Night-shift workers complain over cutbacks in TV hours

Yuli Tri Suwarni and Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Bandung/Medan

The recent government directive requiring TV stations to close between 1 a.m and 5 a.m, except for soccer games and Ramadhan programs, has drawn complaints from a number of quarters, particularly night-shift workers.

Sutrisno, 46, a railway-crossing guard in Bandung said that the ruling had adversely affected his routine.

"TV has been my friend for years. The TV can do away with fear and loneliness. If there is a TV set, I have somebody to listen to," said Sutrisno, who watches over the railway crossing at Jl. Braga, Bandung.

Watching TV on a 14-inch set on the traffic control desk kept him entertained while he monitored the train signals, said Sutrisno, a great fan of soccer matches and films.

As the new ruling took effect two days ago and all TV stations have complied with it, he has started listening to the radio instead.

"But, that makes me sleepy as most of the songs played in early morning are slow songs that basically make you want to go to sleep. In order to shake of the sleepiness, I keep chatting to a cigarette seller whose stall is next to my office," he said.

Like Sutrisno, car showroom security guard Ramdani in Medan, North Sumatra, complained that he missed the early morning TV programs.

"In the absence of TV, you can easily fall asleep as the everything is very quite at night. There's nothing to look at or listen to," said the 49-year-old father of one child.

He said he hoped the government would revoke the ruling, which is aimed at reducing energy consumption. "There are many other ways of saving energy," said Ramdani.

Insomniacs are also complaining about the compulsory TV shutdown.

Since he started suffering from insomnia two years ago, Sugeng Sumaryadi has become an avid nighttime TV viewer.

"I understand that energy conservation measures are important, but they're a problem for me. It's really boring waiting to fall asleep," said Sugeng, who often lies awake until 4 a.m.

However, he has finally found something to send him off into a deep slumber. As there is no more TV between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., he has taken up reading the long neglected encyclopedias lining his living room wall.

"Ah well, every cloud have a silver lining, I suppose," he sighed.