Uniform ad fees for parties sought

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.