Bali Post Media Group
Bali Post Media Group is an Indonesian media conglomerate founded by Ketut Nadha in 1948. Bali Post Media Group is said to be the largest media holder in Bali, Indonesia. It is currently led by ABG Satria Naradha, the son of Ketut Nadha. It has diversified businesses and interests in media industry. BPMG businesses include broadcast media, print media, online media, and a number of other businesses.
History
Early years (1942-1948)
During the Japanese colonization, there was only one mass media in Bali. At that time, the Japanese controlled all of the information and news agencies in Indonesia, including Bali. As a result, publication of existing newspapers since the Dutch colonial era in Indonesia was controlled by the Japanese, and names of those newspapers were changed as well. For instance, Antara news agency was changed as Yashima before then changed to Domei news agency.Japan then made local newspapers in several cities in Indonesia. Those are Kita Sumatera Shimbun, Lampung Shimbun, Sinar Matahari, and Bali Shimbun.
Bali Shimbun newspaper published on March 8, 1944. They recruited local journalists as the member of editorials, including Ketut Nadha, the pioneer of the largest media today in Bali, I Gusti Putu and Made Arka Sarya Udaya.
Bali Shimbun ceased its publication when Japan defeated by the allies in 1945. But Ketut Nadha had prepared newspaper to preserve Indonesia’s independence movement. For two years Ketut Nadha prepared this paper publication by establishing a library and bookstore. On August 16, 1948, for the very first time Ketut Nadha with his two colleagues, I Gusti Putu and Made Arka Sarya Udaya, published Suara Indonesia in magazine format.
The Change of Name (1965-1972)
In 1965 Suara Indonesia was affiliated with Partai Nasionalis Indonesia, the biggest party in Bali at that time. Suara Indonesia changed to Suluh Indonesia Edisi Bali in 1966, one year later Suluh Indonesia changed to Suluh Marhaen from 1966 to May 1971. Later, Suluh Marhaen changed again its name to Bali Post since 1972 until today.Development (1972-Present)
Nadha and his colleagues then set up PT Bali Press to be published daily morning. And the license with number permit issue: 0359/PER/SK/DIR PP/SIT/71 dated 2 September 1971 was given to Bali Post. The first newspaper published in 1972, is also a member of the Serikat Penerbit Surat Kabar. First office of Bali Post is located at Jalan Bisma 1, Denpasar. Until 1976, it also has the same address with Suluh Marhaen editorial office, under Raka Wiratma Gesuri Foundation. In Bali Post, Ketut Nadha became the general manager, Raka Wiratma be as the person in charge and chief editor, as well Widminarko as his vice. All three of them became press leaders of Bali back then.When it first appeared, Bali Post brings the jargon "Pengemban Pengamal Pancasila". At first, this paper is only published four pages, as usual for newspaper at that time. Until the 1980s, Bali Post circulation still can not be defeated by its rivals such as Nusa Tenggara and Karya Bhakti. From 1985 to 1988 the circulation range of Bali Post is estimated 19,200 - 24,500 copies per day. In 1989, the circulation had climbed to around 39,000 copies per day.
The collapse of the New Order, entering Reformation Era followed by the emergence of Undang-Undang Pokok Pers No. 40 Tahun 1999, a law that allows and enables people to establish their own publishing company. Press publication in Bali became more various. From daily newspapers, weekly tabloids or magazines, and monthly press publications. BPMG print media that still published daily are, Bali Post, Denpost, and Bisnis Bali. From originally engaged only on the print Media, BPMG began its electronic media business. The first broadcast media established was Global Radio FM on May 30, 1999 under a subsidiary company of PT Radio Swara Kinijani.
On January 5, 2001, the pioneer of BPMG, Ketut Nadha died. Leaving four children, three girls, and one boy. After the decease of Ketut Nadha, BPMG led by Nadha’s only son, ABG Satria Naradha. In earlier 10 years, he was the vice of Chief Editor and the Director of Bali Post Corporation. Bali Post has rapidly grown once led by ABG Satria Naradha, especially for the media business in Bali Post Media Group. He starts to develop the conglomeration of media in the various segments, from children to adults.
