Compromising with China for Commercial Interest: Sudden Cancelation of Sanlih's 'Big Talk News' and Cheng Hung-i's Dismissal

On May 24, 2012, Sanlih E-Television suddenly announced the cancelation of its flagship political talk show, "Big Talk News," which had long maintained a fiercely anti-communist and anti-KMT stance, and replaced its iconic host, Cheng Hung-i. This event sent shockwaves through Taiwanese society. The real driving force behind the decision was reportedly Sanlih E-Television's management wanting to expand into the Mainland Chinese market to sell its romantic idol dramas (such as "True Love") and establish lucrative business ties with Chinese media groups. To pass Beijing's political screening, Sanlih opted for self-censorship. The incident thoroughly shattered Sanlih's long-cultivated image of "indigenous consciousness" and "defending Taiwan's sovereignty," exposing a mercenary nature where core ideological values are quickly traded off for commercial profit and RMB.