TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) plans to summon a number of TV station owners who allegedly sell their airtime outside of advertising slots. KPI also received public complaints about political advertisement broadcasted during non-advertisements slots.

"There have been reports and indications of violations, but we need further analysis," said KPI Chairman for Broadcast Content Supervision, Rahmat Arifin, yesterday.

In September alone, KPI had found several alleged violations. According to documents obtained by Tempo, On September 6 KPI suspected TVOne of violating broadcasting rules. In its news program Kabar Petang, the station aired the Third National Work Meeting of the Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

On September 11 and 14, MetroTV allegedly violated the rules by airing the National Democrat Party's (NasDem) Legislator Candidate Orientation event in its Headline News program. MetroTV's chief editors denied giving special treatment to the party.

As for TVRI's delayed broadcast of the Democrat Party's Convention on Sept. 15, the KPI has decided that it violated the principles of neutrality and independence.

According to Rahmat, the sales and purchases od airtime outside advertising slots are prohibited in the Broadcasting Act. However, he said, it is difficult for KPI to calculate the amount of ad slots. "Not to mention the built-in advertising within the programs," he said.

The KPI, Rahmat asserted, is determined to clean all veiled advertising outside the regulated advertising duration.

The case surfaced after TVRI admitted to selling its airtime for Rp150 million per hour. Among the buyers are Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia and a number of political parties.

"This is how TVRI earns its income outside of regular advertising revenues and the state budget," TVRI's Business Development Director Erwin Aryanantha TVRI last Friday.

KPI Deputy Chairman Idy Muzayyad condemned the act. "Selling airtime is clearly a violation. [The actors] can be given criminal sanctions," he said. The criminal penalty for such act, according to article 59 of the broadcasting Law, is a maximum fine of Rp2 billion for TV stations and Rp200 radio stations.

SUBKHAN | NURUL MAHMUDAH