Jakarta – After 44 four years of operation, state-owned television company TVRI has become a public television network, funded by the government but intended to be editorially independent.

The head of the company's supervising board, Musa Asy'arie, announced the change in his speech during the commemoration of the company's anniversary Thursday at its headquarters in Senayan, South Jakarta.

"I hope this institution may grow as a non-commercial, independent media source that serves the interests of the public," he said as quoted by the detikcom news website.