Chunghwa Telecom Announces Ten New Content Investments Across Film TV and Music

The Slate Unveiled at the Content Showcase

On a bright morning in Taipei, Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan’s largest telecommunications provider, hosted a media event titled “Chunghwa Telecom Content Slate and Partnership Showcase”. The agenda was clear: present ten new investments that span film, television and music, and announce equity stakes in two local production houses. The company framed the initiative as a strategic push to nurture homegrown intellectual property while linking Taiwanese creators with overseas partners.

Film Projects: From Action to Art House

The film segment of the slate includes a mixture of genre pieces and auteur‑driven stories. Below is a snapshot of the announced titles.

• Gunshot – A high‑octane thriller set in the neon streets of Kaohsiung, directed by veteran filmmaker Lee Hsin‑Yao. The story follows a former police officer drawn into a cat‑and‑mouse chase after a mysterious weapon surfaces.
• Moonlit Orchard – A period drama exploring rural life in 1970s Taiwan, focusing on a family of tea growers and the social changes that reshaped their community.
• Neon Lotus – A cyber‑punk romance that blends traditional mythology with futuristic cityscapes, slated for co‑production with a Japanese studio.
• Silent Echoes – An experimental film that uses sound design as a narrative driver, scheduled for festival circuits in Europe.

All four projects will receive production funding, distribution support and access to Chunghwa’s 5G network for advanced filming techniques. The company also pledged to place the films on its streaming platform, Chunghwa Telecom, within six months of theatrical release.

Television Ventures: Serial Storytelling for a Global Audience

Six television series were introduced, each designed to appeal to both domestic viewers and international streaming services.

1. Call of Lobster – A dark comedy that follows a struggling chef who discovers a secret recipe that attracts a cult following. The series will be produced in partnership with a South Korean content studio.
2. Riverbound – A crime drama set along the Tamsui River, featuring a detective who solves cold cases using cutting‑edge forensic technology.
3. Heartbeats – A medical drama that highlights the pressures faced by nurses in Taiwan’s public hospitals, with a focus on mental health.
4. Starlight Academy – A teen series that explores the world of K‑pop training camps, reflecting the growing cultural exchange between Taiwan and Korea.
5. Legacy of the Jade – A historical epic that dramatizes the rise of the Kingdom of Tungning, blending battle sequences with political intrigue.
6. Digital Nomads – A documentary‑style series that follows Taiwanese freelancers as they navigate remote work across Asia.

Each series will be shot in high definition, with selected titles earmarked for simultaneous release on regional streaming platforms. The company highlighted its intent to use its broadband infrastructure to support real‑time post‑production workflows.

Music Initiatives: Amplifying Local Talent

Chunghwa Telecom’s music investment focuses on three distinct projects.

• Indie Fusion Festival – A live‑streamed event that brings together indie bands from Taiwan, Japan and Singapore. The festival will be hosted on the company’s digital portal and will feature interactive fan voting.
• Pop Star Mentorship Program – A talent development scheme that pairs emerging singers with established producers from the Mandarin pop market.
• Soundtrack Lab – An incubator for composers interested in scoring film and television, offering access to state‑of‑the‑art recording studios and mentorship from award‑winning musicians.

The music arm will also secure licensing deals with regional radio networks, ensuring broader exposure for participating artists.

Strategic Stakes in Production Companies

Beyond project‑by‑project funding, Chunghwa Telecom announced equity investments in two prominent Taiwanese production firms.

DreamWave Studios

Known for its award‑winning short films and a recent partnership with a European streaming service, DreamWave will receive a minority stake that includes access to Chunghwa’s cloud‑based editing suites.

Oceanic Pictures

Specializing in large‑scale historical dramas, Oceanic Pictures will benefit from a strategic alliance that provides both capital and distribution channels across East Asia.

Both companies will retain creative autonomy, while Chunghwa Telecom gains a foothold in the content creation pipeline.

Implications for Taiwan’s Creative Economy

The announced slate arrives at a time when Taiwan is seeking to diversify its export profile beyond electronics. The Ministry of Culture has emphasized the importance of cultural industries as a pillar of economic growth. By injecting capital into original IP, Chunghwa Telecom hopes to create a virtuous cycle: local stories gain production value, attract overseas buyers, and generate revenue that can be reinvested in new talent.

Analysts from the Ministry of Culture note that the government’s recent tax incentives for film and TV production align with the telecom’s strategy, potentially amplifying the impact of these investments.

International Partnerships and Distribution Outlook

Several of the projects are already linked with foreign partners. For example, “Neon Lotus” will share production resources with a Japanese animation studio, while “Call of Lobster” is set for co‑production with a South Korean content house. These collaborations are expected to open doors to platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, which have shown growing interest in Asian original series.

In addition, Chunghwa Telecom plans to leverage its extensive fiber network to provide high‑speed streaming for overseas audiences, positioning Taiwan as a reliable source of premium digital content.

Industry Reactions and Future Outlook

Local filmmakers have welcomed the move, describing it as a “welcome boost” for a sector that often struggles to secure financing. A spokesperson for the Taiwan Film Directors Association said the partnership model could set a new benchmark for private‑sector involvement in cultural production.

Critics, however, caution that commercial interests might influence creative decisions. They argue that a balance must be maintained to ensure artistic integrity remains intact.

Looking ahead, Chunghwa Telecom has indicated that the ten‑project slate is just the beginning. The company aims to expand its content portfolio annually, with a long‑term goal of establishing Taiwan as a hub for high‑quality, globally resonant storytelling.

Whether the strategy will succeed depends on the reception of the first wave of releases, the ability to attract international buyers, and the continued support from government cultural policies. For now, the industry watches with anticipation as Taiwan’s biggest telecom operator steps onto the creative stage.