Impact of violent TV films
Impact of violent TV films
From Media Indonesia
Indonesian television has made rapid progress over the last
five years with the presence of private stations, RCTI, SCTV,
TPI, Indosiar, and ANteve. All five stations are presently locked
in stiff battle over ratings.
Television experts once predicted that of the five stations,
only two or three might survive. The forecast was way off.
Although advertising, the backbone of private TV earnings, is
controlled by two or three stations, all five stations are still
in good form. Each of them have developed reliable programs,
which have become their special trade mark.
ANteve is identified with music because of its foreign music
programs, while TPI is known for its dangdut (traditional song
and dance) shows and Indian films.
The competition to amass viewers has forced stations to show
actual and exclusive films. Box office films are often used as
bait to lure viewers and advertisers.
Violent films, action movies, some featuring sadism, have
become prime-time viewings of all stations. They draw top ad
ratings.
What conclusion can we draw from this symptom? The fierce
competition is numbing our senses. In turn, the young who watch
these programs are the real victims of the TV ratings battle.
According to a survey, 51 percent of Indonesian children
between the ages of five and nine watch prime-time TV. It takes
little imagination to grasp that millions of children are
enjoying violent and bloody films on TV. Sadism is unknowingly
planted in such young minds day by day. Student brawls, drug
abuse and other juvenile delinquency become, therefore, difficult
to avoid.
Television has become part and parcel in the life of a modern
nation, including Indonesia. It is impossible to avoid its
presence and the negative impact some programs have on the
public. A total ban of such films does not seem the right
solution to the problem. Parents should monitor what their
children watch, especially when it comes to films such as those
starring Shannen Doherty or Arnold Schwarzenegger.
A nagging point in this malady is the uniformity of private TV
shows. The shows are not balanced with more specific programs,
but are an equally strong segment of the market.
The present condition could not be very profitable in the long
run. It isn't so much the TV stations that lose out, but adults
and kids. Program segmentation might well draw loyal viewers. On
the whole, one does not meet loyal viewers. A specific program,
however, might change all that.
Films in which shoot-outs take up most of time does not
benefit our youngsters at all. Without any alternative programs,
kids are forced to follow bloody stories that grip everyone's
interest straight away.
ALTA ARDIYANTI
Lumajang, East Java