BATAM, Riau -
Indonesia's industrial island of Batam began operating its own
local television station this week.
Batam Mayor
Nyat Kadir inaugurated last Thursday the initial
broadcast of the Batam Television Station, which was
built by the locally noted mass media firm, Riau Pos
Group, for an investment of Rp15 billion (US$1.6 million).
At present, Batam TV can only reach areas
within a radius of 15 kilometers. When transmission lines
are set up, it will reach a radius of 80km. Batam TV, which
is broadcast at a frequency of 40 UHF (ultrahigh
frequency), will showcase programs on Malay culture.
Batam island is a strategic Indonesian island
close to the rich city- state of Singapore.
