Political Interconnection in the Operation of Digital Terrestrial Free-to- Air Television Broadcasting

Abstract

Agent(s) role in the implementation of policies is frequently considered as the determining factor for the success of policy implementation. This is reflected quite clearly in the "principleagent" theory that describes how self-interested agent influences the implementation process. However, is self-interested agent still relevant in explaining Indonesia's broadcasting policy implementation? What if policy implementation involved many actors with their respective personal interests? How will agents position themselves amidst numerous personal interestbearing actors? By using the political economy approach, this research aims to reveal the role of agents in the constellation of actors' relation to Indonesia's broadcasting policy implementation. The operation of digital terrestrial free-to-air television broadcasting case is used to provide a reflection of agents' position and political behavior in responding to the interest among actors. This research was conducted using the qualitative approach by implementing the data collection technique through in-depth interviews and document analysis. The research result shows that broadcasting policy implementation is not merely influenced by a self-interested agent but is also influenced by political interconnection and multiple-principles' political-economic interest.

The Challenge of Decentralization Policy for Television Broadcasting in Indonesia

“…Political lobbying influenced regulations and laws, driving them toward the big companies' interests (Mosco, 2009;Ali, 2013;Freedman, 2008). The fragile affinity the government shows in promoting public interests cannot be ignored by the intersecting and intertwining interests between the media conglomerates and the central government (Rahayu, 2018b).…”

https://journal.uii.ac.id/jurnal-komunikasi/issue/view/1285

“…Dengan lemahnya posisi dan peran KPI sebagai lembaga regulator, kekuasaan pemerintah yang dapat secara langsung mengendalikan penyiaran melalui peraturan-peraturan yang dibuatnya tidak dapat dikontrol. Demikian pula, intervensi dan kompromi yang terjadi antara kaum kapitalis dengan pemerintah dalam melahirkan kebijakan yang berpihak pada kepentingan mereka, tidak dapat diawasi atau pun dicegah (Rahayu, 2018). Dengan kata lain, KPI sebagai independent regulatory body yang seharusnya mampu mengantisipasi abuse of power baik pemerintah maupun para kapitalis, tidak dapat menjalankan fungsinya dengan baik (Grossberg dkk., 2006;Irion & Radu, 2013).…”