'I'd like to see'TVRI' well managed'

'I'd like to see'TVRI' well managed'

A number of lawmakers, media observers and consumer activists
have warned state television station TVRI not to press ahead with
its plan to reinstate monthly license fees for TV owners as this
could give rise to public protests as happened in the past. The
TV station, which owes more than Rp 200 billion to the
government, needs fresh funds to stave off bankruptcy. The
Jakarta Post talked to some Jakarta people what they thought of
the TVRI plan.

Ecoy, 21, is a telephone kiosk attendant in Kebayoran Lama,
South Jakarta. He lives with his family near the kiosk:

So TVRI wants to tax us for watching TV now?

Well, what I don't understand is why I should have to pay as I
never even watch TVRI because their programs are so boring. I
mean, how many people actually watch TVRI these days?

And how come the state RRI radio station doesn't seem to need
to tax radios? RRI's news broadcasts, at least, still attract
many listeners as they still think of them as useful and
interesting.

TVRI should just ask for more funding from the state, seek
sponsors, or air more commercials to finance itself.

Nugie, 26, is a credit analyst at a credit firm on Jl. Gatot
Subroto, South Jakarta. He lives with his mother and sister in
Pondok Indah, South Jakarta:

It's a real pity, actually, that TVRI has to resort to all
these different kinds of fund raising schemes to finance its
operations.

From what I know, TVRI in the past had to start collecting
license fees for TV sets from the public and request a share of
the advertising revenues from private TV stations as the state
could not afford to fully bankroll it.

The schemes failed, however, and I doubt that the new one --
tying the TV license fee to one's electricity bill -- will work
either. Although many wouldn't mind paying the license fee and
just accept it, many others will question its necessity.

I think TVRI should seek sponsors instead, but that will be
difficult if it doesn't improve its programs. No sponsor will be
interested if their money is just wasted or corrupted by the
station's executives.

But, I would really like to see TVRI become a professionally
managed public service TV station some day, like Britain's BBC or
Japan's NHK.

--The Jakarta Post