Soccer unaffected by TV cutbacks<\/p>\n
Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Millions of Indonesian soccer fans will still be able to enjoy
\nlive matches of their favorite foreign teams on television, even
\nthough national TV stations have to cut their air time to support
\nthe government's energy conservation drive.<\/p>\n
All live league matches contracted between Indonesian
\ntelevision stations and foreign parties are exempted in the new
\nministerial decree that requires transmission cuts.<\/p>\n
RCTI will continue relaying the live matches of the Italian,
\nSpanish and British leagues, while SCTV, TV7 and TPI TV stations
\nwill keep broadcasting live other foreign leagues' matches and
\nother international championships.<\/p>\n
In addition, Indonesians, who are mostly Muslim, will continue
\nto enjoy Islamic programs that are aired live annually by all
\ntelevision stations during Ramadhan.<\/p>\n
The two exemptions are stipulated in Ministerial Decree No.
\n11\/2005 issued by Minister of Information and Telecommunications
\nSofyan Djalil on Monday to implement the presidential decree on
\nan the energy-saving drive.<\/p>\n
The ministerial decree, which is in effect for six months,
\nrequires all TV and radio stations to sign off from 1 a.m. to 5
\na.m.<\/p>\n
During Ramadhan, TV stations are allowed to start their
\nprograms at 3 a.m. as Muslims take their pre-dawn meals.<\/p>\n
The decree states that the measures were taken in line with
\nthe rising world oil prices that could lead to a national energy
\ncrisis.<\/p>\n
TV and radio stations said they would comply with the
\nministerial decree to support the government-sponsored energy
\nconservation drive.<\/p>\n
Gilang Iskandar, deputy corporate secretary of RCTI, said that
\ndespite increasing protests, his company accepted the decree to
\nhelp boost the nation's sense of crisis.<\/p>\n
Despite the possibility of decreasing income, TV stations
\nwould be able to improve efficiency and conserve energy by
\ncutting their air time by four hours, he said.<\/p>\n
\"We will lose our income from tobacco ads which are usually
\nscreened at night, but we will be able to save our operation
\ncosts, shorten our working shifts and economize on the use of our
\nequipment,\" he said, citing that his firm pays between Rp 30
\nmillion and Rp 50 million per hour for its operational costs.<\/p>\n
Many have objected to the ministerial decree, which they say
\nwould deprive the public of access to information and
\nentertainment.<\/p>\n
TV7 spokesman Moko Pamungkas concurred and said his company
\ndid not calculate its losses, \"because it is for the sake of our
\nnational interests\".<\/p>\n
MetroTV chief editor Don Bosco Salamun said his TV station
\nwould make no significant savings but the management had decided
\nto abide by the decree to fully support the campaign.<\/p>\n
\"MetroTV ends with the Headline News Program minutes after 1
\na.m. But, it will be on air for any breaking news,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soccer-unaffected-by-tv-cutbacks-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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