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media watchdog has criticized the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) for what it sees as a lackluster assessment of 10 private television companies that does little to compel stations to improve the quality of their programs.

The Coalition for Broadcasting Reform, the media watchdog, said Wednesday that the assessment was no more than a formality, given the poor evaluation process.

The KPI conducted its evaluation of the 10 television companies from May 10 through May 17 at its Jakarta chapter. The assessed television companies are ANTV, Global TV, Indosiar, MNCTV, RCTI, SCTV, Trans TV, TV7, TV One and Metro TV.

The broadcasting permit for Metro TV expires in October, while those of the other stations are valid until December.

The evaluations will be used to determine whether the companies’ broadcasting permits will be renewed or not. Each evaluation meeting was attended by officials from the KPI as well as representatives of the TV stations, NGOs and the public.

“The KPI does not take into account previous assessments of those TV stations in its evaluation meetings. In fact, there is a list of violations against the broadcasting code of conduct,” Ade Armando, a media analyst with the Coalition for Broadcasting Reform, told journalists.

The media watchdog added that the KPI had failed to explain what input it had received from the public, including individuals, NGOs, foundations and educational institutions, and how it was using that input in this evaluation.

Ade lamented a lack of coordination within the KPI and said its commissioners seemed unprepared for the evaluation.

“They do not have systematic guidance to question each representative of the TV stations. The quality of the evaluation depends on the commissioners that are present,” Ade said, adding that the nine commissioners should have similar views on how to improve the quality of broadcasting.

Responding to the criticism, KPI commissioner Azimah Subagijo said criticism from the public and NGOs would be taken into account.

“We have prepared the evaluation meetings, but honestly, we have limited time,” Azimah told the Jakarta Post over the phone.

She added that input from the public had been conveyed to the 10 TV stations and each commissioner should also have read the public input before the evaluation process.

“Maybe not all commissioners mention the public input at the evaluation, and we only mention the most severe violations those stations committed,” Azimah said.

In 2015, the KPI imposed 266 sanctions on several Indonesian television networks for violations against child and adolescent protection, courtesy and morality and journalistic ethics. The figure was higher than the previous year, which saw the KPK impose 184 sanctions.

Meanwhile, Coalition for Broadcasting Reform member Bobi Guntarto said the KPI should have included the warning letters given to each TV station in the evaluation process to encourage them to minimize violations in the future.

In addition, Ade said the KPI should assert its authority.

“The KPI can tell those TV stations to evaluate themselves and promise to air only qualified programs or it will revoke their licenses. That will be scary enough for them.” (wnd)