State-owned `TVRI' and `RRI' to be merged into one company
State-owned `TVRI' and `RRI' to be merged into one company
JAKARTA (JP): The government will merge the state-run
television and radio stations, currently two separate state
agencies, into one enterprise, but will not privatize them,
Minister of Information Harmoko announced yesterday.
Harmoko said Televisi Republik Indonesia (TVRI) and Radio
Republik Indonesia (RRI) could be managed by one state-run
company to improve efficiency and keep up with public demand.
"Ideally, the management of RRI and TVRI should be merged
because both are broadcasting services under the Ministry of
Information," he told journalists after meeting with President
Soeharto.
He corrected earlier reports that suggest that the government
was planning to privatize the television and radio stations to
improve their management.
"With the new status as a state enterprise, TVRI and RRI are
expected to develop their programs," Harmoko said, adding that
they would remain the government's media for promoting the
development of the nation.
Although the status of TVRI will change, the government will
continue to adhere to its policy of banning commercial
advertisements on the state-run television network because TVRI
can still rely on state funds for its budget.
The government banned commercials in the early 1980s on the
grounds that they encouraged consumerism. TVRI receives funding
from the government, as well as from license fees.
With the advent of private commercial television stations five
years ago, TVRI has also been receiving royalties from each of
the four private networks.
Critics have pointed out that the station's lack of funds
resulting from the no advertisement policy is responsible for the
poor quality of its programs.
When pressed concerning how the government could expect TVRI
to profit if it was not allowed to broadcast commercials, Harmoko
said that intensifying fee collection was "one way".
He said the plan to turn TVRI and RRI into a single company
was being handled by a team consisting of officials from his
ministry and the office of state administrative reforms.
The plan will be high on the agenda of the upcoming technical
meeting of the state electronic media.
Harmoko had met with the President to discuss the press
coverage of next month's meetings of the 18-member Asia Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum here and in Bogor.
"The President guaranteed there would be no foreign
journalists barred from covering the event. All accredited
journalists are free to enter Indonesia," he said.
"Even Portuguese journalists may enter," he said when asked if
journalists from Portugal could cover the meetings and visit East
Timor.
He added he was optimistic that foreign journalists would do
balanced reporting about Indonesia. "I think they will present
only facts and not twist them," he said.
Harmoko said up to yesterday, 1,250 foreign journalists have
registered with the conference's committee. (pan)