'TVRI' to air ads if permitted

'TVRI' to air ads if permitted

UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: The state-owned television
station, TVRI, would air commercials as soon as it is permitted
to do so by law, Director for Television Affairs Azis Husain
said.

"We'll just have to wait for a new government decision on the
status of TVRI. It remains to be seen whether or not TVRI will
continue to have the status of a state-owned enterprise," he said
as quoted by Antara here yesterday.

He said TVRI is ready to compete with private television
stations but to be able to make greater progress, it needs a new
status that will allow it to have more independence.

Until now, he added, TVRI has not been as free as private TV
stations in preparing programs which cater to the viewers' taste
because it has to comply with certain government stipulations.

He added that TVRI is ready, in terms of human resources and
equipment, both in the central and provincial stations, to
compete with private TV stations.