Metro TV
An Indonesian free-to-air television network focused on domestic and international news, current affairs, business, sports, and public-interest programming.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Metro TV is an Indonesian free-to-air television network operated by PT Media Televisi Indonesia and associated with Media Group, the media house that also includes the Media Indonesia newspaper and other regional publications. The network is headquartered in West Jakarta and broadcasts primarily to audiences across Indonesia through terrestrial distribution, relay stations, and digital platforms. Its programming identity is built around continuous news coverage, current affairs, interviews, analysis, business reporting, documentary content, and selected cultural and entertainment programs rather than the general entertainment model commonly associated with Indonesian commercial television. The network was launched on 25 November 2000 and was inaugurated by President Abdurrahman Wahid. It became the first Indonesian television network to be officially inaugurated by a sitting president after RCTI. At launch, Metro TV positioned itself as a specialist news service. For much of its early history it was Indonesia's only television channel dedicated primarily to news; this competitive distinction changed after Lativi was relaunched as tvOne in 2008 with a stronger news and sports orientation. Metro TV's core output is organized around recurring editions of its Metro news franchise, including Metro Pagi Primetime, Metro Siang, Metro Hari Ini, Primetime News, and Top News. The channel also carries international news and English-language programs such as World News, Indonesia Now, and Talk Indonesia. Its programming has included Mandarin-language news, including Metro Xin Wen, as well as technology, documentary, culinary, motivational, financial, and business programs. Examples include Economic Challenges, Mario Teguh Golden Ways, and the former Bisnis Hari Ini. The network has also commissioned or aired satirical and entertainment-oriented formats, including News Dot Com, Republik Mimpi, Musik+, Idenesia, and the talk and field-report program Midnight Live. It is not generally known for soap operas, which reinforces its specialist news-and-information positioning. Metro TV operates a broad national relay network, reported as having more than 52 relay stations. Its distribution has been affected by Indonesia's transition from analog terrestrial broadcasting to digital transmission. The network ended PAL analog broadcasts in the Greater Jakarta area in November 2022 and subsequently discontinued analog transmission in several other cities, including Bandung, Semarang, Surakarta, Yogyakarta, Batam, and later Palembang, as part of the national transition. The brand has maintained a recurring anniversary and public-service identity through annual thematic specials and slogans. Its stated slogans have included Leading the Change, Be Smart Be Informed, and Knowledge to Elevate. The network is owned by Surya Paloh, who also owns Media Indonesia. Because of this ownership structure and Paloh's political role, Metro TV is frequently described in public commentary as aligned with or sympathetic to the NasDem Party. That characterization concerns perceived editorial orientation rather than a formally documented change in corporate ownership or legal status. In November 2023, Metro TV entered a content-sharing agreement with China Media Group, expanding its international content relationship with a Chinese state media organization. In 2025, the network introduced Meet Nite Live, a late-night satirical talk format described as a reincarnation of Midnight Live. Metro TV therefore combines a national news-service role with selected international, business, cultural, and public-affairs programming while continuing to adapt its distribution and on-air identity to Indonesia's changing television market.
History
Metro TV began broadcasting on 25 November 2000 as a specialist Indonesian news network operated by PT Media Televisi Indonesia. Its launch was formally inaugurated by President Abdurrahman Wahid, making it the first Indonesian television network after RCTI to receive an official inauguration from a sitting president. From the beginning, the network differentiated itself from generalist broadcasters by placing domestic and international news, analysis, interviews, and current affairs at the center of its schedule. During its early years, Metro TV developed a 24-hour news-oriented service and built a national footprint through relay stations. Its principal news franchise became a collection of dayparts rather than one single program: Metro Pagi Primetime served the morning, Metro Siang the midday period, Metro Hari Ini the afternoon, Primetime News the evening, and Top News the late-night slot. This structure gave the brand a consistent daily presence and allowed it to cover breaking developments across multiple editions. The network's scope was broader than headline bulletins alone. It introduced or aired English-language programs such as World News, Indonesia Now, and Talk Indonesia, and also carried Mandarin-language news programming. Business and economic coverage included Economic Challenges and the former Bisnis Hari Ini. Technology, documentary, culinary, motivational, musical, and regional programming supplemented the news schedule. The channel also experimented with satire and hybrid current-affairs entertainment through News Dot Com and Republik Mimpi, while Midnight Live combined studio interviews, live audience interaction, and on-location reporting about social issues and behavioral trends. For much of the 2000s, Metro TV held a distinctive position as Indonesia's principal dedicated news channel. Its specialist status became less exclusive in 2008 when Lativi was relaunched as tvOne and adopted a stronger news-and-sports focus. Metro TV nevertheless retained its established identity through the scale of its reporting operation, its recurring news blocks, and its emphasis on analysis and public affairs. The network's ownership is connected to businessman Surya Paloh, who also owns Media Indonesia. Together with other publications, the television network forms part of Media Group. This relationship has shaped public perceptions of Metro TV's editorial orientation. The network is often characterized as sympathetic to the NasDem Party, which is associated with Paloh, although the available reference material does not establish a separate corporate entity or a formal party ownership structure for the channel. Metro TV has periodically refreshed its visual identity. On its twentieth anniversary in 2020, the on-air logo was changed to use an eagle symbol with smaller Metro TV lettering, while subsequent changes removed the lettering from the on-air bug. The full logo continued to be used in corporate and broader brand applications. Its slogans over time included Leading the Change, Be Smart Be Informed, and Knowledge to Elevate. A major later development was the transition from analog to digital television. Metro TV ended PAL analog broadcasting in Greater Jakarta in November 2022 and then discontinued analog terrestrial broadcasts in several other cities in December of that year, with further changes including Palembang in March 2023. These changes reflected the wider Indonesian digital-switchover process rather than a withdrawal from the national market. In November 2023, Metro TV signed a content-sharing agreement with China Media Group. In 2025, it launched Meet Nite Live, a satirical late-night talk show presented as a reincarnation of Midnight Live. The network's continuing model combines round-the-clock news with selective business, international, cultural, documentary, and public-affairs content, while its distribution and presentation continue to evolve with the Indonesian broadcasting environment.
