'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)