MEMBER PRESS RELEASE

PTS XS Officially Launches, Ushering in a New Era of Taiwanese Children’s Programming

23rd August 2024
On August 20th, PTS Taiwan officially launched Taiwan’s first cross-media, audio-visual platform exclusively tailored for children and teens, “PTS XS.”
An image of a grand mansion lit up with a PTS XS sign in front.
PTS held an opening ceremony for its new children's channel, PTS XS. Credit: PTS

This press release was originally published by PTS. It has been translated and republished with permission.

On August 20th, PTS Taiwan officially launched Taiwan’s first cross-media, audio-visual platform exclusively tailored for children and teens, “PTS XS”. To mark this significant occasion, PTS held a grand press conference on August 16th at historical landmark, the Taipei Guest House. This 123-year-old national reception venue was transformed into a magical castle for children, with the historic exterior illuminated by colorful projections. The press conference was attended by children, parents, and teachers.

At the event, Taiwan’s Vice President Louise Hsiao, Premier Jung-Tai Cho, Minister without Portfolio Shih Che, Minister of Culture Li Yuan, Minister of Education Ying-Yao Cheng, and several other legislators were present to express the nation’s commitment to Taiwan’s youth. In her speech, Vice President Hsiao mentioned that she had just participated in the national Olympic heroes’ parade at the Presidential Office in the afternoon, and was now delighted to host the nation’s future heroes—children—at the Taipei Guest House, typically used for entertaining important foreign guests. She expressed her appreciation to PTS for creating “PTS XS,” a platform through which the nation’s future heroes can connect with their own culture, grow happily, help others, change society, and face future challenges.

Read more: PTS Taiwan Holds 11th Taiwan International Children’s Film Festival

Premier Cho recalled that during his childhood, he could only watch foreign cartoons like Rocky and Bullwinkleand The Porky Pig Show. He was pleased that Taiwan finally had a dedicated channel for children in PTS XS, able to offer rich and diverse local language content. The Premier also pledged an annual investment of NT$600 million over the next four years to enable PTS XS to continue producing more diverse, in-depth, and locally-rooted children’s programs.

Lots of children sitting on the floor of a big grand room.
Children were in attendance at the grand opening. Credit: PTS

PTS Chairman Yuan-Hui Hu expressed deep gratitude for the support and encouragement that enabled PTS XS to reach this milestone. He thanked the Executive Yuan and the Ministry of Culture for their strong support in helping PTS turn dreams into reality, as well as the Legislative Yuan for backing this important initiative for the healthy development of Taiwan’s youth. Hu emphasized the importance of collaboration among all children’s content creators in creating a healthier and more comprehensive audio-visual environment for children.

Hu also expressed his hope that “from small beginnings, great things will come,” and that PTS XS will become a central force in producing children’s content in Taiwan and a vital resource for educational institutions. Most importantly, PTS XS aims to be the best partner for children in Taiwan, helping them develop a global perspective while keeping a childlike heart.

During the press conference, PTS XS also unveiled a new brand identity and IP designed by Bito, a creative team that has won the D&AD Yellow Pencil Award twice. PTS XS’s five mascot characters—”Gogo,” “Jim,” “Pizza,” “KZ,” and “Cindy”—each embody traits of different age groups, emphasizing PTS XS’s inclusive educational philosophy aimed at building emotional connections and resonance with children. The conference fully embodied this “child-first” principle, breaking traditional guest seating arrangements by giving the front row to children, with VIPs standing behind them for group photos.

PTS XS officially launched on August 20th, and can be viewed through digital terrestrial TV channels, cable TV, or online via the PTS+ streaming platform, the PTS XS YouTube channel, or the PTS+ app on mobile phones and tablets, ensuring that high-quality children’s programs are available anywhere with internet access. Through this encompassing network of platforms, PTS XS will strive to be a close companion in a child’s growth journey no matter where they are.