Presidential campaign offers mixed blessings for media<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro and Dadan Wijaksana, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Some say the media is benefiting the most from the ongoing
\npresidential campaign. With the billions of rupiah worth of
\nadvertising the print and electronic media is getting from the
\ncandidates, this may well be true.<\/p>\n
Television stations are undoubtedly leading in revenue gain
\ncompared to radio stations and the print media.<\/p>\n
An increase in revenue of up to 20 percent would seem to be
\nassured, at least according to Budi Dharmawan, a manager at
\nSCTV's communications department. \"We consider this an additional
\nrevenue to the normal commercial ads, so yes, the election does
\nhave something to offer to us.<\/p>\n
\"I do not have the precise figures, but revenue has risen by
\nabout 20 percent,\" Budi said, while citing President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri as the most active advertiser, although her rivals,
\nthe retired generals Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Wiranto, are
\nrapidly narrowing the gap.<\/p>\n
PT Indosiar Visual Mandiri, which owns private television
\nstation Indosiar, while declining to give exact figures, admitted
\nthat the extra income was a boost although not as huge as many
\nwould have predicted.<\/p>\n
\"Of course it's extra revenue for us, but compared with other
\ncommercial ads, it is not that significant.<\/p>\n
\"It makes up less than 5 percent of the total advertising
\nincome,\" spokesman Ghufrony Syakaril said.<\/p>\n
All five candidates booked advertising time with the station,
\nGufrony added, but Megawati, Susilo and Wiranto had the most
\nadvertising slots.<\/p>\n
Other television stations said the additional revenue ranged
\nfrom 10 percent to 20 percent.<\/p>\n
The Institute for Democracy Studies (LkaDe) confirmed on
\nTuesday the huge funds the five candidates have spent on TV ads,
\nwith more than Rp 33 billion having been spent as of June 12.<\/p>\n
Wiranto had Rp 10.1 billion worth of ads during that period,
\nfollowed closely by Megawati with Rp 9.9 billion and Susilo with
\nRp 8.1 billion. Trailing far behind were Hamzah Haz with Rp 2.6
\nbillion spent on ads and Amien Rais with Rp 2.5 billion.<\/p>\n
Based on a rough estimate, Budi said, a television station
\ncould rake in as much as Rp 100 million from each candidate per
\nday, if all candidates ran as many ads as the regulations allow.
\n\"It means that there is Rp 500 million in advertising up for
\ngrabs every day for each station. Now, that's a lot of money.\"<\/p>\n
However, radio stations have not been that lucky.<\/p>\n
Popular radio stations Elshinta and Sonora said they had been
\nvirtually \"left out\" by the candidates.<\/p>\n
\"We only get some 5 to 6 spots per day -- all from Megawati --
\n-- as compared to an average of 12 commercial ads we get per
\nhour. With only Rp 100,000 per spot, you can calculate yourself
\nhow much we get from it,\" Viliny Lesmana, an editorial staff
\nmember of Sonora, said.<\/p>\n
Eddy Harsono of Elshinta said that none of the five candidates
\nhad booked spots.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/presidential-campaign-offers-mixed-blessings-for-media-1447893297",
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