Radio of the Republic of Indonesia (Radio Republik Indonesia, RRI) is Indonesia’s public radio network. Founded in 1945, RRI operates several radio channels that reach out to all the regions of Indonesia as well as the world (Voice of Indonesia). Its channels are focused on local news and education (Pro 1), music and lifestyle programs targeting young audiences (Pro 2), all-news programming and current affairs (Pro 3) and culture (Pro 4).
Media assets
Radio: RRI Pro 1, RRI Pro 2, RRI Pro 3, RRI Pro 4, Voice of Indonesia
State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)
Ownership and governance
Like TVRI, RRI was designated as a public service broadcaster through Law 32 of 2002. The government Regulation Number 13 on Public Broadcasting Institutions transformed the station into a Public Broadcast Institution.
The main governing structures at RRI are matching those at TVRI: a Supervisory Board whose five members are appointed by the People’s Representative Council, one of Indonesia’s two lawmaking bodies; and a Board of Director consisting of five people who are appointed by the Supervisory Board. Both boards have to be approved by the President.
Source of funding and budget
According to Law 32 of 2002, RRI is supposed to be financed through a combination of broadcast fees, state budget allocations, public contributions and advertising. By now, the broadcast fee (a form of license fee that is supposed to be paid by every home in Indonesia) has not been implemented, leaving the government to fund RRI almost entirely through the state budget.
In 2020, RRI had a budget of IDR 1.3tn (US$ 88m), nearly all from the government, according to the company’s information. In 2022, RRI operated with a budget of IDR 941.6bn (US$ 63.3m)m according to an audited company report.
Editorial independence
Although the Indonesian government adopted legal provisions that it claimed were going to lead to the transformation of RRI into a modern public service broadcaster with guaranteed editorial independence, RRI continues to act as a state media, supportive in its coverage of the government’s actions and policies.
Although the two-board structure at RRI was supposed to ensure independence and balance in running the station, the supervisory board has become “an extension of politicians’ interests instead”, according to an analysis written by a local expert.
No statute and no body or mechanism to independently validate the editorial independence of RRI have been identified.
October 2023