Publik Khatulistiwa TV

Publik Khatulistiwa TV, commonly abbreviated as PKTV and formerly known as Pupuk Kaltim TV, is a local television station serving Bontang in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. The station is owned by Pupuk Kaltim, a state-owned fertilizer manufacturer, and operates through PT Khatulistiwa Media. Its identity is closely connected to Bontang and to the industrial and civic environment of East Kalimantan, where company-linked media organizations have historically played a role in providing local information and community programming. PKTV began on 31 March 1998 as a community cable television service intended initially for Pupuk Kaltim employees. Its first broadcast was a live football match between PS Pupuk Kaltim and Persebaya Surabaya during the 1997–98 Liga Indonesia Premier Division. Before the launch, preparatory work had been carried out at Mandiri Video Productions in Yogyakarta in March 1996, followed by a comparative study at Caltex TV Rumbai in Pekanbaru in November 1997. The early operation was managed by Retina, a production house associated with the Baiturrahman Foundation. PKTV has described itself as Indonesia's first local television station, although that claim is a self-characterization rather than an independently established industry designation in the available reference material. The station was later formalized as a limited company under the name PT Khatulistiwa Media. The company was established through notarial deed number 21, executed by J. Frans De Lannoy on 20 November 2001, and was legalized on 6 September 2002. At the time of the corporate conversion, its stated initial capital was IDR 80 million. PT Khatulistiwa Media also absorbed the remaining assets of Retina, including broadcasting equipment and related operational resources. This transition moved PKTV from a community cable initiative into a more formal local broadcasting organization. PKTV's programming has included local television content as well as selected sports broadcasts. In the 2010–11 season, while associated with the City TV Network, the station obtained rights to broadcast National Basketball Association and ASEAN Basketball League games. The rights package was shared with Jakarta-based Jak TV and eleven other local stations, giving PKTV access to nationally and internationally recognizable sports content while retaining its local-station profile. The station changed its logo on 2 April 2020. Available reference material does not provide a complete account of its current schedule, audience size, transmission technology, management team, or detailed corporate structure beyond its ownership by Pupuk Kaltim and operation through PT Khatulistiwa Media. PKTV is best understood as a regional broadcast brand whose principal role is local television service in Bontang and surrounding East Kalimantan communities.

Publik Khatulistiwa TV originated in preparations undertaken before its formal launch. In March 1996, work related to the proposed station was carried out at Mandiri Video Productions in Yogyakarta. A comparative study followed at Caltex TV Rumbai in Pekanbaru in November 1997. These efforts supported the development of a television operation connected to Pupuk Kaltim and intended initially for an internal employee audience. The station began broadcasting on 31 March 1998 under the name Pupuk Kaltim TV. It started as a community cable television service that could be viewed by Pupuk Kaltim employees. Its first reported broadcast was a live match between PS Pupuk Kaltim and Persebaya Surabaya in the 1997–98 Liga Indonesia Premier Division. The early station was managed by Retina, a production house owned by the Baiturrahman Foundation. PKTV has presented itself as the first local television station in Indonesia, although the available reference does not establish this claim through an independent comparison with all other Indonesian local stations. PKTV subsequently moved toward a formal corporate structure. It became associated with PT Khatulistiwa Media, a limited company created under notarial deed number 21 by J. Frans De Lannoy on 20 November 2001. The company was legalized on 6 September 2002. Its initial capital was reported as IDR 80 million, and the company absorbed Retina's remaining assets, including the equipment used for broadcasting. This corporate transition provided a legal and operational foundation for the station beyond its original employee-oriented cable model. The station continued as a local broadcaster based in Bontang, East Kalimantan. Bontang's industrial economy and Pupuk Kaltim's presence form an important part of the station's institutional context. PKTV was one of two local television channels associated with the city in the historical account available for the station. The other was LNGTV, owned by Badak LNG, which was founded two years earlier in 1996 and later became defunct. In 2010, PKTV was associated with the City TV Network and expanded its programming reach through sports rights. It received rights to show games from the 2010–11 National Basketball Association season and the ASEAN Basketball League. The package was distributed among PKTV, Jak TV, and eleven other local stations. This arrangement illustrates the station's combination of local broadcasting infrastructure with centrally acquired sports programming. PKTV changed its logo on 2 April 2020. The available sources do not detail subsequent ownership changes, executive appointments, audience metrics, or programming schedules. The station's documented history nevertheless shows a progression from a Pupuk Kaltim employee cable service to a legally incorporated local television broadcaster serving Bontang and the wider East Kalimantan context.

