Indonesian TV stations warned over lack of local content
JAKARTA - All major television networks in Indonesia have failed to fully implement the Network Broadcast System, adherence to which is a mandatory requirement for the extension of broadcast licenses, the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) has warne
According to the commission, all Indonesian television stations are obliged to implement the rules laid out in the Network Broadcast System, which revolve around the decentralization principle as stipulated in the 2002 Broadcasting Law. Under this principle, stations are prohibited from broadcasting nationally, forcing them to build networks with local stations.
“So, if a television station is located in East Java, it should also broadcast content about that province,” KPI commissioner Amirudin said.
He added that under this rule, Indonesian stations were divided into two categories, namely parent and member stations. Each member station of a national TV network should produce and broadcast at least 10 percent local content, which involved and concerned the local people, he went on.
Through this decentralization principle, Amirudin said, communities could benefit from content sourced from local wisdom and promoting cultural heritage, rather than just consume content from Jakarta that was sometimes irrelevant to them.
He further said that under the rule, parent and member stations would share advertising revenue.
In a hearing at the House of Representatives on Monday, the KPI said the issue of insufficient implementation of the framework affected 15 private TV networks: Indosiar, Global TV, Metro TV, MNC TV, ANTV, Trans TV, Trans 7, RCTI, TV One, SCTV, iNews, Net TV, Kompas TV, RTV and O Channel.
Four of the 15 stations, namely Trans 7, Global TV, Net TV and RTV, failed to include local content in all of their member stations. Kompas TV broadcast more than 10 percent local content through its member station, while iNews featured local content deemed to have real relevance to the locals. Both Kompas TV and iNews included locals in their programme production activities.
“I suspect there is no strong willingness on the part of parent stations to work together with their member stations,” House lawmaker Meutya Hafid told journalists.
The KPI plans to evaluate 10 television networks whose permits are set to expire this year. Nine television stations, namely ANTV, Global TV, Indosiar, MNCTV, RCTI, SCTV, Trans TV, TV7 and TV One, will see their permits expire in October, while Metro TV will have to renew its permit in December.
The commission will look at three main factors in evaluating the television stations, namely their adherence to the Broadcasting Code of Conduct and programme Standards (P3SPS), their broadcasting programme proposals for the next 10 years and their implementation of the Network Broadcast System.
