‘No More Grainy TV’: A Look at Jokowi’s Analog Switch Off Program

Jakarta. Indonesia's outgoing leader Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s decision to switch off all analog TV broadcasts in his second term is set to become one of his legacies in digital transformation.

The government officially shut down traditional analog TVs and converted them to digital broadcasts in 2022. The shutoff took place in phases, starting with the Greater Jakarta area and eventually other regions across the country. The program—better known as the analog switch-off—marks a major milestone in archipelagic Indonesia’s attempt to make people easily access information regardless of where they live. Despite the rise of social media, TV remains a major source of information for people in the populous Indonesia.

The analog TV shutdown is the result of Jokowi’s flagship legislation: the 2020 Job Creation Law. The document states that the migration should take place no later than Nov. 2022.

Digital TV lets viewers at home enjoy better picture quality, more channel options, and 24/7 free broadcasts. People do not need to buy new TVs as they only need to equip set-top boxes -- a device needed to run the digital broadcasts which are widely available at electronics stores. The government has also distributed free set-top boxes for people in need.

As of Sep. 2024, the government reported that the conversion to digital TV had already taken place in 112 areas of services which include 314 regencies. For reference, Indonesia is home to 416 regencies. Data showed that over 97 percent of Indonesia’s population could now watch digital TV.

East Jakarta local Dion said that the switch off now let him and his family enjoy better picture quality.

“Back then, we did not have a set-top box, and I had to adjust the TV antenna. I no longer have to do that. Because the picture quality is already clear, and that’s nice to watch. … It’s better to use a set-top box than an antenna,” Dion told Beritasatu.com at his home, not long ago.

Dion also remembered how he used to struggle with grainy picture quality before the switch to digital TV. There are also dozens of TV channels for his family to choose from. He added: “There used to be only around 10-11 channels, and now they can go up to hundreds. My TV shows around 60-80 channels.”