Subscribers incensed by cable TV blackouts
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)
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)