Subscribers incensed by cable TV blackouts
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
It has been a long, tiring day at the office and Anton, a 27-year old project control engineer, just wants to watch his favorite late night sports on ESPN.
"I was disappointed when I turned on my TV and found that Kabelvision had disconnected at midnight," he said. "It was my only alternative after all the national and local TV stations cut their hours."
The cable TV provider claims to be complying with the government's energy conservation drive.
The Minister of Information and Communications issued a policy decision that ordered TV and radio stations to stop broadcasting between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.
"We cut our broadcasting hours under the consideration that we have to comply with the minister's policy," Kabelvision director Randolph Latumahina argued.
He added that the company would explain its reasoning to its subscribers.
By contrast, another satellite TV provider, Indovision, has been providing 24-hour services as usual.
An Indovision customer service officer explained that the company had not cut its services, but refused to comment further.
Free-to-air TV and radio stations have complied with the decree to support the drive, claiming that despite the possibility of losing advertising revenue, they would be able to improve efficiency by reducing broadcasting hours.
Unlike viewers and listeners of free-to-air stations, cable and satellite TV subscribers have lost more than just late night entertainment, as they continue to pay for a 24-hour service.
A Jakarta Kabelvision subscriber pays a monthly minimum of Rp 169,000 for viewing basic foreign channels plus an additional Rp 25,000 to Rp 200,000 for "premium" channels, such as HBO and Cinemax. The company, which began operations in 1996, has some 120,000 subscribers.
Meanwhile, Indovision charges its more than 100,000 subscribers monthly fees ranging from Rp 59,000 to Rp 269,000, depending on the kinds of channels selected. It also charges an extra Rp 100,000 for Japanese NHK, Stockwatch and KBS World.
Separately, Djoko Susilo, a member of the House of Representatives Commission I that oversees communications and information, said that even though cable and satellite providers were covered under Law No. 32/2002 on Broadcasting, they were under no obligation to comply with the ministerial policy directive.
"Cable and satellite TV providers can ignore the policy directive because complying with it would cause consumers to suffer," he said. "The minister has gone beyond his authority and the House will inquire into the matter in August or September."
Previously, KPI deputy Sinansari Encip said that such an instruction could be viewed as an attempt to meddle in the country's independent broadcasting industry.
"I do not think that cutting back broadcasting hours is effective in saving energy," Anton said. "Electricity makes up only 10 percent of our fuel consumption, right?
"We have paid for cable services, why can't we have some home entertainment after a stressful day at work?" Anton asked. (003)