'RCTI' still the most popular TV station
'RCTI' still the most popular TV station
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's first privately owned television
station, RCTI, is still the main choice for viewers in Greater
Jakarta despite strong competition from new stations.
Adwin Wibisono, of Survey Research Indonesia, told The Jakarta
Post yesterday that RCTI is still the most popular station in
Jakarta.
Data show that RCTI has maintained domination of the top 10
weekly television programs for the past six months.
Survey Research Indonesia is affiliated to the United States
firm Nielsens International, a recognized company which rates the
popularity of television programs.
Apart from Indonesia, the Nielsens group currently works in
several countries throughout Asia, including Malaysia, the
Philippines and Japan. They first began rating Indonesian
television programs in 1991.
The outright ratings winner in past months was Si Doel Anak
Betawi, starring perennial favorite Rano Karno. The weekly series
tells about the growing pains of a boy living in a traditional
Betawi family.
Such is the popularity of the show that it now has a spin-off
titled Erte Erwe.
RCTI's catalog of shows is further strengthened by other
popular comedies such as Gara-gara, Kanan-Kiri Oke and Liku-Liku
Laki-Laki. Quiz shows like Tak Tik Boom also make a good showing.
In fact RCTI monopolizes the top rankings, occupying at least
eight or nine, if not all, of the spots in the top 10.
Only RCTI's sister station, SCTV, seems to be able to break
the stranglehold with their Kung-Fu epic White Snake Legend.
Despite the domination in Jakarta, RCTI seems to be facing
tight competition in other cities.
In Semarang and Surabaya, SCTV programs have a much better
showing in the top 10, even beating out Si Doel for the top spot.
Adwin predicts that outside of Jakarta, audiences are
beginning to turn to SCTV and the newly established Indosiar
television station.
The TV ratings are determined by weekly inquiries to thousands
of household sample groups.
Survey Research Indonesia executives yesterday announced that
it will be using an installed automatic machine called the
"people meter" to register viewing habits by 1997.
The meter, manufactured in California, is currently being
modified to suit Indonesian needs. (mds)