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.