'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.