Title: The political economy of media on the Metro TV station in Indonesia

Authors: Novi Erlita; Mohd Nor Shahizan Ali; Wan Amizah Wan Mahmud; Charli Sitinjak; Józef Ober

Addresses: Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi Selangor, Malaysia ' Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi Selangor, Malaysia ' Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi Selangor, Malaysia ' Faculty of Humanities and Health Science, Curtin University Malaysia, Miri, Malaysia; Fakultas Psikologi, Universitas Esa Unggul, West Jakarta, Indonesia ' Department of Applied Social Sciences, Faculty of Organization and Management, Silesian University of Technology, Roosevelta 26-28, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland

Abstract: Within the realm of the political economy of media, the role of media in mass communication and social life encompasses five principal components: the social world, the media industry, messages and/or media products, viewers/public, and technology. This study offers an examination of the role played by Metro TV station within the political economy of media in Indonesia, with a particular focus on its distinctive approach as a television station primarily dedicated to round-the-clock news broadcasts, interwoven with entertainment elements. Grounded in Vincent Mosco's political economy perspective, this research delves into the media production and ownership dynamics characterising Metro TV. Although previous studies have explored the political economy of television media in Indonesia, there is a notable gap in the comprehensive analysis of the Metro TV station from a political economy of media perspective. The findings underscore Metro TV's considerable political economy influence as an entity predominantly controlled by elites and strategically positioned within the economic landscape, thereby prompting enquiries into its impact on media content and public interests within the nation. This research contributes significantly to a more profound understanding of the forces of political economy forces that mould media institutions in Indonesia.

Keywords: political economy; media; private TV station; commodification; spatialisation; structuring; Indonesia.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWI.2025.150003

International Journal of Work Innovation, 2025 Vol.6 No.4, pp.323 - 336

Received: 20 Aug 2023
Accepted: 25 Oct 2023
Published online: 21 Nov 2025 *

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