TV stations warned against influx of foreign values

TV stations warned against influx of foreign values

JAKARTA (JP): Privately-owned television stations should air more locally produced programs as a move to contain the influx of foreign values, a senior legislator said yesterday.

Aisyah Aminy, chief of the House of Representatives Commission I which oversees information affairs, said all private TV stations should fill 80 percent of their air time with local programs like the state-owned TV station, TVRI, already does.

"If a station airs to many foreign programs, it will virtually become the foreigners mouthpiece," she warned.

Aisyah, a legislator from the United Development Party (PPP), made the remark in connection with the first anniversary of the privately-owned TV station Indosiar Visual Mandiri.

Indonesia has one state-owned TV stations and five private ones, RCTI, ANteve, SCTV, TPI and Indosiar.

The government suggests that all television stations fill in 80 percent of their broadcasting time with locally-made programs, if their finances permit it.

About 40 percent of Indosiar's programs are foreign, according to Antara.

Owned by the Salim Group, Indosiar got a thumbs-up for airing local cultural shows, particularly Javanese shadow puppet performances.

"This sort of program is excellent because it helps promote local cultures," Aisyah said. "But I think it would be a good idea to broadcast it in prime time."

President director of Indosiar Anky Handoko says the local cultural shows aim to improve viewers' appreciation of local cultures.

"It's not a matter of meeting the government's requirement for private TV stations to air locally-produced programs," he said.

Indosiar has been criticized for featuring Javanese and Sundanese culture more than the cultures of any other ethnic group.

Anky argued that the Javanese and Sundanese are Indonesia's dominant ethnic groups but added that the station has no intention to neglect other ethnic groups. (pan)