• 2020

  Logo redesign

  [1]Publik Khatulistiwa TVen.wikipedia.org

  PKTV changed its logo on 2 April 2020.

• 2010

  Basketball rights acquisition

  [1]Publik Khatulistiwa TVen.wikipedia.org

  PKTV participated in a local-station rights arrangement for the 2010–11 NBA and ASEAN Basketball League seasons.

• 2002

  Corporate legalization

  [1]Publik Khatulistiwa TVen.wikipedia.org

  PT Khatulistiwa Media was legalized on 6 September 2002 and absorbed remaining assets from Retina.

• 2001

  PT Khatulistiwa Media established

  [1]Publik Khatulistiwa TVen.wikipedia.org

  The company behind the station was established through notarial deed number 21 on 20 November 2001.

• 1998

  First PKTV broadcast

  [1]Publik Khatulistiwa TVen.wikipedia.org

  Pupuk Kaltim TV began as a community cable channel on 31 March 1998, with a live football match as its first reported broadcast.

• 1997

  Comparative broadcasting study

  [1]Publik Khatulistiwa TVen.wikipedia.org

  A comparative study was conducted at Caltex TV Rumbai in Pekanbaru before the station's launch.

• 1996

  Preparatory work begins in Yogyakarta

  [1]Publik Khatulistiwa TVen.wikipedia.org

  Preparations for the future station were undertaken at Mandiri Video Productions in Yogyakarta.

A Bontang-based local television broadcaster with roots in employee and community cable television, positioned around regional programming and local relevance while also carrying selected national and international sports content.

• Local television broadcasting · 1998

  PKTV local television service

  The station's core offering is a local television service based in Bontang, East Kalimantan. It developed from a community cable channel for Pupuk Kaltim employees into a broader local broadcaster. Its role is to distribute regional programming and selected acquired content to viewers in Bontang and nearby parts of East Kalimantan.

• Sports broadcasting · 1998

  Sports programming

  Sports content has been part of PKTV's history since its first reported broadcast, a live football match involving PS Pupuk Kaltim. In the 2010–11 season, the station also carried National Basketball Association and ASEAN Basketball League games through a rights arrangement involving multiple local stations.

• 2020

  Logo changeOther

  Background

  PKTV updated its visual identity during its continuing operation as a local television brand.

  Action taken

  The station introduced a new logo on 2 April 2020.

  Aftermath

  The change marked a visual refresh, but the available reference does not describe a broader rebranding strategy or subsequent performance impact.

  Source

• 2010

  Expansion into acquired basketball programmingProduct launch

  Background

  PKTV was part of the City TV Network and sought to supplement local programming with recognizable sports content.

  Action taken

  The station joined a multi-station arrangement to broadcast the 2010–11 NBA and ASEAN Basketball League seasons.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement broadened PKTV's programming mix beyond locally produced content, although the available source does not report audience or financial results.

  Source

• 2001

  Conversion to a limited-company structureStrategy

  Background

  PKTV had begun as an employee-oriented community cable service managed by Retina. The station later required a formal corporate structure for continued operation and development.

  Action taken

  PT Khatulistiwa Media was established by notarial deed on 20 November 2001 and subsequently legalized in 2002. The new company absorbed Retina's remaining broadcasting assets.

  Aftermath

  The change created the corporate vehicle associated with PKTV's continuing operation as a local television station.

  Source

• 2020

  PKTV changes its logo[1]Publik Khatulistiwa TVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The station introduced a new logo on 2 April 2020.

• 2010

  PKTV obtains basketball broadcast rights[1]Publik Khatulistiwa TVen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  As part of the City TV Network, PKTV acquired rights for the 2010–11 National Basketball Association and ASEAN Basketball League seasons alongside Jak TV and other local stations.

• 2001

  PKTV becomes part of a formal limited-company structure[1]Publik Khatulistiwa TVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  PT Khatulistiwa Media was established by notarial deed on 20 November 2001, formalizing the company structure behind the station.

• 1998

  PKTV launches as a community cable station[1]Publik Khatulistiwa TVen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The station began broadcasting on 31 March 1998 under the name Pupuk Kaltim TV. Its first reported program was a live football match between PS Pupuk Kaltim and Persebaya Surabaya.

1. 1Publik Khatulistiwa TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2PKTV Kaltim official websitepktvkaltim.com