SCTV (TV network)

Not to be confused with Sichuan Television or Soviet Central Television.

SCTV

Type	Television broadcaster
Country	Indonesia
Broadcast area	Nationwide
Headquarters	SCTV Tower, Senayan City, Jl. Asia Afrika Lot 19, Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta
Programming
Language(s)	Indonesian
Picture format	1080i HDTV 16:9 (downscaled to 576i 16:9 for the SDTV and PAL feed)
Ownership
Owner	Bimantara Citra (1990—1993) Sudwikatmono (1990—1999) Napan Group (1990—2005) Indika Group (1996—2005) Surya Citra Media (since 2001)
Parent	Emtek
Sister channels	RCTI (1990—1993) Elshinta TV (2011—2013) Moji (since 2004) Indosiar (since 2011) Mentari TV (since 2021)
History
Launched	24 August 1990;35 years ago (1990-08-24)
Founder	Sudwikatmono Henry Pribadi Mohammad Noer
Links
Website	www.sctv.co.id
Availability
Terrestrial
Digital Greater Jakarta	24 (UHF) Channel 23
Digital Regional branches	Check local frequencies (on Indonesian language)

PT Surya Citra Televisi (SCTV) is an Indonesian free-to-air television broadcaster. Established on 24 August 1990, it began as a local station in Surabaya with limited broadcasts before obtaining a national broadcasting license in January 1993.

History

PT Surya Citra Television (SCTV) originated as PT Foresta Maju, founded on 5 May 1987. ^[1] The company, owned by Henry Pribadi and Sudwikatmono, applied on 28 April 1989 for a permit to establish a limited-channel television station in Surabaya. Its establishment was supported by the former Governor of East Java, Mohammad Noer, who argued that TVRI Surabaya lacked sufficient funding and that alternative sources of information were needed. ^[2] Initial approval was granted on 27 September 1989 by the Director General of Radio, Television, and Film, under the new company name PT Surabaya Central Televisi. ^[3]

The groundbreaking ceremony for SCTV’s new office took place on 10 November 1989, coinciding with the commemoration of Heroes' Day. Construction of the building on Jalan Darmo Permai, Surabaya, began on 1 February 1990 and was attended by Minister of Information Harmoko. ^[4] The project’s initial capital investment totalled IDR 150 billion and involved 200 employees. Under its limited-channel license, SCTV was initially intended to begin terrestrial broadcasts restricted to viewers with a decoder. ^[5] A trial broadcast was planned for June 1990, lasting one month, during which programs were aired for eight hours a day without a decoder to introduce the station to the public. ^[6]

In July 1990, however, the government issued a policy allowing private television stations to broadcast free-to-air. On 1 August 1990, SCTV received a principal permit enabling broadcasts to be received without a decoder. ^[7] Subsequently, on 24 August 1990, SCTV formally launched with a new permit under a joint agreement with the Director of the TVRI Foundation. The station began broadcasting with a coverage radius of 80 km in Surabaya. Its inaugural broadcast featured TVRI’s anniversary greetings and an opening delivered by a female announcer.

Programming

In its early years, SCTV’s programming closely resembled that of RCTI due to a collaborative arrangement, although the scheduling of shows differed. Following the end of this partnership, SCTV shifted its focus to imported content, particularly telenovelas and Mandarin dramas. ^[8] The station also began introducing original series, which initially attracted modest viewership and catered primarily to a female audience. After a major rebrand in 1997, local drama series became the channel’s flagship programming under the “Sinetron Prima” banner. Notable shows included Deru Debu, Kisah Cinta Ratu Pantai Selatan, Tersayang, Wah Cantiknya, Si Cecep, and Dewi Fortuna, all of which gained significant popularity with audiences. ^{[9] [10]}

Branding

SCTV's first (left), second (centre), and third (right) logos.

SCTV’s first logo, introduced at its launch on 24 August 1990, featured a blue half-crescent and a red half-circle positioned above a grey rectangle, with the letters “SCTV” in Helvetica Black placed at the center. This design was the result of a public competition, in which one design was selected from 100 submissions for its ability to represent the broadcaster. The logo remained in use until 29 January 2005, when it was replaced by the channel’s current branding. ^[11]

References

1. "Prospektus EMTEK 2009" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
2. "SURABAYA KITA: BUKAN AKAN BERSAING, SCTV MITRA TVRI". Archived from the original on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
3. "Alex Leo Zulkarnain, orang yang kembali". 1999. Archived from the original on 19 November 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
4. "SURABAYA KITA: PELETAKAN BATU PERTAMA SCTV 1 FEBRUARI 1990 SORE". Archived from the original on 15 February 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
5. "SURABAYA KITA: SCTV SUATU SAAT TAK PERLU DEKODER". Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
6. "SURABAYA KITA: SATU BULAN, SIARAN SCTV TANPA DEKODER". Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
7. "JATI DIRI: ALHAMDULILLAH, TANPA DEKODER". Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
8. "HUT ke-29, Inilah 5 Telenovela Ngetop yang Pernah Tayang di SCTV". 24 August 2019. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
9. "Ratu Pantai Selatan: Seruni Tampil sebagai Dewa Penolong". Tabloid Bintang. Archived from the original on 3 November 1999. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
10. "25 Sinetron SCTV Paling Fenomenal (Bag. 2)". 18 August 2015. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
11. "GANTI NAMA". Archived from the original on 15 February 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2021.