'Indosiar' asked to put idealism first

'Indosiar' asked to put idealism first

JAKARTA (JP): The government gave its blessing to the
launching of Indosiar, the country's fifth private televison
station, with the proviso that, without sacrificing its
commercial interests, it should put the public interest first.

"The government fully realizes that private television
stations need to make money through commercial shows but I ask
them to put idealism first," Minister of Information Harmoko said
yesterday.

During the inauguration ceremony of Indosiar the minister said
that the existence of Indosiar did not pose a threat to TVRI, the
state television network, since it would cooperate with TVRI, as
did Indonesia's other private television stations.

According to the minister, TVRI is the only station in
Indonesia with a basic right to broadcast.

However, in 1989 the government had decided to give
concessions to four private companies to establish private
televison stations, Harmoko said.

The minister said the government's decision to issue those
licenses was a response to the rapid inflow of foreign television
programs receivable via satellite dishes.

The first permit granted was to Rajawali Citra Televisi
Indonesia (RCTI), a Jakarta-based private television company
which is overseen by Bimantara Citra group. The second went to
Surya Citra Televisi (SCTV), a Surabaya-based network owned by
tycoon Sudwikatmono.

Later the government gave a permit to Televisi Pendidikan
Indonesia (TPI), a Jakarta-based station controlled by PT. Cipta
Televisi Pendidikan Indonesia, a company which belongs to
President Soeharto's eldest daughter, Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana.

The fourth license was granted last year, to PT Cakrawala
Andalas Televisi, of the Bakrie Group, which manages ANteve.

All four stations broadcast nationwide. The government has
ruled that they must give 12.5 percent of their advertising
revenues to TVRI.

During the ceremony, which was attended by some executives of
the other private television stations, Harmoko said that, now
that a fifth private station had been allowed, the government
would not be granting further licenses.

"Five is enough," he said.

Executives of the other television companies, such as Azis
Husain, the president of TVRI, Andi Rali Siregar, the president
of RCTI, and Budi Darmawan, the Public Relations Manager of SCTV,
welcomed the presence of Indosiar either as their new partner or
their new competitor.

Andi acknowledged that the existence of another private
station would make competition for advertising tougher, but he
said that private channels must not be preoccupied with "the
domestic competition".

"It is foreign television networks which should be considered
competitors," Andi Said.

Budi Darmawan of SCTV said the presence of Indosiar would
force the other stations to work harder to create innovative
programs and to look for more advertising.

Azis Husain of TVRI said that Indosiar was expected to be a
cooperative partner of RCTI.

Anky Handoko, President of Indosiar, told Minister Harmoko
that the competition among Indonesia's TV stations was tough
enough, but that their cooperation was also strong.

Indosiar will broadcast its programs from 4 p.m to 1 a.m.
(nine hours) on week days and from 6 a.m to 2 a.m. the following
morning (20 hours) on Saturdays and Sundays. Most of the other
stations currently broadcast for more than 18 hours everyday.

Indosiar will broadcast from its modern studio complex at Jl.
Damai 11, in the Daan Mogot area of West Jakarta.

Indosiar is owned by the Salim Group, Indonesia's largest
conglomerate, controlled by Sudono Salim, one the richest men in
the world.(mas)