Local TV networks pool resources to cover Bogor

Local TV networks pool resources to cover Bogor

JAKARTA (JP): Six Indonesian television networks pooled their
resources yesterday to provide the nation as well as the world
comprehensive coverage of the historic meeting of APEC leaders in
Bogor.

The media pool turned out to have been effectively pulled off
by the six networks. Until this week the concept had never fully
caught on with the Indonesian media community.

The APEC TV pool involved the state television TVRI, by far
the oldest and most experienced in such major coverage, and five
commercial stations: RCTI (Rajawali Citra Televisi Indonesia),
SCTV (Surya Citra Televisi Indonesia), TPI (Televisi Pendidikan
Indonesia), ANTeve (Andalas Nusa Televisi), and IVM (Indosiar
Visual Mandiri).

The latter station has barely gotten off the ground. It is not
airing yet but has necessary equipment invaluable to the TV
pooling.

A total of 10 Outside Broadcast Vans were mobilized for the
event yesterday.

Two vans were stationed in the Bogor Palace, one was placed
just outside the Jagorawi toll gate in Bogor. TV crew broadcast
the arrivals and departures of the APEC leaders through two vans
located in the Halim Perdanakusuma Airport and the Soekarno-Hatta
Airport. Four other mobile units were placed at the Jakarta
Convention Center, the Jakarta Hilton International Hotel, Sahid
Jaya Hotel, and in the Nusantara Aircraft Industry, Bandung.

Eight of the 10 vans belong to TVRI, while the owners of the
other two are the property of RCTI and TPI.

The TV stations pooled prominent crew and equipment to do
their best on covering the APEC conference.

Yesterday's reports were given in both Indonesian and English.

"It's good that we work together. Even though we are the ones
with the most equipment, we still need more. We also need more
qualified crew," Agus Cugito, a TVRI staff member in charge of
news dispatching and editing, told The Jakarta Post.

He said that long before the APEC conferences took place, the
host committee briefed the TV crew, providing them with necessary
background information.

"They also told us about certain restrictions in the
coverage," a TVRI journalist said.

However, he refused to explain about the restrictions.

Among the 35 reporters dispatched by TVRI to cover the APEC
activities were Magdalena Daluas and Usi Karundeng, while RCTI
sent six reporters, including Desi Anwar and Zsa Zsa Yusharyahya.

RCTI news production manager, Adolf Posumah, told the Post
that the TV pool idea came from Ishadi SK, head of the APEC media
center and former TVRI director.

"This is a new concept. We are glad to have this kind of
cooperation, which is quite effective," Posumah said.

He admitted that compared to TVRI, RCTI was less experienced
in live broadcasting such a big event. What's more, it would be
very expensive for each TV station to cover the event separately.

TVRI has been on air since 1962, while RCTI, the first private
television in the country, was established in 1989. SCTV started
operation in 1990 while TPI came on air the following year. The
youngest private television is ANteve, which reached the public
in February this year for the first time. Indosiar is expected to
go on the air soon.

"I hope we continue to have this kind of cooperation for the
coverage of big events," Posuman said, adding that RCTI expects
to have a greater role next time.

He said that there was not much time for the preparation
because RCTI learned of the TV pool offer only a month before the
APEC conference. The intensive preparation for the coverage
started two weeks ago.

"I can't say that I am really satisfied. But for a first time
effort, this is not bad...," he said. (sim)