Broadcasting License of RCTI, SCTV and Metro TV May Be Withdrawn

TEMPO Interactive, Palangkaraya:The Chief of Central Kalimantan Regional Independent Broadcasting Commission (KPID) in charge of broadcasting system operations, John Retei Alfrisandi, said the broadcasting licenses of RCTI, SCTV, and Metro TV may be withdrawn next year.The three have not contacted us to apply for the license adjustment process, yet the deadline is December 28. If they continue to do this, their broadcasting activities will be halted and their licenses withdrawn, Jonh told reporters in Palangakaraya yesterday.John urged the three television stations to immediately adjust their licenses and form a local business agency in the province. This is regulated in the Communication and Informatics Ministerial Regulation no. 32/2007 on the Adjustment in the Application for a Network Station System.However, RCTI corporate secretary Gilang Iskandar said his office was following the mechanism that existed in the Communication and Informatics Ministerial Regulation no. 43/2009. RCTI, he said, had sent a proposal to the Communication and Informatics Minister concerning the composition of local and national news content and they are now awaiting approval. Afterwards, we will form a legal body and go to KPID, he told Tempo yesterday.As there has been no response yet from the minister, RCTI has not communicated with KPID in all provinces until today. Gilang explained that the ministerial regulation concerning the network was only issued on October 19. We are still guessing what the network regulation will be like, he said.SCTV Public Relations, Uki Hastama, refused to comment on Central Kalimantan KPIDs threat. We are currently undergoing all stages of the process in line with the Ministerial Regulation no. 43/2009, he said in a short message. Until this report went to print, Tempo had not received comment from Metro TV.KARANA W I RIEKA RAHADIANA | MARIA HASUGIAN