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