Taiwan’s Chunghwa Telecom Unveils 10 Content Investments, From ‘Gunshot’ to ‘Call of Lobster’

Taiwan’s leading telecom provider, Chunghwa Telecom, has introduced a slate of ten new investments aimed at bolstering original Taiwanese film, television, and music content. The announcements were made during the company’s Content Slate and Partnership Showcase at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF), an event Chunghwa has backed for five years.

The slate features four scripted series covering diverse genres: a police crime drama titled "Gunshot," a family fantasy named "Yesterday’s Daughter, Tomorrow’s Mother," a fantasy adventure adapted from a popular comic called "Guides to the World Below," and an urban drama "C’est la Vie" focusing on food and women’s personal growth, with actress Esther Liu serving as executive producer.

Beyond scripted series, Chunghwa Telecom is financing "Next Z Chef," a cooking competition show targeting younger audiences, which is described as Taiwan’s first of its kind. The slate also includes two film projects: "Demon of the East: Black Condo," a horror film linked to a multi-country cinematic universe, and "Call of Lobster," a film that received the Chunghwa Telecom Award at the TCCF 2024 pitching sessions and has gained selection for the Ministry of Culture’s inaugural international flagship cohort.

Musical ventures are part of Chunghwa’s expansion strategy. It is backing "Speak in Silence," an Asian tour by Taiwanese indie band Shallow Levée. This tour is expected to cover about 50 shows across Taiwan and eight additional Asian countries, showcasing the company’s investment in music alongside visual content.

Chunghwa Telecom’s involvement extends to equity stakes in two production companies, DaMou Entertainment and Horiza Creations. DaMou is known for producing acclaimed series such as "The World Between Us II" and "Wave Makers," while Horiza emphasizes gauging audience preferences through community engagement and crowdfunding, signaling a strategic approach to content demand.

The company’s leadership framed these investments as part of a wider effort to elevate Taiwanese original intellectual properties and foster connections between local creators and international partners. The presence of Taiwan’s Minister of Culture, Li Yuan, and Chunghwa executives underscored the importance placed on nurturing content professionals and expanding the local industry’s footprint.

Chunghwa Telecom’s existing content platform infrastructure, including mobile and broadband networks, the MOD IPTV service, and the Hami Video streaming platform, serves over three million subscribers and provides a distribution base for these new projects. This positions Chunghwa as a significant player not just in telecommunications but also in content production and distribution.

Previous Chunghwa-backed films have garnered critical acclaim, with titles like "Arrested Memory" and "The Photo From 1977" earning a total of 12 nominations at the 63rd Golden Horse Awards. This track record strengthens the company’s credentials as a content investor committed to quality and industry recognition.

Chunghwa Telecom’s strategy reflects a calculated move to diversify beyond traditional telecom services by leveraging its resources to finance and co-produce content that resonates with both domestic and international audiences. This integrated approach allows the firm to cultivate a content ecosystem that supports creators and expands market reach.

The inclusion of series spanning genres from crime drama to fantasy, alongside music tours and culinary competition shows, indicates Chunghwa’s intent to appeal to a wide range of viewer demographics and tastes. This breadth could help mitigate market risks and capitalize on multiple entertainment sectors.

Investing in companies like Horiza, which uses community-driven methods to identify audience desires, suggests that Chunghwa values data-informed content creation. Such initiatives could lead to content that is more precisely tailored to consumer trends, enhancing chances of commercial success.

By aligning with established production houses and emerging creators, Chunghwa Telecom is positioning itself as a multifaceted content investor and distributor. This may influence the Taiwanese entertainment ecosystem by providing more financing options and fostering collaborative opportunities that combine local talent with international outreach.

The upcoming projects and tours will advance over the next several months, with the Asian leg of Shallow Levée’s tour representing a tangible step toward expanding Taiwanese music presence regionally. Meanwhile, the development timelines for film and TV projects remain to be reported.

Chunghwa Telecom’s move exemplifies an increasing trend among telecom operators in Asia to act as content producers and investors, seeking to diversify revenue streams amid evolving digital consumption habits. This holistic approach may play a pivotal role in shaping Taiwan’s cultural exports in the years ahead.