August 24, Commemorated As National Television Day

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia commemorates every August 24 as National Television Day. But do you know that the commemoration celebrating television in Indonesia actually began with a multinational sporting event?

In Indonesia, August 24 is observed as National Television Day to commemorate the establishment of the public broadcaster Televisi Republik Indonesia (TVRI) on August 24, 1962. Its main channel, bearing the same name, began broadcasting that date, "challenging" radio as the dominant broadcasting medium among Indonesians at the time.

Plans to establish a television station in Indonesia had been underway since the 1950s by former Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) radio broadcaster Maladi, particularly to support public outreach for the 1955 General Election. However, the idea only became a reality when Indonesia was selected to host the fourth Asian Games in 1962.

The multi-sport event for Asian countries was first held in 1951 in New Delhi, India. Beginning with the second edition in 1954, the event was held every four years, with the 1962 edition taking place in Jakarta from August 24 to September 4.

At the time, Indonesia’s first President, Sukarno, appeared determined to showcase Indonesia as a new power worthy of respect among nations around the world. He initiated various projects to build major physical structures—particularly in Jakarta—known as the "Lighthouse Projects" (Proyek Mercusuar), with the 1962 Asian Games as the first major step.

In preparation for the Asian Games, iconic Jakarta landmarks such as the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout, Hotel Indonesia, Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, and the Gelora Bung Karno complex were constructed. The establishment of a television station was also undertaken to help promote the Asian Games among the Indonesian public.

After approximately a year of preparation, TVRI conducted a test broadcast on August 17, 1962, when the ceremony commemorating Indonesia’s 17th Independence Day was held at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta. A week later, TVRI officially began broadcasting for the first time, airing the opening ceremony of the 1962 Asian Games.

The significance of August 24 as “the day of Indonesia’s television” became even more apparent when two private television networks officially began broadcasting toward the start of the 1990s. They were RCTI—the country's first private television, which began broadcasting in 1989 and SCTV, which launched in 1990.

As of 2023, the Indonesian government recorded 564 television stations operating in Indonesia, including national networks. From 2022 to 2023, Indonesian television gradually transitioned from analog to digital broadcasting, following other countries worldwide that had already switched to digital television.