The media supervisor did not shut the door completely however, adding that the review process would continue. It gave the green light to a sports channel, though. A film channel received the go-ahead on March 31.

Next, which publishes the Chinese-language Apple Daily and Next Magazine weekly, saw a wave of protest meet its plan to launch television stations after operating an animated Internet news service featuring graphic violence and sex. Critics feared the TV stations would offer similar content and turn the news into animation.

NCC spokesman Chen Cheng-tsang said yesterday that the reasons why the commission opposed the three planned stations during the first review last December were still present. The commission members' concerns had not been removed, he said.

Even though the review group wanted to issue a negative advice against awarding licenses, the full commission changed the ruling to a continuation of the review process, Chen said.

The NCC also found that the materials supplied by Next Media showed too many similarities between the three planned TV channels, he said.

The commission members still criticized Next Media's planned use of animation and acted reconstructions of news events as showing too little respect to members of the public and of lacking news professionalism.

The group has repeatedly clashed with prominent politicians, entertainment figures and business leaders for its alleged invasions of their privacy by publishing stories alleging financial and sex scandals.