Local television stations develop at fast pace in Greater Malang area<\/p>\n
ID Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya<\/p>\n
The \"main room\" of \"Agropolitan Cafe\" is scattered with cables,
\nlamps and chairs. Staff move around the room and slowly tidy it
\nup. Some others paint the \"cafe\" tables and chairs so that they
\nlook nicer.<\/p>\n
\"After this work, I hope the cafe will look beautiful,\"
\nWidarngresti, a television host, told Rudy Kurniawan, the program
\ndirector of Agropolitan Cafe.<\/p>\n
Rudy, who led the set redecoration, nodded.<\/p>\n
This was part of the activities at a studio in Agropolitan
\nTelevisi (ATV) on Jl. Sultan Agung, Batu, Malang. The television
\nstation is one of five local television stations broadcasting in
\nthe Greater Malang area, which comprises Malang municipality,
\nMalang regency and the town of Batu. The other four TV stations
\nare Malang TV, Mahameru TV, Gema Nurani TV and Batu TV. According
\nto a social observer at Airlangga University in Surabaya, Henry
\nSubiakto, the development of business television in Greater
\nMalang area was amazing. \"Greater Malang is not a province, yet
\nit has five TV stations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The TV business in Greater Malang is moving at an even faster
\npace than in Surabaya, the capital of East Java province, where
\nGreater Malang is located. In Greater Malang, five local
\ntelevisions serve 3,968,000 people while some 2.6 million people
\nin Surabaya are served by the only local TV station, namely Jawa
\nTimur TV (JTV).<\/p>\n
The development of the television business in Greater Malang
\nis considered an achievement, in conjunction with National
\nTelevision Day which falls on August 24.<\/p>\n
Local television in Greater Malang began in March 2003 when a
\nbusinessman Andri Hudiono set up Batu TV. The local television
\nstation grabbed the attention of the locals as people began to
\nlook for alternative television programs. \"People have seen
\nnational TV for a long time and they need to see the alternative
\nprograms offered by local television,\" said Andri.<\/p>\n
As the presence of a local TV station was a success, other
\nbusinessmen followed suit and later four other television
\nstations were born in Greater Malang.<\/p>\n
Station Manager of Agropolitan TV, Hariyadi, said that the
\nstation positioned itself as a local government television. \"We
\npromote programs that will and are being carried out by the Batu
\nmunicipal government as we are managed and funded by the Batu
\ngovernment,\" said Hariyadi. Although it is a government
\ntelevision station, Agropolitan TV is very innovative. Out of the
\n52 programs it airs per week, some 80 percent are produced by the
\nAgropolitan TV crew. The station broadcasts between 9 a.m and
\n11:05 p.m. and has a 1,000 square kilometer coverage. \"Our own
\ntelevision programs are probably the largest compared to other
\ntelevision stations in Greater Malang,\" said Hariyadi.<\/p>\n
The programs range from programs for children, news and local
\ncultural performances.<\/p>\n
The presence of local TV stations has provided jobs for
\nlocals, as one TV station requires a workforce of at least 60
\npeople, said president director of Mahameru TV, Henny Elvandari.<\/p>\n
The number of employees, however, is much fewer than the
\nnumber in a television station that broadcasts nationwide which
\ncan number more than 1,000. The revenue from ads is also smaller
\nas the cost of a 30 second ad is between Rp 150,000 (US$15) and
\nRp 500,000, much below the cost of ads put on national television
\nwhich could cost advertisers millions of rupiah.<\/p>\n
Despite the small revenue and number of staff, the presence of
\nlocal television stations can help educate and entertain people.<\/p>\n
\"I am fond of watching programs on local television because I
\nwant to know on what is happening in my town,\" said Siti, a
\nresident of Malang regency.<\/p>",
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