'BaliTV' to voice local culture and tradition

'BaliTV' to voice local culture and tradition

Rita A. Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar

The first television station in the tourist island of Bali,
BaliTV has launched its initial programs voicing
the aspiration of the Balinese people to preserve their own
culture and tradition.

Bali governor Dewa Beratha said during the launching ceremony
on May 26 expressed his concern over the flood of external values
which affect the lives of the Balinese, especially the youth.
"Bali has become one of the world's tourist destination. That's
why we have to be more alert in protecting our own culture and
tradition," the governor said.

The opening of Bali TV, owned by the family of K.Nadha who is
also running Bali Post media group, has added to the numbers of
private televisions in Indonesia. The country's first TV station
was government-owned TVRI which operated since l962.

Under the government's regulation, private television stations
were not allowed to operate until the Bimantara Business group
established RCTI in l989. Since then, several private televisions
include SCTV, Anteve, Indosiar, TPI, Lativi and several others.

Satria Naradha, director of Bali TV, said that for the time
being, Bali TV targets the island's 3 million population.

"Our mission is mainly aimed at preserving and promoting the
Balinese culture especially to the youth," Satria said. Most of
programs in local TV focus on Western-entertainment styles. Local
TV drama Sinetrons are considered less educative and
unfortunately dominate the present programs.

"We want to offer different kinds of entertainment and
education programs," said Satria.

The Bali TV is currently undergoing a number of test-trials
until the middle of June to ensure that its programs are
transmitted properly.

Satria added that in the era of regional autonomy, each
province should have at least one private television station to
accommodate local aspirations.

"We have several Bali programs in TVRI Bali station, but the
station belongs to the government. Bali TV will be different. We
will emphasize more on the real need of our own community," he
added.

In the past, all television stations must obtained special
permits from the now-defunct Ministry of Information. "The age of
press control is over now. It is time for the public to speak for
themselves and it is the rights of the public to get balance news
coverage and worth entertainment programs," he said.

The launching ceremony was attended by numerous government
officials, business communities, academicians and local artists.

A number of regional television stations are now operating in
Surabaya, East Java, Lombok island in West Nusa Tenggara
province.