manager position was decided Saturday evening at a board meeting as 11 members voted to pass the appointment of the current chairperson at Radio Taiwan International, Kuang Hsiang-Hsia.

Her resume indicates lots of experience in the field and she is a former associate professor at National Chengchi University, as well as the News Bureau Chief at RTI, and CTV Vice President, and Deputy General Manager at CtiTV.

However, media reform groups say they have misgivings about this appointment as she may have political affiliations from her previous work.

Cheng Chung-ming of PTS said that that when Kuang accepted questions from staff and the board, as to whether she was a member of the KMT she admitted this though she has no position within the party. Some believe that this could be a challenge to media ethics. Cheng said that during the DPP administration she had applied to be the general manager of CTS and has been interested in joining PTS.

She will serve with the 4th board of directors, and after the 5th board is established another search for a general manager will take place.