What they say about TV programs
By Christiani S. Tumelap
JAKARTA (JP): A variety of programs are screened by the seven local television stations. Some are cherished, while others are cursed. Five people from different walks of life shared their views on television programs with The Jakarta Post.
Eddy Noor, head of public relations at the Ministry of Information, said that although imported programs dominated the private-run television stations, they had given viewers a greater variety of entertainment.
"But many of the programs are being run at the wrong time, not to mention the irksome dubbing of some non-English language movies into Indonesian," Eddy said.
He put news programs, such as TVRI's 9 p.m. Dunia Dalam Berita (World News) and RCTI's 7 p.m. Seputar Indonesia (Around Indonesia), as the daily must-see programs.
To lighten up his life, he enjoys entertainment programs. "I like some of the quizzes on TVRI, RCTI's Tak Tik Boom and ANteve's Famili 100," Eddy said.
He said the number of quiz programs could be increased. "Especially those created locally. But, please don't base them too much on prizes. One quiz show even displays a luxurious car in front of participants. I think that's really unnecessary," he said. "And information should be clearly provided on where and how to join the quiz," he added.
Eddy denounced the mushrooming of party line advertisements on private-run television.
"I don't think it's a good thing. Please, don't be too money oriented, but try to give greater consideration to our kids' future," he pledged.
For a man like Amin Hamid, 50, who sells nasi uduk (rice steamed with coconut milk) during the day in the Cipulir market vicinity in South Jakarta and at night prepares meals to be sold the next day, enjoying television programs is a luxury.
"We only have a small black and white television in our house," he said when asked to comment on his favorite television program.
Amin said he could not spend much time in front of the television because he preferred to spend his precious spare hours sleeping.
"But, when I have time, I try not to miss TVRI's Dunia Dalam Berita news program in between my routine job preparing the sate which will be served with the rice," Amin said.
"My wife, six children, and two grandsons watch television more than I do. My wife loves Indian movies," he said.
"They also like to watch that program which has people guessing the answers to easy questions. I forget the name," Amin said.
He said one of his sons once tried to call the station to answer a question. "He called on a public phone near Cipulir market but couldn't get through."
The lack of spare time to enjoy television programs is also a problem for actress Ayu Azhari, who watches television in between her busy movie making schedule and spare time at home.
Ayu said she enjoyed news programs. "I like RCTI's Seputar Indonesia and Nuansa Pagi."
"I don't know why. Maybe because I have enjoyed watching this station for many years," she said.
She was concerned that programs such as local movies and quizzes were not educating viewers.
"A lot of stations broadcast programs quite similar to those screened by other stations. That's understandable, but I wish they would give more emphasis on worthwhile aspects such as values and culture," Ayu said.
"Whatever the program is, it should be able to nourish viewers' minds and give them courage to face real life. Don't just feed them movies which depict a glamorous life and dreams," she said.
Danny, a teacher at the University of Indonesia, was concerned about the excessive violence and advertisements on television.
"Violence almost always dominates both local and imported movies. Even the increasingly popular Indian melodrama and Mandarin action movies are bloodthirsty," she said.
"And you know what annoys me the most? It's when TV stations feed me with a series of advertisements from the beginning of a prime time movie to the end," said Danny, 27, who teaches political sciences at the university's School of Social and Political Sciences.
"I know the stations are chasing big money from advertisements. Even in America advertisements are only allowed to run after the main program for at least 15 minutes," she said.
Danny, who claimed to be a television addict in her college years, said her favorite program was SCTV's Derap Hukum (Legal Beat) weekly news program.
"And the worst is the Famili 100 quiz program on ANteve. It's not educating whatsoever. And the results of the so-called research could not have been derived from a valid survey," Danny said. "The real facts are being neglected because the survey's respondents gave wrong answers," she said.
Usman, a journalist at Republika daily, said he has a favorite program on almost each of the seven television stations. "I'll turn on RCTI for good movies, ANteve and SCTV for news," he said.
Speaking of the increasingly popular quiz programs, Usman said that ANteve's Family 100 was the best.
"I know that the material, just like many other quiz programs' except for RCTI's Tak Tik Boom, is far from educating. But, at least it's more fun than the others," Usman said.
He said it was difficult to find a program which could educate and entertain viewers at the same time.
"The problem is that people here become addicted to glamorous entertainment programs because they are more fun than boring educational programs," he said.