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)