Indonesian television stations prepare for Ramadhan

Indonesian television stations prepare for Ramadhan

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Luas Samudera
Contributor
Jakarta
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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 Blezinksy 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.