Radio Republik Indonesia

LPP Radio Republik Indonesia
	Logo used since 11 September 2023
Company type	Statutory corporation (Public broadcasting)
Industry	Mass media
Predecessor	Hoso Kanri Kyoku (1942–1945; in Jakarta); Hoso Kyoku (1942–1945; in other areas);
Founded	11 September 1945; 79 years ago
Founder	Joesoef Ronodipoero; Abdul Rahman Saleh; ...and others;
Headquarters	Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat 4-5, Central Jakarta
Area served	Nationwide and Worldwide
Key people	Anwar Mujahid Adhy Trisnanto (Chairman of the Board of Supervisors); Ignatius Hendrasmo (President-Director);
Products	Broadcasting; Web portals;
Services	Radio; Television; Online;
Number of employees	5,150 (2019)
Website	rri.co.id

Radio Republik Indonesia (Radio of the Republic of Indonesia, abbreviated as RRI, stylized in logo in all-lowercase) is a public radio network of Indonesia and one of Indonesia's two national Public Broadcasting Institutions, the other being the public television network TVRI. Founded on 11 September 1945, it is the first radio network in Indonesia and the second oldest media company in the country after Antara. RRI headquarters are located on Medan Merdeka Barat Street in Central Jakarta, Jakarta.

RRI has four radio networks as well as visual radio channels, broadcasts all over Indonesia to serve all citizens throughout the nation. The network is supported by roughly 90 local stations, the largest of any radio network in the country. Through its overseas broadcasting division Voice of Indonesia, RRI also provides information about Indonesia to people around the world. Its funding primarily comes from annual state budget approved by the parliament, advertisement, and other services.

History

RRI was established on 11 September 1945 by several figures who previously operated several Japanese radio stations in 6 cities. A meeting attended by the station delegates at Adang Kadarusman house on Menteng resulted in the decision to set up Radio Republik Indonesia by choosing Abdul Rahman Saleh as the first general manager.

In February 1946, RRI was placed under the Department of Information, and immediately became a tool for the newly established national government during Indonesian National Revolution.^[1]

Domestic Dutch-language broadcasts were discontinued in 1954.^[2]

The RRI central station in Jakarta became one of the vital objects captured by the 30 September Movement on 1 October 1965. In that morning, RRI reported about the September 30 Movement aimed at high-ranking officers who were members of the "Council of Generals" who were about to stage a coup against the government, and announced the formation of "Revolutionary Council" led by Lt. Col. Untung.

In late 1960s, private radio stations were established and effectively ended RRI's monopoly on radio broadcasting. However, during the New Order era, upon the requests of the Ministry of Information, RRI-produced news programs were aired simulcast on all radio stations.

After the Broadcasting Act No. 32/2002 is in force, RRI, along with TVRI, set as the public radio network in 2006 and became independent of any governmental control. The status then reaffirmed by Government Regulation (Peraturan Pemerintah) No. 12 of 2005.

In 2018, RRI became the official Indonesian radio Rights of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, RRI use the tagline Radio Tanggap Bencana COVID-19 (COVID-19 Disaster Responsive Radio). By the tagline, the network announced their efforts to combat the pandemic by providing accurate and reliable information, and supporting the actions of government of Indonesia during the pandemic.^[3]

A proposed new Broadcasting Act (Undang-Undang Penyiaran) currently in the making would merge RRI with its fellow public broadcaster TVRI unto a unified firm RTRI (Radio Televisi Republik Indonesia, Radio [and] Television of the Republic of Indonesia).^[4]

All RRI radio stations sign on with the musical theme "Mars Jakarta" (Jakarta March). Similarly, it closes every day with the instrumental theme "Lief Ambon" (also called "Love Ambon"), composed by George de Fretes, a renowned musician of Indo-European descent. The two themes were reportedly chosen by President Sukarno.^[5]

Principles and structure

Official RRI flag with the new logo (since 11 September 2023)

RRI is designated as public broadcasting institution per Act No. 32 of 2002 on Broadcasting, which defined as a "legal entity established by the state; has independent, neutral, not commercial (characteristics); and has the function to provide services for the public benefit". Its duty, according to Government Regulation No. 12 of 2005, is "to provide the healthy information, education and entertainment services, (maintain) social control and unity, and preserve the nation's culture for the whole public benefit by organizing radio broadcast that reaches all parts of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia". The network is formally placed directly under, and responsible to, the President of Indonesia.

Unlike other public broadcasters such as TVRI and newly established local public broadcasters, RRI has long had a broadcast pledge called Three Pledges of RRI (Tri Prasetya RRI), shown below in English:^[6]

We must save all radio broadcast devices from anyone who wants to use these devices to destroy our country, and defend the devices with all our body and soul in any condition and with any consequences.
We must drive the RRI broadcast as an instrument of struggle and revolutionary tool for the entire Indonesian nation, with a pure national spirit, a clean and honest heart, and a mind full of love and loyalty to the homeland and nation.
We must stand above all traditions and beliefs of any parties or groups, by prioritizing national unity and the safety of the state and holding on the spirit of the Proclamation of 17 August 1945.

