JAKARTA - Members of the House of Representatives highlighted the irony of the enthusiasm of the Indonesian people who were overshadowed by disappointment because the broadcast of the Indonesian national team match which managed to advance to the 2026 World Cup round of the Asian Zone was commercialized by the private sector.
Political communication observer Ari Junaedi views the DPR's criticism of this policy as taking sides with the Indonesian people, especially national team lovers.
Ari Junaedi said that the national team broadcast should be given free of charge, especially in difficult economic situations for the community. He also assessed that public enthusiasm is something that must be appreciated as a form of nationalism.
"It becomes controversial even a lawsuit of injustice in society when a sense of nationalism is clashed with commercialization," said Ari Junaedi, Wednesday, June 4.
"Just imagine when life is difficult due to a series of government policies that are not pro-people, the people are so sensitive to the things that are commercialized," he continued.
Member of Commission VII DPR Tom Liwafa protested against the paid live streaming to watch the national team match. According to him, it is better if the broadcast of the Indonesian national team's match is free or free.
Tom Liwafa also said that all Indonesians should be able to access national team matches easily and for free. This, he said, also concerns a sense of nationalism.
Ari also appreciated the protest from the DPR. He underlined that the majority of national football fans are small communities who are struggling economically.
"The imposition of paid rates imposed by private TV managers for the Indonesian national team football match event is of course so burdensome for the audience, most of which are low-income people," said Ari.
"Remember that football lovers and enthusiasts are small communities who are so struggling to find work right now. It would be very mendzolimic to watch football that inspires nationalism they have to pay," he added.
According to Ari, the DPR's move to respond to public unrest regarding the paid broadcast of the Indonesian national team match deserves attention. Moreover, he said, the spirit of nationalism is increasingly boosted through the national team's struggle in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
He also believes that the DPR's alignment attitude shows a commitment to hearing the voices of the people. "The DPR's alignment to ensure that people can access broadcasts without paying is a real form of defending the interests of the small people while maintaining the spirit of nationality," said Ari.
The postgraduate lecturer at the London School of Public Relations (LSPR) also considered that the DPR's support through the protest was a mouthpiece for the people who were enthusiastic about the national team match.
"The role of the DPR is very crucial as a representative who fights for justice access. Efforts so that broadcast of the match can be enjoyed free of charge by all levels of society are a concrete form of maintaining national values," he explained.
Along with the voices of the public, Ari also encouraged the DPR's active involvement to summon related parties in this matter. Including PSSI, broadcast operators, and broadcasting rights owners, in order to provide an open and transparent explanation.
According to Ari, the APBN has financed PSSI's operations so that it is only natural that the national team match is given free of charge to the public.
"It should be to care for the values of patriotism through sports activities, the state must attend. The state budget has covered PSSI's financing, spectators who have excess funds can attend the stadium directly but take sides with the people, most of whom can only see through the screen. glass should also be a starting point for partiality," said Ari.
Ari also supports the discourse that if private TV stations still ignore the aspirations of the people, then TVRI as a state-owned public television should be prioritized as the official broadcasting rights provider of the national team, of course with the full support of the government and the DPR.
"Even the owners of private TV stations have enjoyed a fairly large national economic cake, the time is now to provide free viewing for the Indonesian people," he explained.
"If the managers of private TV stations still contradict the wishes of the people, it is time for TVRI - which incidentally belongs to the state - to be given broadcasting rights and of course with the support of the DPR and the Government," said Ari.
Previously, DPR member Tom Liwafa assessed that it would be better if the broadcast of the Indonesian national team match was free of charge or free. He did not want the sense of nationalism to be fulfilled by paying a certain amount of money.
"The most sad thing is that now just watch football pay. Watching football matches on your cellphone is just paying. We are moved by the nationalist spirit to see this all," said Tom, some time ago.
"Don't talk about nationalism later, watch the Indonesian national team match and pay. Maybe this (financing) needs to be reviewed," he added.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