- 2025
Meet Nite Live launches
[1]Meet Nite Live begins airing as a weekday late-night satirical talk program and successor to Midnight Live.
- 2023
Further analog transition
[1]Metro TV continues the analog switch-off process, including a reported shutdown in Palembang on 31 March.
- 2023
China Media Group content agreement
[1]Metro TV signs a content-sharing agreement with China Media Group.
- 2022
Analog broadcasting ends in Greater Jakarta
[1]Metro TV stops PAL analog transmission in the Greater Jakarta area on 3 November.
- 2022
Analog switch-off reaches additional cities
[1]The network shuts down analog terrestrial broadcasting in several Indonesian cities, including Bandung, Semarang, Surakarta, Yogyakarta, and Batam, on 3 December.
- 2020
Twentieth-anniversary on-air identity refresh
[1]Metro TV updates its on-air bug around its twentieth anniversary, introducing the eagle icon associated with its current visual identity.
- 2008
Competition expands in television news
[1]Lativi is relaunched as tvOne with a news-and-sports focus, ending Metro TV's position as Indonesia's only primarily news-focused television channel.
- 2000
Metro TV launches
[1]PT Media Televisi Indonesia launches Metro TV on 25 November as a national free-to-air news-oriented television network.
- 2000
Presidential inauguration
[1]President Abdurrahman Wahid officially inaugurates the network, making Metro TV the first Indonesian television network after RCTI to receive such an inauguration.
Products and positioning
A specialist Indonesian news and information broadcaster emphasizing continuous coverage, current affairs, analysis, business reporting, international news, and public-interest programming. Its brand promise is associated with informed citizenship and national relevance rather than mass-market soap operas or general entertainment.
Television news · 2000
Metro news franchise
Metro is the network's flagship news identity, expressed through recurring editions including Metro Pagi Primetime, Metro Siang, Metro Hari Ini, Primetime News, and Top News. Rather than a single standalone broadcast, it functions as a schedule-wide news franchise covering morning, midday, afternoon, evening, and late-night periods.
International news
World News
An English-language international news program reflecting Metro TV's effort to serve viewers seeking overseas coverage and an internationally oriented news perspective.
English-language news
Indonesia Now
An English-language program focused on Indonesian developments for audiences who prefer or require English presentation.
Mandarin-language news
Metro Xin Wen
A Mandarin-language news offering that extends Metro TV's programming beyond Indonesian- and English-language broadcasts.
Business and economics
Economic Challenges
A business-oriented program addressing economic issues and developments, consistent with Metro TV's emphasis on analysis and public-affairs coverage.
Current-affairs talk show
Midnight Live
A former late-night program combining studio interviews, live audience interaction, viewer call-ins and messages, and on-location reporting about social issues and behavioral trends.
Satirical late-night talk show · 2025
Meet Nite Live
A weekday late-night satirical talk program introduced in 2025 and described as a reincarnation of Midnight Live. The program is hosted by Valentinus Resa and Otonk Setiabudi.
Marketing campaigns
- 2025Journey with Empathy
Indonesia
An anniversary theme presenting the network's continuing relationship with audiences through an empathy-oriented message.
- 2024Mengawal Transformasi
Indonesia
An anniversary theme focused on overseeing or accompanying transformation, consistent with the network's public-affairs identity.
- 2020Terima kasih Indonesia
Indonesia
The network's twentieth-anniversary theme, expressing appreciation to Indonesia and viewers.
- 2010Knowledge to Elevate
Indonesia
A long-running slogan framing knowledge and news as tools for individual and national advancement.
- 2008Be Smart Be Informed
Indonesia
A brand message emphasizing information literacy and viewer awareness.
- 2007Leading the Change
Indonesia
A brand slogan and anniversary theme associated with Metro TV's positioning as a forward-looking news broadcaster.
Brand decisions
2025
Launch of Meet Nite LiveProduct launchBackground
Metro TV retained a place for late-night talk and current-affairs programming within its predominantly news-focused schedule.
Action taken
The network introduced Meet Nite Live as a weekday satirical late-night program and successor to Midnight Live.
2023
Content-sharing agreement with China Media GroupOtherBackground
Metro TV sought or accepted a formal content relationship with an international media organization.
Action taken
The network signed a content-sharing agreement with China Media Group.
2022
Transition away from analog terrestrial broadcastingStrategyBackground
Indonesia was moving from analog television transmission toward digital broadcasting, requiring networks to change their terrestrial distribution.
Action taken
Metro TV ended PAL analog broadcasting in Greater Jakarta and later shut down analog transmission in several additional cities.
Aftermath
The network continued operating while its terrestrial distribution shifted toward the country's digital television environment.
Sources2 sources
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