Inferior TV reruns keep couch potatoes happy
By Antariksawan Jusuf
JAKARTA (JP): This year has been marked by almost constant changes in scheduled TV programming, bringing about its own inevitable change in viewer habits.
Before the crisis, when the national economy grew annually at between 6 percent and 7 percent, changes in the set lineup were rare. The only exceptions were when a station needed to embark on a boost to refurbish its image, for the stations' anniversary and during the fasting month of Ramadhan.
Ramadhan is always special for local TV stations in the world's largest Moslem populace. Programming is revamped. There are fewer violent movies and series depicting acts leading to adultery and other forbidden acts are banished. When the month is over, TV fare quickly returns to normal with the usual sex and violence filling the airwaves.
The first quarter this year saw several unavoidable changes. Due to the economic crisis and the attendant drastic drop in advertising revenue, stations cut their airtime to survive.
Homemakers complained about missing their favorite programs due to the scheduling changes, mostly during the morning and early afternoon time slots, which all stations filled with programs assumed to fit their needs: Kitchen topics, fashion speak and adultery (on talk shows, variety shows and the soaps).
The era of reform arrived in mid-May. Students staged protests and the presidential succession triggered another instant change in viewing habits. Both print and broadcast media reveled in their newfound freedoms and for the first time in the history of the Indonesian television industry, news and current affairs programs gained two-digit ratings. This was true for all stations, including the state-run TVRI network which in the past had failed to win viewers' hearts, even with its supposedly entertaining shows.
In June to July, many Indonesians, especially those with extra testosterone and daring enough to spend sleepless nights along with the rest of the world's die-hard soccer fans, bet on their favorite teams and avidly watched the World Cup into the wee hours.
After the champion had been crowned, there was yet another change to be faced. The economy has failed to rally and the TV industry continues to face major upheaval as advertising revenue is estimated to experience a further slump.
The result is that when Indonesians switch the remote to local television programming these days, chances are it is a case of everything old is new again.
Like it or not, reruns are in on private TV stations. The list is long but it includes Tirai Kasih Yang Terkoyak (The Torn Love), Impian Pengantin (The Bride's Dream), Wiro Sableng, and several episodes of Tuyul dan Mbak Yul on RCTI. Masih Ada Kapal ke Padang (Another Ship to Padang), Kabut Tengger (Mist of Tengger), Saat Memberi Saat Menerima (Time to Give, Time to Take) on SCTV.
There is also Ngelaba, Ali Oncom, Desaku Bumiku (My Village, My Earth) and several episodes of award-winning Mat Angin of TPI. Hari Hari Mau of Anteve and Pondok Pak Djon (Mr. Djon's Cabin), Wanita Kedua (The Other Woman), and Bulan Di Denpasar (The Moon over Denpasar) on Indosiar.
Worst of all are the reruns of low-budget Indonesian movies. The same limited titles are swapped from one screen to the others. Stations still find vast film libraries and make their choice of Maju Kena Mundur Kena (Getting Stuck), Chips, Gantian Dong (Take Turns), Gede Rasa (Thick Skin), Selamat Tinggal Duka (Bye Bye Sadness), Kecubung Sakti (Magic Kecubung Stone), Lowo Ijo, Sepasang Iblis Betina (A Pair of Female Devils), whose titles are indicative of their quality.
Each station has an Indonesian movie slot to feed even though the country's movie industry basically shot its last take in 1992. Titles produced after that year are 99 percent guaranteed to fill the waste basket of the internal censorship department of every station.
Ectesi dan Pengaruh Sex (Ecstasy and Sexual Effects), Selingkuh (Adultery), Kekasih Gelap (The Mistress), Kenikmatan Terlarang (Forbidden Pleasure), and Perawan Birahi (Horny Girl) are picks of the litter.
The dubious quality on offer has not dissuaded Indonesians from turning on the TV. According to the authoritative rating agency, AC Nielsen/SRG, Indonesians are hooked on the small screen for an average 3.6 viewing hours a day.
This figure, released for March 1997, is the highest among eight Asian countries, including Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, whose citizens respectively chalk up 2.1, two and 1.7 hours in front of the box. Still, maybe some Indonesians will be proud of the fact they "beat" their neighbors in the couch potato stakes.