'Jak-TV' to focus on traffic

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Car owners may have to install televisions in their cars if they intend to monitor and avoid traffic jams, which are daily occurrences in the capital.

New television station Jakarta TV (Jak-TV) signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday with city police that allows them to broadcast detailed reports on traffic in many parts of the capital starting next month.

Jak-TV president director Erick Thohir said the station would inform viewers about road conditions across the city in short intervals so that viewers could avoid bad traffic.

"Our programs will be different from those broadcast by other TV networks, which can't afford to present details of traffic conditions as they have many other things to cover. We will give traffic updates every 10 minutes," he said.

Jak-TV, which is partly owned by businessman Tomy Winata, is one of two local TV networks in Jakarta owned by the Mugi Rekso Abadi (MRA) Group. The other is OChannel. The group also owns Republika daily.

City police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Bagus Ekodanto said his office really appreciated that Jak-TV would help the police inform the public about road conditions and other police work.

Besides broadcasting traffic conditions, Jak-TV will also are crime reports.

"Middle- and upper-income groups do not get comprehensive and suitable crime programs. We aim to educate them about robbery and theft cases so that they can avoid them," Erick said.

He explained that Jak-TV would report which areas had the highest crime rate.

There are many crime programs on how police crack down on criminals, including Patroli on Indosiar, Buser on SCTV and Sergap on RCTI.

However, many say the programs expose viewers to violence, especially children.

"We will try to limit violence in our programs as we are mainly aiming at educating the public," Erick said.

Jak-TV, he said, would make a reality show on day-to-day police duties but the final form of the program had yet to be drafted.

"We hope that by broadcasting their activities live, the police will be able to improve their image as an institution aimed at protecting and serving the people," Erick said.