RRI organization structure consists of five Board of Supervisors (Dewan Pengawas) appointed by the People's Representative Council (DPR) and six Board of Directors (Dewan Direksi) appointed by the Board of Supervisors. Both are sworn in by the President, served for five years and renewable once.

According to article 15 of the Broadcasting Act, RRI funding comes from several sources such as broadcasting fees, annual state budget (drafted by the government and approved by the DPR), community contribution, and advertisement, as well as other legal efforts related to the broadcasting operation. In fact, as of today the broadcasting fee is not yet implemented, and RRI is asked to generate "non-tax revenue" for the state by various funding sources (besides the annual state budget), which some of the revenue would be returned to the network. Previously the radio tax to supplement RRI funding was charged in 1947,^[7] but was abolished sometime in the 1980s.^{[citation needed]}

Services

Radio

RRI Padang studio in Padang, West Sumatra.

In general, RRI offers a maximum of four main stations in a region (availability are vary, see below), one of them is a national simulcast. Three other services are transmitted locally, producing local programmes as well as relaying programmes from RRI central station in Jakarta.

Pro 1: The station serves as regional radio for local community, mainly broadcasts local news and education as well as music.
Pro 2: The station serves teenager and youth community. It mainly broadcasts music, entertainment and lifestyle programming.
Pro 3: Relays directly from RRI central station, it broadcasts 24-hour news, current affairs, music, & talk programming nationally supplemented by reports from local RRI stations.
Pro 4: Currently exist in several cities, it broadcasts local cultural programming as well as variety of cultures within Indonesia.

On shortwave and online, Voice of Indonesia broadcasts as an overseas broadcaster, airing general information, music and entertainment.

Stations in major cities

Location	Pro 1	Pro 2	Pro 3	Pro 4
Ambon	FM 105.1 MHz	FM 98.4 MHz	FM 101.9 MHz	FM 90.1 MHz
Nusantara (planned city)	FM 98.3 MHz	-	-	-
Banda Aceh	FM 97.7 MHz	FM 92.6 MHz	FM 87.8 MHz	FM 88.6 MHz
Bandar Lampung	FM 90.9 MHz	FM 92.5 MHz	FM 87.7 MHz	FM 88.5 MHz
Bandung	FM 97.6 MHz	FM 96.0 MHz	FM 88.5 MHz	AM 540 kHz
Banjarmasin	FM 97.6 MHz	FM 95.2 MHz	FM 92.5 MHz	FM 87.7 MHz, FM 99.6 MHz (relay)
Batam	FM 105.1 MHz	FM 105.5 MHz	FM 90.9 MHz
Bengkulu	FM 92.5 MHz	FM 105.1 MHz	FM 88.6 MHz
Bogor	MW 1242 kHz	FM 106.8 MHz	FM 90.9 MHz
Cirebon	FM 94.8 MHz	FM 97.5 MHz
Denpasar	FM 88.6 MHz	FM 100.9 MHz	FM 95.3 MHz	FM 93.4 MHz
Jakarta	FM 91.2 MHz	FM 105.0 MHz	FM 88.8 MHz AM 999 kHz	FM 92.8 MHz
Jambi	FM 88.5 MHz	FM 90.9 MHz	FM 94.4 MHz	FM 99.2 MHz
Jayapura	FM 93.5 MHz	FM 90.1 MHz	FM 105.9 MHz	FM 89.3 MHz
Kupang	FM 94.4 MHz	FM 90.9 MHz	FM 101.9 MHz	FM 104.3 MHz
Lhokseumawe	FM 89.3 MHz	FM 101.9 MHz	FM 95.2 MHz
Makassar	FM 94.4 MHz	FM 96.8 MHz	FM 92.9 MHz	FM 92.5 MHz
Malang	FM 94.6 MHz	FM 87.9 MHz (Formerly as FM 102 Makobu RRI Pro 2 Malang)	FM 91.5 MHz	FM 105.3 MHz
Manado	FM 94.5 MHz	FM 97.7 MHz	FM 104.4 MHz	FM 88.6 MHz
Medan	FM 94.3 MHz	FM 92.4 MHz	FM 88.8 MHz	FM 88.4 MHz
Nganjuk	FM 92.6 MHz		AM 999 kHz	FM 106.1 MHz (formerly Jodhipati FM and Cakra Krisna FM)
Padang	FM 97.5 MHz	FM 90.8 MHz	FM 88.4 MHz	FM 92.4 MHz
Palembang	FM 92.4 MHz	FM 91.6 MHz	FM 97.1 MHz	FM 88.4 MHz
Pekanbaru	FM 99.1 MHz	FM 88.4 MHz	FM 89.2 MHz	FM 95.9 MHz
Pontianak	FM 104.2 MHz	FM 101.8 MHz	FM 98.3 MHz	FM 94.3 MHz
Purwokerto	FM 93.1 MHz	FM 99.0 MHz	FM 97.1 MHz
Semarang	FM 89.0 MHz	FM 95.3 MHz	FM 92.2 MHz	FM 88.2 MHz
Surabaya	FM 99.2 MHz	FM 95.2 MHz	FM 107.5 MHz	FM 96.8 MHz
Surakarta	FM 101.0 MHz	FM 105.5 MHz	FM 105.9 MHz	FM 95.2 MHz
Yogyakarta	FM 91.1 MHz	FM 102.5 MHz	FM 102.9 MHz	FM 106.6 MHz

