'TVRI' eyes Rp 600b from ads

'TVRI' eyes Rp 600b from ads

JAKARTA: The state-owned TV station TVRI is targeting advertising revenues of Rp 600 billion (US$57 million) in 2002, following its decision to resume the screening of commercials at the end of this year.

The resumption of the advertisements, which it stopped in the 1980s, is expected to make TVRI more financially independent, allowing it to improve its programs.

"By comparison, (privately-owned) Indosiar is targeting Rp 1.2 trillion from ads next year," TVRI president director Sumitha Tobing said on Friday when launching www.tvri.co.id.

Sumitha said that she did not expect to see a significant improvement in the station's financial position in the months immediately following the reintroduction of commercials, as TVRI was yet to improve its relay systems. Even in Greater Jakarta, reception in some areas was still poor, she acknowledged.

TVRI has an annual budget of about Rp 1 trillion, and the government provides only Rp 135 billion of this amount, forcing the station's management to turn to other sources of funding.

When asked why she launched the website, Sumitha jokingly said, "so that the viewers can ask about such things as the president director's monthly salary, news quality and how much anchors like Usi Karundeng earn a month."