Govt reshuffles 'TVRI' management

Govt reshuffles 'TVRI' management

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government as the shareholder of state television channel
TVRI announced on Tuesday that there was a major reshuffle in the
company, which includes the replacement of all its directors.

While announcing the reshuffle, the deputy to the state
minister of state enterprises, Roes Ariawijaya, said the shakeup,
stipulated in ministerial decree No. 191/MBU/2003, dated April
14, was needed in connection with the channel's status as a
limited liability company.

Taking up the top executive post is Hari Sulistyono, who
replaces Sumita Tobing as the president director. Accompanying
Hari are John Guntar Sebayang as the finance director, Yazirwan
Uyun as the personnel director, Enny Anggraeni Hardjanto as the
director of news and programs, Herawaty Christiba Tobing as the
technical director and Djamaris Njaman as the director of general
affairs.

Hari is a relatively new face on the scene, compared to
Sumita, who has been cultivating her career in television for 30
years. Hari's career in journalism includes leading the Lippostar
news portal, which no longer exists.

Also raising many eyebrows is the appointment of Enny, a
former Citibank vice president in Indonesia, for a post that
needs ample experience in journalism.

The reshuffle has ended months of conflict between Sumita and
her directors over her leadership, which, according to many,
failed to make the station a self-reliant one. Sumita is also
known for her consistency, including her refusal to let TVRI air
Indian and Mandarin films.

On the board of commissioners, Abdurrahman Hudiono Dimas Wahab
was named the president, with Gde Widiadnyana Merati, Budi
Harsono, Pandu Jayanto, Dharma Bakti and Indra Jati Sidi named as
the members.

Roes said the reshuffle was expected to help the state channel
generate its own revenue and make a break from the state in terms
of financing.

The government began to cut its subsidies to TVRI following
the change of its status from perusahaan jawatan (a company
financially dependent on the government but allowed to sell ads)
to perusahaan terbatas (limited liability company no longer
enjoying government subsidies) in April 2002. The acute financial
crisis worsened, forcing some of its affiliated stations in major
cities to halt operations.

Until last year, TVRI, which has 23 stations and 395
transmitters, had an annual budget of Rp 150 billion. Of that
amount, Rp 70 billion was allocated to pay the salaries of more
than 7,000 employees. The remaining amount was not enough to
repair or maintain its transmitting equipment, let alone buy or
make programs.