'It's impossible to count the fees watching TV'

'It's impossible to count the fees watching TV'

The plan by TVRI to charge a monthly television fee has received
a mixed reaction. Many people question the mechanism in
collecting the fee as it will be attached to the electricity
bill, the amount of which is based on usage. The Jakarta Post
talked to some residents on the issue.

Tarjuki, 40, is a taxi driver. He lives in Ciputat, Tangerang:

I wouldn't object if TVRI started to collect fees for my
television sets. What can an ordinary person like me do? But my
hard-sought earnings will surely be reduced amid all these recent
price hikes in household needs.

I'd like to know how TVRI will calculate the fee: I hope it
will be based on how much someone uses their TV set.

The thing is, I rarely watch TV, even though I have one. I'm
always so tired after my working shift I prefer simply to sleep
afterwards. I only watch TV when I have a day off.

How about those who have more than one TV set? I wonder how
TVRI will determine their fee. It would be unfair if wealthier
people paid the fee for only one TV set, although they had more.

Hendra, 30, works at a private consulting firm on Jl.
Sudirman, South Jakarta. He lives with his wife in Bintaro,
Tangerang:

I understand that TVRI can't air commercials if it wants to be
a public TV station, but it should improve its programs and
marketing strategy to attract sponsors, instead of imposing fees
on the public to finance its operations.

If TVRI management can come up with interesting programs and
promote them well, especially as part of their social mission to
inform and educate the public, I'm sure many companies would be
interested in sponsoring TVRI.

I doubt the fee scheme will be effective. The problem with the
new scheme, which ties it to electricity bills, is that people
will eventually question the relationship.

What happens if someone doesn't have a TV, even though he uses
electricity for other purposes? What happens if someone has more
than one TV set? Will TVRI adjust its fees accordingly, or will
it just impose a flat rate?

It's fairly easy to charge for electricity, telephone and
water based on usage, but it's impossible to calculate what the
charge should be for television viewing.

-- The Jakarta Post