State Owned Enterprise Erick Thohir (center) cut the cone-shape rice cake to mark the soft launch, witnessed by Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Wishnutama Kusubandio (third from right), Deputy II State Owned Enterprise Minister Kartika Wirjoatmodjo (far right), Telkom Presient Commissioner Rhenald Kasali (second from right), Telkom President Director Ririek Adriansyah (second from left), and Telkom Consumer Service Director FM Venusiana R. (far left) in Jakarta, Wednesday (28/10).

Telkom President Commissioner Rhenald Kasali (third from right) gave a corporate uniform as a souvenir to State Owned Enterprise Erick Thohir (third from right) during the soft launch of English-language news channel, SEA Today, witnessed by Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Wishnutama Kusubandio (second from right), Deputy II State Owned Enterprise Minister Kartika Wirjoatmodjo (far right), Telkom President Director Ririek Adriansyah (second from left), and Telkom Consumer Service Director FM Venusiana R. (far left) in Jakarta, Wednesday (28/10).

 State Owned Enterprise Minister Erick Thohir (far right) delivered his remarks during the soft launch of of English-language news channel, SEA Today, witnessed by Telkom President Director Ririek Adriansyah (center), Telkom Consumer Service Director FM Venusiana R (far left) in Jakarta, Wednesday (28/10).

Jakarta, 28 October 2020 – State Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir and Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Wishnutama Kusubandio veiwed the maiden broadcast of English-language news channel Southeast Asia Today or SEA Today during its soft launching in Jakarta (28/10), which coincided with the Youth Pledge Day. Deputy II State Owned Enterprise Minister Kartika Wirjoatmodjo, President Commissioner Rhenald Kasali and President Director of PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (Telkom) Ririek Adriansyah and management were also present at the launch. SEA Today  is a news channel targeting an international audience and managed by a Telkom subsidiary, digital content media company PT Metra Digital Media (MDM). 

SOE Minister Erick Thohir said in his remarks he appreciated Telkom's support through SEA Today. "It is time for us to broadcast the right news about Indonesia to the world. It is time that the world holds Indonesia in high esteem. It is time for us to rise, like the youths who rose to unite Indonesia on October 28, 1928," he said. Erick Thohir acknowledged that so far, there is still not much positive information about Indonesia, resulting in the international community having less favorable perception about Indonesia. 

Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Wishnutama Kusubandio concurred, saying "SEA Today can be a new means of strengthening public communication about Indonesia’s tourism and creative economy to international audience. We hope this channel can be the information channel about Indonesia’s potential on nature, culture, and creative economy, that can attract tourists as well as foreign investors. The challenge ahead is how we package these materials into an interesting communication content,” Wishnutama said.

SEA Today is broadcast through various digital channels, including IndiHome Interactive TV, UseeTV GO application, UseeTV.com website, Maxstream application, SEA Today application, YouTube SEA Today News and website www.seatoday.com. The maiden live broadcast was the SEA Morning Show, which broadcasts daily from 06.00 - 09.00 WIB. Broadcast in English, the SEA Morning Show greets the morning with current events, on-site live reports, talk shows, performances & features from Indonesia, Southeast Asia and the world.

"SEA Today is part of TelkomGroup's efforts through its subsidiary, MD Media, in expanding its business, especially digital content providers. Hopefully SEA Today can be the channel that brings Indonesia's name to the world and provides fast, precise and accurate news,” Telkom President Director, Ririek Adriansyah said.

The plan for SEA Today includes its overseas distribution through partnerships with international media in 10 countries, some of which are the United States, United Kingdom and South Korea. In the future, Telkom will open cooperation opportunities with content providers to enrich and improve the content quality, including media partners to expand reach.

SEA Today is expected to be a eye-opening new medium that portrays Indonesia’s positive image and on the potential of its natural wonders, people, and culture, and its achievements, as well as opportunities to boost investment. Hopefully this can contribute to the growth of various industries in Indonesia and the national economy.