Local TV networks told to reduce foreign programs<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Information Harmoko yesterday urged
\nall local television networks to cut down on the number of
\nforeign programs and to promote local products.<\/p>\n
In a speech during a thanksgiving ceremony to mark the 32nd
\nanniversary of the state-owned TVRI, Harmoko warned that the
\ngovernment would not hesitate to punish networks which failed to
\npromote domestic programs.<\/p>\n
Besides the foreign television programs, the criticism was
\nalso leveled at the brief video clips of pop and rock songs which
\nare aired by virtually all the five networks to fill in the
\ncommercial time.<\/p>\n
Harmoko said the broadcasting companies must be more selective
\nin choosing the foreign programs, taking into account the
\nnational interests. Broadcasters should not simply be motivated
\nby profit, he added.<\/p>\n
His remarks lent credence to the growing criticisms over the
\npast year of the increasing domination of foreign programs on
\nIndonesian television networks. Critics were concerned about the
\ncultural intrusion as well as the increasing amount of sex and
\nviolence portrayed in many of these programs.<\/p>\n
The deregulation of the television industry in 1989 has
\nspawned stiff competition for audiences and also for advertising
\nrevenues. Four private networks have been established since then
\n-- RCTI, TPI, SCTV, and ANteve -- to compete with TVRI, now no
\nlonger enjoying the monopoly it once had. A fifth network,
\nIndosiar Visual Mandiri, plans to start broadcasting next month.<\/p>\n
Harmoko said that the television networks have a
\nresponsibility to promote national stability.<\/p>\n
Programs which could potentially lead to unrest should be
\nscrapped, he said without mentioning any particular program.<\/p>\n
Failure to select programs which are not in accordance with
\nnational values could lead to break-ups, he said.<\/p>\n
He said the networks should be more sensitive in selecting
\ntheir programs and understand the audience's limit of tolerance.<\/p>\n
The era of openness should not be interpreted as freedom to
\npresent programs at will, he added.<\/p>\n
He said the networks must not let Indonesia become the \"waste
\nbasket\" for the West's culture.<\/p>\n
Specifically for TVRI, Harmoko said the network which has the
\nlargest scope compared to the private networks, also has a duty
\nto promote the Indonesian language.<\/p>\n
The state-owned network should ban programs which do not use
\nBahasa Indonesia correctly.<\/p>\n
Television should be seen also as a tool for education and not
\nsimply for entertainment, he added.<\/p>\n
TVRI director Azis Husein said in his report that the network
\ncan now reach nearly 80 percent of Indonesia's 180 million people
\nwith the support of 12 broadcasting stations, one production
\nstation, eight mobile stations and 329 transmission units.<\/p>\n
He said that 14 new transmission stations would be built in
\nthe coming year.<\/p>\n
TVRI's prime source of revenue is still the television fees
\ncollected annually from TV owners. The network also receives
\nroyalties from all the private networks.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, RCTI president director A. Rallie Siregar, who
\nattended the ceremony, told reporters that the network's plan to
\ngo public is now going full steam.<\/p>\n
The Capital Market Supervisory Board is currently studying the
\nfinancial position of RCTI, he explained. \"One of the reasons to
\ngo public is to purchase the equipment for the studios,\" he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Director General of Radio, Television and Film Alex Leo
\nZulkarnain said the Ministry of Information is also studying
\nRCTI's plan to go public, and its main concern is to ensure that
\nthe network's shares do not fall into foreign hands.<\/p>\n
The media industry is one of the few sectors that are still
\nclosed to foreign investors. (par)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/local-tv-networks-told-to-reduce-foreign-programs-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}