Tough challenge: How to save state-owned 'TVRI'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Legislators were engaged in intense debate on
\nTuesday over what actions to take to save the ailing state-owned
\nbroadcasting station TVRI.<\/p>\n
Legislator Effendy Choirie from the National Awakening Party
\n(PKB) proposed that the television station be privatized.<\/p>\n
Other legislators, however, were concerned that privatizing
\nthe company would make TVRI lose its social mission and make it a
\npurely commercial enterprise.<\/p>\n
Effendy argued that selling the station to the private sector
\nwould lighten the financial burden on the state.<\/p>\n
"Selling it to the public will stop the losses," he said at a
\nhearing with Commission I and State Minister for Communication
\nand Information Syamsul Muarif. Also present was TVRI director
\nSumita Tobing.<\/p>\n
TVRI does not air commercials. Instead, it receives 12.5
\npercent of advertising revenues of privately owned TV stations,
\nSCTV, Indosiar, Metro TV, ANteve, RCTI and TPI.<\/p>\n
Among those opposed to the idea of selling TVRI to the private
\nsector was Bambang Sadono from the Golkar faction. He said the
\nchange of ownership would transform the state television into a
\npurely profit-oriented enterprise.<\/p>\n
Legislator Burhan Djabir Magenda argued that the government
\nshould do everything to maintain TVRI as a state-owned entity to
\nmaintain its social mission.<\/p>\n
Sumita acknowledged that lack of professionalism of its
\npersonnel as well as poor efficiency were to blame for problems
\nfacing TVRI.<\/p>\n
"I do not believe that TVRI will be able to improve its
\nprofessionalism as long as it is run by civil servants," said
\nSumita, who is also a manager of private television station SCTV.<\/p>\n
She added that the fund from the state budget accounts for
\nonly 10 percent of its total operational costs and it has to seek
\nother sources for the remaining 90 percent.<\/p>\n
"There are only two options, to declare bankruptcy or to keep
\nit alive. And how can that best be done?" she asked.<\/p>\n
Sumita rejected suggestions to collect fees from the public to
\nsurvive.<\/p>\n
"I do not think it is feasible because 70 percent of our
\nviewers are poor people in rural areas," she said.<\/p>\n
She explained that among her top priorities would be a plan to
\nhave the assets of TVRI audited.<\/p>\n
"It is ironic that although it is 39 years old, TVRI has no
\nfiling system. Without being audited, there could be no effective
\nplanning," she said.<\/p>\n
Sumita said although it was said that TVRI owned 400
\nbroadcasting relay stations across the archipelago, there was no
\nclear data about them.<\/p>\n
She emphasized that under current conditions, only 10 percent
\nof the employees were still committed to their job due to low
\nsalaries.<\/p>\n
"The current shows aired by TVRI are the work of the few who
\nare still satisfied to receive a salary of between Rp 700,000
\n(US$74.46) to Rp 900,000, per month" she said, adding that there
\nwere a total of 7,200 employees. (08)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tough-challenge-how-to-save-state-owned-tvri-1447893297",
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