Other local stations

RRI Pro 1, RRI Pro 2, and RRI Pro 4 operates 19 hours every day, starting 5am to 12am local time. Availability of Pro 1, Pro 2, Pro 3, and Pro 4 as of November 2021 is displayed on the table below.

Location	Pro 1 Availability	Pro 2 Availability	Pro 3 Availability	Pro 4 Availability
Aceh Singkil	Y		Y
Ambon	Y	Y	Y	Y
Ampana	Y		Y
Atambua	Y	Y	Y
Banda Aceh	Y	Y	Y	Y
Balikpapan	Y	Y	Y	Y
Bandar Lampung	Y	Y	Y	Y
Bandung	Y	Y	Y	Y
Banjarmasin	Y	Y	Y	Y
Banten	Y		Y	N
Batam	Y	Y	Y	N
Baubau	Y	N	Y	N
Belitung	Y	Y	Y	Y
Bengkalis	Y	N	Y	N
Bengkulu	Y	Y	Y	Y
Biak	Y	Y	Y	N
Bima	Y	Y	Y	Y
Bintuhan	Y	N	Y	N
Bogor	Y	Y	Y	N
Bone	Y	N	Y	N
Bovendigul	Y	N	Y	N
Bukittinggi	Y	Y	Y	N
Bula	Y	Y	Y	Y
Cirebon	Y	Y	Y	N
Denpasar	Y	Y	Y	Y
Ende	Y	Y	Y	N
Entikong	Y	N	Y	N
Fak Fak	Y	Y	Y	N
Gorontalo	Y	Y	Y	N
Gunung Sitoli	Y	Y	Y	N
Jakarta	Y	Y	Y	Y
Jambi	Y	Y	Y	Y
Jayapura	Y	Y	Y	Y
Jember	Y	Y	Y	N
Kaimana	Y	N	Y	N
Kediri	Y	N	Y	N
Kendari	Y	Y	Y	N
Kupang	Y	Y	Y	Y
Lhokseumawe	Y	Y	Y	N
Madiun	Y	Y	Y	N
Makassar	Y	Y	Y	Y
Malang	Y	Y	Y	Y
Malinau	Y	N	Y	N
Mamuju	Y	Y	Y	Y
Manado	Y	Y	Y	Y
Manokwari	Y	Y	Y	Y
Mataram	Y	Y	Y	N
Medan	Y	Y	Y	Y
Merauke	Y	Y	Y	N
Melauboh	Y	Y	Y	N
Nabire	Y	Y	Y	Y
Nganjuk	Y		Y	Y
Nias Selatan	Y	N	Y	N
Nunukan	Y	Y	Y	N
Padang	Y	Y	Y	Y
Palangkaraya	Y	Y	Y	Y
Palembang	Y	Y	Y	Y
Palu	Y	Y	Y	Y
Pekanbaru	Y	Y	Y	Y
Pontianak	Y	Y	Y	Y
Purwokerto	Y	Y	Y	N
Ranai	Y	Y	Y	N
Rote	Y	N	Y	N
Sabang	Y	N	Y	N
Samarinda	Y	Y	Y	Y
Sampang	Y	N	Y	N
Saumlaki	Y	N	Y	N
Semarang	Y	Y	Y	Y
Sendawar	Y	N	Y	N
Serui	Y	Y	Y	N
Sibolga	Y	Y	Y	N
Singaraja	Y	Y	Y	N
Sintang	Y	Y	Y	N
Sorong	Y	Y	Y	N
Sumenep	Y	Y	Y	N
Sungailiat	Y	Y	Y	Y
Sungaipenuh	Y	N	Y	N
Surabaya	Y	Y	Y	Y
Surakarta	Y	Y	Y	Y
Tahuna	Y	Y	Y	Y
Takengon	Y	N	Y	N
Tanjungpinang	Y	Y	Y	Y
Tarakan	Y	Y	Y	N
Ternate	Y	Y	Y	Y
Toli Toli	Y	Y	Y	N
Tual	Y	Y	Y	N
Wamena	Y	Y	Y	N
Way Kanan	Y	N	Y	N
Yogyakarta	Y	Y	Y	Y

An RRI local station for Dili was operating from 1976 to 1999. East Timor national government broadcaster RTTL currently takes place.

