Uniform ad fees for parties sought
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Each party and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) candidate contesting the legislative election may place ads on television for a maximum of 10 slots of 30 seconds per station for each day of the campaign period, according to a draft regulation from the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI).
The draft, jointly issued by the KPI and the General Elections Commission (KPU), also suggests that each party and DPD candidate may buy 10 slots of 60 seconds per radio station for each day of the campaign period.
"Broadcasting companies must ensure that each political party contesting the election has an equal opportunity to place ads of at least 60 seconds for each day of the campaign period," the draft says.
The legislative election will be held on April 5, and will be contested by a total of 24 political parties.
There are currently 13 national television stations, including state-owned TVRI.
The draft also stipulates that broadcasting companies will not be allowed to sell unused ad slots already allocated to specific political parties.
To avoid unfair competition between political parties, the KPI is also urging broadcasting companies to set a standard commercial ad tariff applicable to all political parties and establish a lower tariff for social service ads.
"To educate the public and ensure the success of the election, broadcasting companies must air free, nonpartisan public service ads for at least 60 seconds per day from 7 p.m. through 11 p.m during the campaign period," the draft says.
The KPI has also proposed regulations for television talk shows during the campaigning period, which runs from March 11 to April 1.
"During talk shows, radio and television stations must offer an equal opportunity to speak to all participants. Talk shows must be moderated by an independent figure," said KPI member Andrik Purwasito during a hearing with House of Representatives Commission I for media and information affairs.
A number of politicians and experts have questioned whether the appearance of some presidential candidates on television ads constitutes campaigning.
Andrik, however, said that the appearance of presidential candidates on ads was allowed as long as they did not display the logos of their respective political parties.
Ade Armando, another KPI member, said that it was difficult to create regulations that would compel broadcasting companies to provide audiences with educational programs.
"We can only set down limited criteria. For instance, we have established criteria that can be applied to pornographic programs," he said.
During the hearing, a number of legislators raised concern at programs with a "mystical" content that are aired by almost all television stations.
Djoko Susilo and Aisyah Aminy, from the Reform and the United Development (PPP) parties respectively, said that mystical programs would not enlighten society.
Sidharto Danusubroto, from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), said that soap operas aired on television did not reflect the real lives of a majority of the Indonesian people.
He said most soap operas featured luxurious lifestyles, whereas most Indonesians lived more modestly.