In response to China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) suggesting that Taiwanese fans use mainland websites or travel to the mainland to watch the World Cup live, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) replied that Taiwanese people can watch live broadcasts on the island and criticized the TAO as 'meddling too much in others' business.'
Last Friday, Taiwan actor Lee Li-chun, who resides in Shanghai, said that searching Taiwanese TV channels did not yield World Cup football matches. In response, TAO spokesperson Chen Binhua said on Wednesday that CCTV holds the exclusive all-media rights for this World Cup in China and provides free access to the whole public. He welcomed Taiwanese to use mainland China's networks and apps to watch live broadcasts of the event, or to come to the mainland to watch the games.
MAC responded that evening by saying that for the current World Cup, Taiwanese media have acquired broadcasting rights and offer a variety of broadcasting options via TV, MOD, and streaming platforms, so Taiwanese fans can enjoy the event together without needing to use mainland China's networks or app platforms. 'TAO even has to comment on World Cup broadcasting; that's too much meddling.'
Taiwan's ELTA TV has obtained the exclusive broadcasting rights for the World Cup in Taiwan. To watch the full matches, viewers need to subscribe to paid platforms.