Television

Aside of radio, RRI also operates a number of "television stations" with the concept of visual radio. Examples are RRI NET, a television channel broadcasts on satellite and online, and a visual radio version of the Voice of Indonesia broadcasts online.

RRI NET broadcasts certain live national radio programming via television. RRI NET can be accessed via streaming service as well as free-to-air satellite television across the country. Its slogan is "Tonton yang Anda Dengar" (Watch what you listen).^[8]

RRI NET is known to have been first broadcasting since December 2015.^[9] However, the channel was only officially launched on 12 September 2018 in commemoration of RRI's 73rd anniversary.^[10]

Online

RRI maintain a news portal on its official website (rri.co.id), and was also operated indie music portal BeYoung.id. The network also maintain RRI Digital (formerly RRI Play and RRI PlayGo) mobile app, offering RRI services in one app such as live streaming of all networks and local stations, news portal, and many more. Previously, the mobile app offering RRI 30" citizen journalism and BeYoung.

Criticism and controversies

Land conflict over the Cimanggis RRI transmitter complex

This conflict began when there was a handover report (BAST) of state property in the form of land from LPP RRI to Ministry of Religion of Indonesia (Kemenag) Number 774/DU/05/2017 dated 9 May 2017, in where LPP RRI handed over a plot of land in Cimanggis, Depok, West Java covering an area of 1,425,889 square metres (more than 142 hectares) to the Ministry of Religion for the establishment of International Islamic University of Indonesia (UIII). In accordance with article 6 of BAST, to ensure the continuity of RRI's broadcast operations, the second party (namely the Ministry of Religious Affairs) must move or construct buildings, structures and other equipment and infrastructure in stages in new places.

However, in practice, when the transfer or development had not yet been carried out, the process of building UIII in Cimanggis had already begun; which resulted in damage to the RRI short wave transmitter "fider line" which has been ongoing since the end of last year. On 20 December 2018, the President Director of RRI 2016–2021, Muhammad Rohanudin, sent a letter to the Religion Minister, Lukman Hakim Saifuddin regarding this matter which was not in accordance with the promises and commitments agreed in article 3 and article 6 of BAST.

RRI has occupied land in Cimanggis since 1958. From 2002 to 2012, RRI successively experienced civil lawsuits from outside parties regarding this land. However, court decisions have repeatedly ruled in favor of RRI. Until decision Number 99/Pdt/2012/PT.Bandung was accepted by LPP RRI, the plaintiff did not submit any other legal remedies.^[11]

2021 President director's accusation of bias

In early 2021, President Director of RRI 2016-2021 Muhammad Rohanudin registered to become the supervisory board of RRI 2021-2026 and was declared to have passed the initial selection.^[12] Rohanudin was accused by some parties on behalf of RRI employees of having a "bad track record" during his tenure, including allegations of nepotism, mismanagement and abuse of authority.^[13] This is in line with the statement of Irawan Ronodipoero, son of RRI founder Joesoef Ronodipoero, who said that there had been "disharmony" within RRI as a result of his leadership.^[14]

This accusation was strengthened by the results of Sapta Pratala's research in the same month which found that the news portal rri.co.id provided a very large portion of news with the subject of DPR members for the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction compared to other factions. Apart from that, Sapta Pratala's research assesses that rri.co.id is biased by reporting more comments rejecting the dissolution of Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) after the government disbanded the organization on 30 December 2020.^[15] Sapta Pratala has only described in the news media as a "public broadcast media observer", but there is no further information about its identity.

On 13 May, Deputy Secretary General of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) Satia Chandra Wiguna asked First Commission of the People's Representative Council to fire Rohanudin because he was deemed "contrary to RRI's ideal position as neutral news agency" and "defending intolerant people",^[15] even though according to Act Number 32 of 2002 the DPR does not have the right to dismiss the RRI Board of Directors. However, the RRI Supervisory Board previously dismissed Rohanudin on 8 May.^[13]

The accusations that emerged and the steps taken by the supervisory board were criticized by Esa Unggul University political communications expert Jamiluddin Ritonga. According to him, these accusations should not immediately be used as a basis for judging RRI, because of its status as public media. RRI, according to Ritonga, must "protect all elements of society" and "should not be like during the New Order era, which was clearly a mouthpiece for the government".^[16]^[17]

On 20 May 2021, First Commission of the DPR appointed Rohanudin as one of the members of the 2021-2026 RRI Supervisory Board from the RRI elements.^[18]