Harmoko clarifies policy on television dubbing
Harmoko clarifies policy on television dubbing
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Information Harmoko said yesterday
that his recent appeal for television stations to dub all their
foreign programs into the Indonesian language does not apply to
programs broadcasted in English.
"We need to learn English," Harmoko told reporters in his
office. The information minister was clarifying a statement he
made on Tuesday which the press had interpreted as applying to
all foreign programs without exception.
His appeal applies to imported television programs from India,
China and Latin America, all of which are growing in popularity
among Indonesian viewers. Most of these programs have already
been dubbed into the Indonesian language.
The minister's appeal will become law if the House of
Representatives approves a bill on broadcasting, which the
government submitted last month.
According to the bill, which will be debated by the House next
week, all television stations should air their programs either in
English or Indonesian. Religious programs and language lessons
are exempted from the rule.
Harmoko said the government highly encourages television
stations to broadcast their English programs in two languages,
the other one being Indonesian. He emphasized that current
technology allows TV stations to air bilingual programs.
The bill on broadcasting will also allow private networks to
produce their own news, ending a monopoly on news broadcasting
held by the state-run TVRI. Private stations, however, are still
expected to relay TVRI news, officials said.
Harmoko was speaking following his sponsorship of the
establishment of a forum of all six television networks to
coordinate coverage of major national events.
The move came after the six stations pooled their coverage of
the death of First Lady Mrs. Tien Soeharto on Sunday and her
funeral on Monday.
The forum involves TVRI, RCTI, TPI, SCTV, Anteve and Indosiar.
SCTV Public Relations Manager Yuli Ismartono told The Jakarta
Post that the forum has not decided on the criteria for events
that are considered "major" to merit pool coverage. (01)