Competition heats up celebrity news programs

Competition heats up celebrity news programs

By Emmy F. Hastuti

JAKARTA (JP): Names make news is a classic theory in the news
industry which has perhaps spurred the infotaintment producers to
pack the "this and that" about local celebrities in their
programs.

Gossip shows are really hot in the television industry. This
has become a frenzied trend among the five local private
stations, which regularly air similar shows about the latest
boyfriend of this artist or the divorce of another artist, or
about their new toy or their new thong.

"Personal facts on public figures either politicians or
celebrities are a long lasting resource for the television
industry," television observer Veven S.P. Wardhana said.

He said there is an unhealthy competition among the TV
stations, who present similar programs and fail to air more
resourceful or exclusive shows.

"It is the way our television industry works, using 'me-too-
product' claims. If a show is regarded as successful, then other
stations will present similar programs, not something different
but only other variants," he said.

The show time might be different -- some however, are aired at
the same time -- but the content is the same, Veven added.

He agreed that gossip shows on television are fun to watch as
they are light and entertaining. Unfortunately, they are not
healthy.

"It's refreshing to watch such programs but it is really
unhealthy. Why should we care whether actress Dessy (Ratnasari)
is going steady or not with guitarist Dewa Bujana? It's not our
problem, but many still want to follow her story on the screen,"
he said.

Gossip programs have attracted more and more viewers from
segmented audience like housewives or housemaids who are believed
to spend more time in front of televisions than men.

A cab driver admitted that now he prefers to watch those
gossip shows on televisions rather than news programs or
political talk shows.

"The last time I watched a political debate was before the
Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly. After the
event I've became bored following the issues," he said.

When he gets a chance, he stops at the taxi pool and joins
dozens of other cab drivers who relax for a while before hitting
the streets looking for passengers.

"In the afternoon, we drop by the pool. My friends also love
the gossip shows. We'd rather watch them than news programs," he
said, and smoothly talked about the hot gossip about dangdut
singer Evi Tamala who was about to go back to her husband.

He admitted to having no preference for television stations.
Sometimes he also watches news program.

"As long as the television station does not broadcast student
demonstrations, (President) Gus Dur's overseas trip, Ambon or
earthquakes, I'll watch if I have time," he said.

Three years ago, following the downfall of Soeharto, the news,
which used to be under tight government control, started to flow
freely. Every station then ran not only their news program but
also political talk shows.

Some viewers, however, seem to have tired of such news and
preferred to watch something lighter. This phenomenon soon rang a
bell and prompted the TV stations to present gossip programs.

Check out the available channels and find the plethora of
similar programs, such as Indosiar's Kisah Seputar Selebritis
(KISS, Celebs' Stories, Tuesday, Friday, 4 p.m., Saturday, 9:30
a.m.), RCTI's C&R (Check and Recheck, Tuesday and Friday, 4
p.m.), TPI's GoShow (Gossip Show, Sunday, 9 a.m.) and Sisi
Selebritis (Celebs' Side, Saturday, 3:30 p.m.), ANteve's Berita
Selebritis (Betis, News on Celebs, Wednesday, 12:30 p.m.), Celeb
on TV (Monday, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, 12:30 p.m., and Panorama
(Saturday, 5:30 p.m., SCTV's Halo Selebritis (Hallo Celebs,
Monday, Thursday 11 a.m.), Dunia Bintang (Star World, Tuesday, 11
a.m.).

Competition

Tough competition in gossip shows has challenged the producers
to display their strength, to make audiences tune-in to their
program and return for the same show and next time.

Inserting newly launched video clips, inviting a guest star
and providing a quiz for the audience are among efforts to hook
the viewers.

KISS' executive producer Siti Roozika said that the
competition was felt strongly this year, when other private
televisions started to run similar infotainment programs on
celebrity news.

"Actually we are first among television stations in running
such programs, dating back to 1996 when KISS was still part of a
TV show called Jelita (Jendela Informasi Wanita), under the
segment named SPOT (Seputar Orang Top)," she said.

The station decided to air KISS, one of the most-seen
programs, three times a week after they realized that other
televisions were airing similar gossip shows.

"Our host, comedian Eko Patrio, is one of the strong points.
He makes KISS as entertaining as possible with his naughty-style,
digging out others artists' stories," Siti said.

C&R is produced by PT Bintang Advis Multimedia. The program's
executive director, Aprilla J. Munaf, said the show was first
intended to be a forum for the celebrities to defend themselves
from tabloids which often print stories about them without
checking the accuracy.

"There are many tabloids running gossips or stories without
checking with the artists first and we provide this program for
them to talk and clarify the gossip," Aprilla said.

She admitted that competition was tough but claimed her
program had been recognized as "best" infotainment on television.

"We balance the content of the programs, 50 percent is
entertainment and 50 percent is news or actual information on
famous artists, of course we give more in-depth coverage on
certain gossip or news on the artists," she said, adding that the
program was done mostly by a journalism-based crew.

"The news touch is thick here compared to infotainment
programs run by other stations," Aprilla boasted.

Citing the report on the recent arrest of comedians for
possessing drugs, she said that the program presented a thorough
coverage. Not only did they talk to the artists, but they also
reported the on social phenomenon of serious shabu-shabu (crystal
methamphetamine) popularity.

TPI's public relations officer Theresia Ellasari said her
station decided to broadcast the gossip shows after learning
about the high public demand for more infotainment programs.

TPI broadcasts not only one gossip show, but five weekly.

"Our presenters are top celebrities like Tamara Geraldine and
Jodi (both for the GoShow). They attract the audience with their
style of presenting our news on celebrities," she said.

The industry will never face any shortage of resources as now
they are starting to catch not only artists, but also athletes,
and even political elites on their shows.

And people who are bored with the continuing political and
economical situation can turn on the television and gossip about
other people's luck and bad luck - until they become saturated.