'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."