Local Television and Cultural Dynamics: Assessing Contributions to Indonesia’s Cultural Sphere

Abstract

In culturally diverse countries, such as Indonesia, the cultural sphere often poses significant challenges. Unfortunately, this topic has not received adequate attention, especially when compared to the public sphere. This research investigates the contribution of local television to Indonesia’s cultural sphere. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and document analysis. The study finds that while local television serves as an important medium for local cultural expression, its contribution to the cultural sphere in Indonesia remains limited. The commercial nature of local television has constrained its contribution to the cultural sphere, as cultural programs must ultimately be marketable. Moreover, the way local television defines and represents culture constrains the role of local television in fostering a diverse cultural sphere. In general, local television managers adopt a cultural essentialist perspective, which leads them to prioritize dominant culture’s representation while marginalizing or rejecting other cultures, perceiving them as a threat. The cultural sphere is ultimately unable to build a cultural democracy because it is not inclusive. Cultural access and participation are only open to the dominant culture.