TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government must use this good opportunity to restructure the ownership and broadcast system of national television. This momentum follows the State Administrative Court's decision two weeks ago, revoking the Communication and Information Minister's Regulation No. 22/2011 on Terrestrial Digital Television Broadcasting.
Ownership of national television channels has so far been divided up in a rather collusive way. Only a few business entities received from the Suharto government the special rights to run the business. Predictably, the owners went into politics and their channels were used for their personal political use. The government looks the other way.
Changes occurred after the Geneva Frequency Plan Agreement in 2006, which approved the migration from analog to digital television. With digital technology, one analog channel can be divided into six to nine digital channels. Indonesia had planned to divide them among 15 broadcasting zones.
Each zone will have six analog channels, eventually to be changed to digital. This was seen as an opportunity to add more channels and invite new players to take part.
But then former Communication Minister Tifatul Sembiring issued a decree favoring businesses owned by the old oligarchy. The result of auctioning seven broadcast zones showed that the old players were still dominant, sparking public protests. Lawsuits by the Indonesian Network Television Association and the Indonesian Local Television Association followed at the State Administrative Court.
These two associations want to take on the television barons, who for years dominated the lucrative television business. Over a three-quarter period in 2013, half of Rp78.5 trillion in advertising revenues, went to television. Given these huge profits, the old players are likely to deploy all resources to retain the lion's share of the advertising pie. It's now up to Rudiantara, the new communication minister, to initiate changes.
After the latest State Administrative Court decision on this sector, Rudiantara must ensure that the multiplexing broadcast business is not given to the old players.
To prevent conflict of interests, television media companies should not be allowed to run multiplexing broadcasting management services. State-owned Telkom company, for example, could be given this multiplexing business opportunity.
Also, the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) must immediately amend Law No. 32/2002 on Broadcasting. This is important so that digital television services is based on a strong legal foundation.
Television has a strong impact on the public. People's choices, including political preferences, are mostly influenced by television programs. In the hands of a small group of oligarchs, public frequencies will only become tools to reap big profits and serve as self-serving propaganda. Minister Rudiantara must not pass up this chance to alter our television landscape. (*)
