The moderator in the Denpasar Discussion Forum 12 “Keep Media Broadcasting through Revision of Law on Broadcasting” on Wednesday (7/5), Luthfi Assyaukanie says that the draft revision of Law on Broadcasting always stirs controversy. He acknowledges that the law was already scheduled for national legislation last year, but deferred to this year after a number of audiences.

Luthfi opines that the controversy surrounding television broadcasting involves three issues: 1) exclusive journalistic investigation broadcasting, 2) widening authority of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI), and 3) the limit put in place on digital content.

The Secretary General of the Indonesian Private Television Association (ATVSI) suggests that the reality of current national and international business in Indonesia is not good – as shown by reduction in advertisement. In addition, there is operational cost, for example procurement of new equipment, on-going staff salary, and taxes that must be paid. Television has to embark on efficiency and reduce quality, and avoid staff termination. "In the past, television had to compete against printed media, be it big or small. Now it has to compete with digital platform for the same advertisement income – hence more competition. This explains the deregulation on a number on aspects - content, journalistic standard, transmission power, infrastructure, permit for transmission frequency, broadcasting licence, and multi-broadcasting," says Gilang.

The question then is “what about balance – re. with the regulation changes?

On 24 December 2024the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission put in place broadcasting re. administrative fine.

Gilang proposes allocation of state’s local expenditure in the form of budget or gift. Lantas ia menyinggung terkait Komisi Penyiaran Indonesia Daerah (KPID). Apakah KPID masih relevan, juga kepemilikan saham lokal dihilangkan, kepemilikan silang dihilangkan dan platform digital yang harus diregulasi.

Other speaker who is member of Parliament Commission 1, Amelia Anggraini iterates that revision of law on broadcasting should be considered in the context of the country’s democratic and community’s rights to accurate information, as well as the Nation’s sovereignty. The current law is already 20 years old.

In the middle of the disruption era does not follow conventional media system.
Kalau tidak adaptasi maka industri akan mati. Broadcasting media should abide by the ethical code, and there is the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs. If free content is not regulated, there would be disinformation and people will believe things that go viral.

What the Parliament Commission 1 says is: to prepare list of issues (DIM) -DIM, it is a must and the definition of broadcasting applies not only to media that uses broadcasting but also digital media. This should mean that digital media abide by Article 1 and that the sentence should stay. The law should also be anticipatory of future technological progress, by integrating digital regulation.

Thus the objective of the revision is to promote fairness in the new media platform, using the same regulation that applies to media in order to avoid overlap.

Likewise, there needs to be fair policy, by optimising the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission – re. focusing it on journalistic content - while the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs focuses on non-journalistic content.

This is critical to ensure existence of journalistic media without limiting it (there is also regulation about press freedom). What people expect is transparency in algorithm platform.

Amelia expects that there is participation of the public and the academics, because the draft law touches on very sensitive issue. In other words, the revision should not be used as instrument to muzzle the public. It is important to maintain collective awareness as a nation. It would be difficult to get right information when conventional media stop existing, because right information is born of a good and just ecosystem.

Gunawan Hutagalung (Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs) suggests that revision may have an impact of continuity, hence there should be efficiency. Now the focus should be to keep on short-term and long-term continuity and sustainability. The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs accepts inputs to maintain balance between regulation and digital platform. It looks like there is one market through frequency if one looks at available services. This would ensure certainty in broadcasting industry.

"Overall, there should be a push for common infrastructure use and other facilities. The facilities should be intensive and innovative, which should be jointly discussed with stakeholders. TVRI would be the provider and would continue to promote widening broadcasting, despite the fact that there remains challenges at the local level," says Gunawan. (Ast)