Indonesian television stations gear up for Ramadhan

Luas Samudera, Contributor, Jakarta

The Muslim holy month of Ramadhan has always been a feast for television stations in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation. Just as Muslims prepare to practice one of the fundamental tenets of their religion and to revitalize their faith, so the television stations are equally geared up for the occasion.

It is a time when television stations introduce new programs in an attempt to strengthen their hold on viewers. Programs on local television stations look much like those in a traditional Muslim state. Programs such as quizzes and local sinetron (soap opera series) remain the same. But their content takes a big turn. Suddenly, everybody appears so religious.

Regular programs showing scantily-clad actors and actresses such as Baywatch (RCTI), Silk Stalking (SCTV) and VIP starring Pamela Anderson (Indosiar) have to bow to more religious programs. Programs which are seen as promoting adultery and loose morals such as Beverly Hills (RCTI) and Melrose Place (SCTV) must stay in the stations' libraries otherwise they may disturb the spirit of Ramadhan.

Stations have learned quickly from the response of viewers. Several years ago, SCTV was stormed by protests and had to apologize to their viewers after showing Wok with Yan, a cooking program hosted by Canadian Martin Yan during Ramadhan. The host demonstrated a recipe using pork, a forbidden meat for Muslims, as the main ingredient of the dish.

But this year's programming trend among television stations is religiously-flavored drama series. The Ramadhan series have began far ahead of this year's holy month which is to start some time in mid November.

SCTV is screening a 60-episode one-hour drama Maha Pengasih (The Most Merciful) from Oct. 8. RCTI will broadcast PadaMu ku Bersimpuh (For Thee I kneel) commencing on Oct. 21. This is one day ahead of the start of Indosiar's 52-episode Doa Membawa Berkah 2 (Prayers Bring Blessings 2), a second season of last year's drama Doa Membawa Berkah, starring Tamara Blezynski and Anjasmara.

All of the above are slotted for 5 p.m., prior to the call for the twilight prayer which marks the end of the day-long fast. Most eyes will obviously be focussed on the tube around that time, waiting for the call to prayer and listening to the daily seven-minute Ramadhan sermon.

The Ramadhan series was initiated by RCTI when in 1998 it aired Doaku Harapanku (My Prayer My Hope) featuring Krisdayanti, and followed by Doaku Harapanku 2 in 1999. Looking at the success of the program in terms of ratings and revenue, both Indosiar and SCTV followed suit the following year. SCTV screened the not-so successful Ketabahan (Perseverance) and Indosiar screened Doa Membawa Berkah (Prayer Brings Blessings) for its viewers.

But why have the episodes run for a longer period? "Local series tend to be timeless. And this is a way to condition viewers before Ramadhan when we have other interesting programs," Indosiar spokesman Gufroni Sakaril said.

Aside from the series, Indosiar also screens Buka Bersama Zainuddin MZ (Breaking the Fast with Zainuddin MZ), variety program Pasaur, Irama (Rhythm of) Ramadhan and a comedy show Tipu Dot-com.

"We would like to develop a story whose climax will reach a peak during Ramadhan," SCTV spokesman Budi Dharmawan said. SCTV is to screen several special programs for the month such as two, two-hour episodes of a mini serial, live variety show Saur Kita with comedian Eko Patrio and Ulfah Dwiyanthi, and a rerun of Egyptian series Umi Kalsum, a story of a singer who "united the Arab worlds."

"This is also a way to provide more religious content in programs prior to Ramadhan," Dharmawan added.

It normally takes a couple of weeks for a station to attract viewers' attention for a new local series. Therefore, it is understandable that each station needs to make an earlier start.

However, director of Doa Membawa Berkah 2 Achmad Yusuf as quoted in Warta Kota daily said the first station to air a Ramadhan series does not necessarily garner the highest ratings for that particular time slot.

"The best story will win the heart of viewers," Yusuf said.

Director-cum-actor Dedy Mizwar said more important was each station's responsibility to continue the religious programs beyond the holy month.

"Don't give the viewers the impression that after Ramadhan has gone, so have the religious programs," Dedy Mizwar said. A specialist in religious series, Mizwar produced two talk shows Sajadah (Praying Mat) and Tafakur (Meditation) this year for TV7 owned by Gramedia group.