'TVRI' losing its viewers

That the (state-run) television network TVRI has been losing viewers since private stations began to operate is public knowledge. However, not many people are aware that only a tiny percent of the former TVRI viewers still watch its programs.

Studies conducted by the Indonesian Advertising Commission (KPI) show that the number of people watching TVRI programs has drastically fallen. In urban areas there are only six percent of the previous number of viewers. In rural areas the number is bigger, 47 percent, but even this may not last long. There is a possibility that TVRI will still continue to lose viewers as it is forced to compete closely with private television stations.

"It is fortunate that there are still the centrally broadcast news programs which private stations are required to relay. But namely because of this people may not even remember that TVRI still exists," says Koes Pudjianto, chairman of the KPI presidium.

What could be wrong with TVRI? Limited funds are obviously a problem. The biggest burden which TVRI has to carry, however, is its position as a conveyor of development messages. Admittedly this position cannot be changed since TVRI is a government media outlet. This, however, should not mean that those development messages cannot be made more attractive.

On the other hand it would be better for the government not to overburden TVRI with this mission on development. Give TVRI some leeway to make up its own programs. Without it TVRI will not only lose even more of its viewers, but it will also lose its credibility as a trustworthy medium of information.

-- Republika, Jakarta