Bernama Editor-in-Chief Datuk Zulkefli Salleh said the MoU aimed to enable Antara and Bernama to generate profits and pay for the production cost of the programmes.
“The programme has been running for one month and aired seven times and now it is specifically to sign the agreement on marketing cooperation for the programme.
“The marketing cooperation aims to generate revenue to pay for the (production) cost and continue to air the programme,” he told reporters after the MoU signing ceremony at Wisma Bernama, here.
Bernama was represented by Zulkefli, while Antara by its Chief Executive Officer Saiful Hadi. The signing was witnessed by Bernama Deputy Editor-in-Chief (Domestic News Service) Datuk Zakaria Abd Wahab, Bernama TV Chief Executive Officer Datuk Ibrahim Yahaya and Deputy Editor-in-Chief (Audio-Visual Services) Mokhtar Hussin.
Zulkefli said the cooperation represented a platform for both agencies to produce better quality television programmes which were informative for viewing in both countries.
Through the MoU, he said, it was hoped that both agencies could explore other forms of cooperation including the exchange of skills and creative news materials especially in the field of photography.
“We (Bernama) are always open if there is beneficial cooperation for implementation in future aimed at strengthening further this relationship and I believe the same is also true for Antara,” he said.
Meanwhile, Saiful said the programme, ‘Salam dari Kuala Lumpur’, which was aired by Antara TV, received very good response when it was also ‘quoted’ and aired by local television stations in Indonesia.
He said that since its launch a month ago, the programme had been aired over more than 280 local TV stations in the country.
“These local TV stations in provinces such as Aceh and Sulawesi like these programmes because it has international elements and increases the image of their TV stations,” he said.
The ‘Salam Dari Kuala Lumpur’ programme featured current issues, news presented in a relaxed manner and the successes of Indonesian nationals in Malaysia produced by BernamaTV and aired by Antara TV in Indonesia, while BernamaTV aired ‘Salam Dari Jakarta’ produced by Antara TV.
The 30-minute programme, aimed at helping to improve the knowledge and understanding of the people who shared a common root and subsequently strengthen bilateral ties, had been aired simultaneously since July 5.
Both programmes are aired on Saturday at 9.30 pm and repeated on Sunday at 11 pm.
The programme, ‘Salam Dari Kuala Lumpur’ is aired by Antara TV which is later quoted and aired by local TV stations in Indonesia, while the programme ‘Salam Dari Jakarta’ is aired by BernamaTV via Astro channel 502.
— BERNAMA
