TV Stations Urged to Review ‘Sinetron’ Soap Operas and Variety Shows

Illustration. (Image courtesy of Salvatore Vuono at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

Jakarta, GIVnews.com – The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) has called on all television stations in Indonesia which air variety shows and locally made soap operas to undertake a thorough evaluation of such programs.

The commission had conducted a survey in nine largest cities in Indonesia and had come to the conclusion that the two program categories were at the very lowest quality. Some of them do little to help shape viewers' characters and identity. Moreover, many of their contents are about mystical things, horrors and violence despite their huge viewers base, KPI said.

"We are still at the very lowest quality in terms of 'sinetron' films (soap operas) and variety shows. We call on television stations to review them further," KPI Chairman Judhariksawan told a news conference at its office in Central Jakarta on Monday (22/6), Kompas.com reported.  On the occasion, the KPI made presentation about the results of its survey.

KPI's survey discovered that among the lowest quality 'sinetron' operas are Mak Ijah Pengen ke Mekah (SCTV), 7 Manusia Harimau  (RCTI) and Sinema Pintu Tobat  (Indosiar). In addition, poor quality variety shows include Late Night Show (Trans TV), Duo Pedang  (Global TV) and Pesbukers  (ANTV).

Meanwhile, not all television stations agreed with KPI's evaluation. On 7 Manusia Hariamu, for example, RCTI insists that the physically fierce fighting scenes in that film are based on a long-held legend in Bengkulu in southern Sumatra. "It is unfair to compare it with other sinetrons which do not have fight contents," said RCTI's government relations chief Ida Yuanita.

Source: TV Stations Urged to Review 'Sinetron' Soap Operas and Variety Shows