First news TV station 'Metro-TV' launched
First news TV station 'Metro-TV' launched
JAKARTA (JP): New television station Metro-TV, dubbed the
first news TV station in the country, presented its preview to
guests at a reception to mark its launching at its studio complex
in West Jakarta on Saturday.
The station, owned by media entrepreneur Surya Paloh, is one
of five privately-owned TV stations to go on-air in the near
future.
The other new TV stations that were granted licenses by the
then Ministry of Information are PT Televisi Transformasi
Indonesia (Trans TV) which is owned by businessman Chaerul
Tanjung, PT Global Informasi Bermutu (Global TV) owned by senior
journalist Nasir Tamara, PT Duta Visual Nusantara (DVN TV) owned
by H. Sukoyo, and PT Pasaraya Mediakarya (PRTV) owned by former
minister of manpower Abdul Latief.
Metro-TV's producer Andi F. Noya said that the station is
slated to air its first broadcast on Nov. 25. It will be on-air
for 24 hours, with 17 hours of live broadcasting.
"The public today is so hungry for news. Many used to think
that news doesn't sell but that's not true," Andi told The
Jakarta Post at the reception which was also attended by
President Abdurrahman Wahid and several ministers.
To be broadcast in Bahasa Indonesia, English, and Chinese, the
programs will include hard news and features covering various
fields from politics to entertainment.
To fulfill its ambition, Andi said that some 200 reporters had
already been recruited by the station.
Prior to its initial broadcast, the TV station's crews have
been rehearsing over the past few months just like other TV
reporters.
The appearance of a crew from the new TV station will be easy
to spot as they have a dress code which includes a white shirt
and tie.
Andi, however, said he did not actually know the exact amount
of money invested in the TV station.
"But normally, some Rp 200 billion is needed to establish a
new TV station," Andi said.
Broadcasting expert Sumita Tobing, who claims to have designed
the programs of Metro-TV, said that she left the TV station
before its initial broadcast as Surya Paloh had invited
Bimantara, which is the major shareholder of the RCTI TV station,
to be one of Metro-TV's shareholders.
"(Bimantara people) are claiming that Metro-TV is RCTI's
partner, so there should be no competition between the two. I had
to make sure of that on paper," Sumita told Gamma weekly news
magazine in its 36th edition last month during an interview.
Andi, however, said that 80 percent of the station's shares
were in the hands of Surya.
"There is a plan for Bimantara to be one of the shareholders
but they will only buy some of the remaining 20 percent," Andi
said.
President Abdurrahman stressed in his speech during the
ceremony that TV stations should be honest in the coverage they
provide.
"Today, there are many media which are being paid to tell
lies," Abdurrahman said. (jaw/dja)