Cable television beats terrestrial in new broadcasting draft law
Cable television beats terrestrial in new broadcasting draft law
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Unlike television broadcasting stations which face an imminent
threat of restriction, the subscribed or cable television will be
allowed to relay or rerun programs from foreign channels.
Legislator Djoko Susilo, who joins the committee for
broadcasting bill deliberation, said on Tuesday that there would
be different treatment for television broadcasting stations and
cable television providers.
"Cable television is allowed to relay foreign programs because
they don't use frequency," he said.
Djoko, head of the media unit of Commission I overseeing
security, political and information affairs, said cable
television providers would be required only to seek a permit to
build their networks.
Under the broadcasting bill, broadcast providers must
incorporate self censorship into all programs.
The providers must also provide at least one channel for
domestic television.
The final draft of the broadcasting bill stipulates that
television broadcasting stations are restricted from relaying
foreign programs.
Djoko disclosed that the restriction was aimed at encouraging
domestic television stations to use their frequency for local
programs instead of relaying foreign ones.
He said that domestic television channels must turn themselves
into kiosks for foreign stations.
"That is why cable television is not restricted from relaying
foreign programming because it does not use frequency," he said.
The broadcasting bill is scheduled to be endorsed on Sept.23
amidst mounting protest from the public, including the Union of
Indonesian Television Journalists (IJTI).
The union openly rejects articles in the broadcasting bill
which restrict freedom of the press, freedom of expression, and
the right to know.
In a statement made available to The Jakarta Post, the union
said the authority of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission
(KPI) to determine program content would only hamper press
freedom and creativity.
The journalists union feared the high power of the commission
to regulate broadcasting and impose punishment would emulate the
Information Ministry of the New Order which often acted as a
censorship body.
The statement, signed in by IJTI secretary general
Syaefurrahman Al-Banjary and chairman Ray Wijaya, also criticized
a stipulation that restricts nationwide broadcasting to public
television (or state-run TVRI), saying it would create a
monopoly.
Under the broadcasting bill, all private television stations
are required to open broadcasting offices in regional areas to
enable them enlarge their coverage.
So far, private television stations have only built
transmitters in regional areas. "The obligation to build
broadcasting offices in the regions will promote local
development," Djoko added.