This document is downloaded from DR-NTU, Nanyang Technological University Library, Singapore. Title The impact of transnational television broadcast on Indonesian people. Author(s) Citation The impact of transnational television broadcast on Indonesian people. (1994). In AMIC Seminar on Television Development in the Asia-Pacific Region : Jakarta, Dec 8-9, 1994. Singapore: Asian Media Information & Communication Centre. Date 1994 URL http://hdl.handle.net/10220/2830 Rights
The Impact Of Transnational Television Broadcast On Indonesian People By Marwah Daud Ibrahim
THE IMPACT OF TRANSNATIONAL TELEVISION BROADCASTS ON INDONESIAN PEOPLE by. Dr. Marwah Daud Ibrahim - :-: :; : : : : : : : : ] :-: : : : :-: : : : : : :.: : Pointers p* Region). I mmmmm. ar "Television Development in the Asia-Pacific Region" Television Broadcasts in Indonesia and the Asia Pacific esia,s~ 9 December 1994. The potential and actual impact and effect of the transnational television on viewers in Indonesia is still debatable. In general, the participants in the debate can be grouped in three camps. The first camp asserts that empirical data is very limited to give accurate analysis on the impact and effect of transnational television on Indonesian people. This is quite true, for the country with very wide area coverage, and diverse socio-economic background like Indonesia it is difficult to make any generalization. Whom do me mean by Indonesian people? Are they who live in Jakarta elite areas who are as cosmopilite as people in London, Paris, New York or are we talking about common peoole who live in over 60.000 Indon sian villages with 'ifferent degree of e onomic developme-v, with dive r s. cultural and traditio al values?
To make assessment on the impact and effect of television on Indonesian people is not easy for this very reason. Let us look closely to the the following examples. Several cities in Sumatra and Kalimantan has for many years experienced spill over of television broadcast from Malaysia and Singapore. Similarly, for many years the haves people in the big cities has exposure with transnational program using parabolic antenna wich is permitted by the Indonesian goverment. Interestingly enough that in my visit to many districts of Indonesia during re/esj-time I found out several numbers of parabolic antenna that enable villagers share transnational television broadcating in theri very remote areas. We (I) simply hav- not yet captured pie:es to held us make \ mosaic of the actual condition of our transnational television viewers. Where are the clusters of viewers of the transnational television located? Who own and utilize parabolic antenna in Indonesia? What are they favorite, channels or favorit programs? Are they tend to view more transnational TV program over national program or the other way around? What are the reasons behind this choices? Are they any significant distinctions of impact among transnational TV viewers who are highly educated compare to less educated; the haves and the haves-not; the one who live in the cities and the villages and bordering nations? Such questions need to be answered through qualitative and quantitative reasearch. v The second camp argues that television's impact is immense and totally pervasive. This requiring immediate national media policies formulation to cope effectively with negative influence. The participation in this group is very much concern about cultural impact of the trnasnational television broadcast which they view can lead the Indonesian people into consumerism, westernization and into global cultural homogenization. The effect of television on cultural identity as well as global lifestyle worried many observers in this group. This cultural implication can lead toward economic impact. Market for overseas food, fashion, music and enter ainment opened up '<.nd it said to curtaii t ie market for tradiiu nal and local products. This go p is also very cr ical about the im; act of transnational television that nnrelv commercial that shows violence, pornography, and cheap escapist fantasy as their prime menu.
"3 This camp also go further in assessing that transnational television broadcast can affect the sovereignty of the state. With open sky policy Indonesian government according to this camp, have very limited or no control over transnational television broadcast over its territory. This fears by some can lead the country into information domination or even communication imperialism. Observers in this group site Singapore and Malaysia as good example of countries that p event foreign domination for not permitting parabolic antenna be owned by their citizens. The third camp maintains that although there is at present negative impact and an imbalance in the international flow of television broadcasting, with *ime and through leaning process the condition will improve itself. This group views that by taking part in the satellite activities since 1976 Indonesian has no other choice but following "open sky policy" path. Meaning that the country has to open itself for the transnational television to enter. The assessment is true. Indonesian newpaper Republika, 7 Desember 1994 published that 21 broadcast station from 9 countries confirm to lease PALAPA-C. There are six broadcasting industries from USA namely CNN, ESPN, HBO, TNT Cartoon, Viacom, and Discovery. Other countries include Australia (Channel 9), France (CFI), The Philippines (PPN and GMA Rainbow), Malaysia (TV3 and RTM), New Zealand (NZTV), Papua Nugini, Brunai Darussalam (RTV), and six Indonesian station (TVRI, TPI, ANTV, RCTI, SCTV and Indosiar). For this group transnational television has positive impact for Indonesian people. Broadcaster can learn new broadcasting technology and style. Viewers can learn modern way of thinking and way of life; time management, rationality, efficiency, etc. In addition, they observers in this group also maintain that not need to worry too much about cultural domination in Indonesia. This is because Indonesia is viewed to be culturally rebust. The majority of Indonesian peop c will choose Indone ;hn program over foreign program anyhov\. due to langgu ge barrier. Unlike S ngapore or Malaysi: the majority of Ind nesia only >.se their local langrr lge and Bahasa Indonesia as national Janjuage. Very few Indonesian, and the majority of them live in the cities, who can speak English or other foreign language. This seen by many observers us
hindrance for transnational television programs to have perpassive impact on Indonesian majority viewers. Ill I regret to say that the above mentioned observation is taken mainly from public heuring in Indonesia FLuse of Representatv.e or my personal observation during my visit in Indonesian village in Indonesia. 1 wish I can based the analysis on more thorough research. In this occation I personally recommend that we conduct serious investivation, this can be done by governemnet or private research centers, universities, and others, to provide national leaders ith realiable infrorr tion on which to ba : policy decision on the transnational telecommunication policies. While doing research transnational television can continue to broadcast but the content should carry missions. The missions should be in line with the position taken by Indonesian Government in tne New World Information Order, as stated by Willy A. Karamoy in the United Nation October this year. That is it should strengthen world peace, promote mutual understanding among nations, increasing the standard of life, strenthenmg the cohesiveness among nations, and respecting other cultures and values. Things that mentioned here is not only true for Indonesian community but shared by others people in the Asia-Pacific region. For this reasons I would like to close this remark by conveying my sincere appreciation to Badan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Penerangan and Asia Mass Communication Research and Information Centre (AMIC) for organizing this seminar with timely theme "Television Development in the Asia-Pacific Region." It my best hope that this cooperation will help us do more joint research and more joint activities in field of television broadcasting. If it is true that the future of the world will shift form Atlantic to the Asia Pacific region. We can envision bright future in the transnational television broadcast orgininated from and intended taword Asia and Pacific communities. Bu: his can only be true vith careful planning >nd preparation. This can only be one by concerted ffort of researchers, policy makers, broadcasters all tnoush this region Thank you.