BPMG later on established a local TV named Bali TV, under PT Bali Ranadha Televisi. Bali TV began to officially airs on May 26, 2002. In 2007 Bali Post editorial office moved to a building in Jalan Kebo Iwo No. 63 A, Denpasar. The building named Ketut Nadha Press Building, which was dedicated to Ketut Nadha. And finally in 2008, BPMG opens their online news portal on
Print Media
Newspaper
In the daily newspaper segment, BPMG has Bali Post, Denpost, Bisnis Bali, Suara NTB, Suluh Indonesia and Bisnis Jakarta. Bali Post as the oldest newspaper in BPMG is still the main paper until now. News material of Bali Post itself has various segments from politics, economy, sports, entertainment, and opinion. Denpost covered more news about crim, Bisnis Bali and Bisnis Jakarta focusing on economy and business. Suara NTB is published in Mataram, and Bisnis Jakarta is published in Jakarta. Suluh Indonesia is used to be slipped in Bisnis Jakarta newspaper but it is sold separately now. Newspapers of BPMG are the following:Tabloid
Tabloids published by BPMG have several segments. In the children’s segment, BPMG published Lintang. This tabloid is published weekly and inserted in Bali Post Minggu. Wiyata Mandala Tabloid is published twice in a month. This tabloid is targeted for adolescents. The reporters are not only from daily journalists of Bali Post but including student reporters from schools in Bali. In the segment of women and families, BPMG published Tokoh Tabloid published once a week. While in the tourism segment, BPMG published weekly English tabloids, Bali Travel News. Tabloids of BPMG are the following:Broadcast media
Television
is a television that provides cultural content and local arts empowerment of Indonesia. Since May 26, 2002 at 20:00 PST, BPMG enter the world of television by start broadcasting television Bali TV with a broadcast range covers Bali, most of West Nusa Tenggara and east Java the east. Bali later developed into TV television station networking followed by several local television stations in various regions in Indonesia. TV stations of BPMG are the following:Radio
Radio Global is the first established radio of BPMG, the variety of programs in Radio Global are mostly interactive dialogue with the audience about a particular topic, including discussion related to politics, economics, culture, and public service. The successful of Radio Global was soon followed by the establishment of BPMG radio in other areas of Bali, such as Radio Suara Besakih in Karangasem, Radio Genta FM in Denpasar, Radio Singaraja FM in Singaraja, Radio Fajar FM and Suara Banyuwangi in Banyuwangi, Radio Lombok FM in Mataram Nusa Tenggara Barat, Negara FM in Jembrana, and two other radios in Yogyakarta. For entertainment broadcast, some radio provides interactive form of song requests from the audience. Radios of BPMG are the following:Online Media
Online Media of BPMG are the following:Other Business
Criticism and Controversies
Advertising Issues
In the advertising offers, Bali Post said that they reached a circulation of 100,000 copies. These data clearly differ than the real data due to advertisement business interests. For comparison on August 20, 2003 SWA magazine stated that Bali Post daily circulation reached 90,000 copies or Rp 64.8 billion per year. Meanwhile, according to research conducted by Santra in 2006, the daily circulation of Bali Post reached 87,500 copies in 2006. This circulation was spread across the districts and cities in Bali, Jakarta, Surabaya, Mataram, and Kupang.Media Bias
As the largest media in Bali, BPMG almost mastered all of the media segments. In the electronic media, BPMG have Bali TV that span the entire region of Bali, and five radio that can be said dominated the entire region. This conglomeration is seen as monopoly of public opinion.Latest issue that arise, on Thursday, 2 May 2013, a number of groups rallied to express their anger about the biased coverage of Bali Post Media Group in their several media, namely Bali TV and including the daily newspaper, Bali Post. Hundreds of Bali citizen and nine Hindu priests held a ritual, “Pralina” that featured the symbolic cremation of copies of the Bali Post newspaper in front of Bali Post office. The action done by citizen because their protests towards Bali Post for no longer stood as an ideal representation of mass media.
Later on, from 8 May to 11 May 2013, Indonesian Broadcasting Commission Bali Branch banned Seputar Bali news program. IBC has received many complaints from the public who were disturbed by the biased media. The program was banned because its biased coverage of the gubernatorial election and the candidates. Bali Post also accused on violated Law no 32/2002 on Broadcasting Rules and Standards.