THE FIRST ESSAY

SHOULD INDONESIAN COMISSION BROADCASTING BLOCK PARTICULAR TV SHOW?

In Indonesia, there are lots of television program taken by abroad. Not only adapting, but also showing television progam from various country. It carries many advantages but of course disadvantages. For instance, abroad’s cartoon display in Indonesia. It creates diversity show and sure that it entertaints people, for children definitely. It causes probably because the lack of making an exciting cartoon series in Indonesia. Therefore, it is too boring. So, every television channel, almost of them, national or private television station, show cartoon series. It becomes an attraction in every television channel. In contrast, recently the people protest due to Indonesian Comission Broadcasting (ICB) because they do excessive work. They bluring a lot of objects in cartoon series that they think it is prohibited in Indonesia. It reaped much criticism among people. Many think that ICB should not censor particular part of cartoon’s figure body; however I believe that showing a cartoon character that wear bikini is inappropriate.

Opponents think that ICB should not be too excessive in censoring. The statement addressed to recently issue about bluring the cartoon’s figure body. For instance, the character Sandy in Spongebob Squarepants serial cartoon. She looks wear bikini, but the particular part of Sandy’s body was being censor. It caused critisize from people because they think that it was too exaggerated. It was just an animation, especially it was not excessive. Sandy is a cartoon figure, they said. Hence, they critisize the policy of ICB. However, ICB has clarified what has became problem among people. They said that ICB affirmed it did not issue of any policies or request to broadcast (TV station) to spread animation program, cartoon and broadcast of Putri Indonesia. ICB also stated that its institution was not a censorship institution. It conveyed by ICB in response to the statement of netizens in the social media circulating in recent times that ICB did so. ICB also never issued a policy or rules outside the provisions of the broadcasting standard and broadcasting program standard (P3SPS) ICB 2012. The rules contained in P3SPS has very clear stated what can and shoud not to be broadcasted such as prohibition of displaying scene of violence and pornography. ICB regulation is not intended to limit the creativity of the broadcasters. Broadcasting agency is welcome to pay attention to every program of the program with a view or aesthetic that is feasible and worthy to be aired for the public. It means, probably TV station bluring their TV show in order to avoids reprimands from ICB.

Opponnets also maintain that ICB does not have right in censoring. Because by censoring it means that ICB limits the creativity of TV station. However, as a part of Indonesian institution, it has authority based on constitution number 32-2002 about broadcasting. It stated “set broadcast program standard, drafting regulation and guideline as well as broadcast program, standard, sanction violation of regulation and broadcast behaviour guideline and broadcats program standard, coordinate and/or cooperate with the government, broadcast and the public. Then, ICB also has the criteria for setting broadcast standard. Some of them are; tribal, religious, racial and intergroup values, norms of decency, public service program, privacy right, protection to children, to certain people and communities, the content of sexuality, violent content and restriction on cigarette charge and drugs.

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The final argument stated by opponent of this topic is ICB should not prohibit any broadcasting by broadcast company in Indonesia. As a TV channel, they may show any content as long as it is eligible to show in Indonesia. However, it may be true that the TV show displayed by broadcast company must eligible in Indonesia, but they must notice the content within it. It must according to the culture of Indonesia. Western culture (that brings negative impact) must prohibited in Indonesia. Then, it has to depend on the customs and religion in Indonesia.

Statement that involve ICB has not any policy in filter TV show is totally unfounded. The arguments above are evidents to argue the opponents statement. TV station should provide positive content to build and educate good character of Indonesian society. Finally, show cartoon programs from other country is allowed. As long as it is suitable with religion, culture and customs in Indonesia. Hence, in my opinion, the cartoon figure that wear incompetible custome must be prohibited.