Radio stations vow to offer other than music
Radio stations vow to offer other than music
By Rita A. Widiadana and Thalia Kamarga
JAKARTA (JP): "More Than Just Music" is Trijaya FM's motto.
The radio station has kept its promise to its yuppie audience
by offering a number of talk shows and news programs in addition
to music.
Trijaya boasts Jakarta 1st Channel as its top talk show. The
show, previously called Jakarta Round Up, offers topical
discussions on the economy, society, politics and culture.
Jakarta 1st Channel is broadcast live from Monday to Thursday,
from 7 a.m to 9 a.m. Every Monday, the program, which is also
called Diskusi Opini, is broadcast from the Hilton Executive
Club. Diskusi Opini is jointly sponsored by the Media Indonesia
daily and the RCTI television station.
M. Ichsan Loulembah, Trijaya's news desk head and producer,
told The Jakarta Post that his team screens topics to avoid
controversial and sensitive issues
"It is quite risky to broadcast the program live as it does
now allow editing," Ichsan said.
To prevent editorial error, Trijaya's news desk team always
seeks to present highly-competent speakers and announcers, Ichsan
said. Diskusi Opini is guided by two Trijaya broadcasters and
Andi F. Noya from Media Indonesia.
Last Monday, Trijaya featured Zaim Zaidi, an executive
director of the Indonesian Consumer Foundation, who discussed the
government's plan to raise toll-road fees.
Ichsan said Trijaya prefers to have numerous sponsors to
maintain the program's independence.
Other radio stations, such as Ramako 106.16 FM, are also known
for their talk radio.
Retno R.E, Ramako's program and entertainment director, said
Ramako Magic Music Radio has given priority to news programs for
the past three years.
PT Ramako has three radio stations. In Jakarta, it operates
Mustang which targets young audiences, the English language Kiss
FM for its adult listeners, and Ramako Magic Music for
professionals, explained Retno who is famous as Julie Saturnus
when on air.
"Ramako has an editorial team, which is not common for a
private radio station. But, our first priority on broadcasting
hot news has forced us to recruit qualified newscasters with
journalistic backgrounds," Retno said.
Ramako, she said, has also established a special team to
censor its talk shows and news program.
"The team edits all prerecorded materials before they are
broadcast. We encourage positive criticism on various issues but
not vulgarity," Retno said.
Magic Breakfast is Ramako's top talk show. It is broadcast
daily, featuring topics ranging from gossip, politics, the
economy, and social and cultural problems. The program raises
issues such as the education system, corruption, garbage, and
other hot subjects. Controversial figures like Abdurrahman Wahid,
East Timor Bishop Bello and other prominent figures have appeared
on this talk show, she said. The station has other news-format
programs and talk show such as Jakarta Reviews, Music and Dialog
and Magic Paramadina.
Communications expert Ishadi said that the era of radio's
single music format has passed.
"People need both music and actual information on current
issues. This opportunity is now being tapped by private radio
stations which offer various interesting news-format programs and
many of them are very successful," he said.
Ishadi went on to say that news programs will likely dominate
commercial radio stations. "Talk shows have become a trademark
and a selling point of each radio station. They will also become
the backbone of the private radio stations," he said.
FeMale radio of Prambors Group airs a special talk show called
FeMale Delivery Order guided by Ida Arimurti and Krisna who
previously hosted a famous talk show for teenagers in Prambors
Radio. In FeMale Delivery Order, listeners get the latest on
topics ranging from air travel to zen.
"Our listeners can exchange information on various issues
including the sale of furniture, cars or even CDs," Ida said.
The newly-established Male 97FM, also from Prambors Group,
offered a fresh concept when it started broadcasting Perspektif
Baru, a well-known talk show hosted by Wimar Witoelar whose
popular television program entitled Perspektif was banned last
year.
Perspektif Baru was broadcast twice a week by the Jakarta
station and six stations in other cities. In March, however,
Perspektif Baru was taken off the air.
Wimar, whose talk show often touches on politically sensitive
issues, resorted to touring the country, swapping his television
and radio sets for hotel halls with a limited audience in a
production called Perspektif Live.
Other unique talk show programs include Bengkel Keluarga run
by CBB radio which airs dang-dut music, Rumor by Bandung-based
Mara radio station and Opini Oke by Carolina radio station in
Surabaya, East Java.
Both audiences and broadcasters are enthusiastic about talk
radio and news programs. Trijaya's Jakarta Round Up talk show,
which was taken off the air two years ago, attracted more than
two million listeners. This favorite program also drew millions
of rupiah in commercials. CBB's Bengkel Keluarga also lures
advertisers.
"If we are not innovative, we cannot survive in this era of
tight media competition," Ichsan concluded.