Indosiar has been broadcasting nationally since 1995 and has become one of Indonesia’s best-known television channels. Its programming reaches viewers through news, entertainment, and serialized shows that have traditionally been experienced on television screens.
But audience behavior was changing. Viewers were increasingly using computers, smartphones, and other connected devices to catch up on programs, check schedules, and follow news outside traditional broadcast hours.
Indosiar needed its digital platform to support this shift without losing the familiarity of its television brand. Suitmedia partnered with Indosiar between 2015 and 2016 to redesign and enhance indosiar.com as a more accessible destination for content discovery and online viewing.
The project created a cleaner, responsive website with updated program schedules, recently aired shows, and live streaming. After the enhancement, the website reached more than 1.5 million monthly pageviews and over 25,000 average daily visitors.
A National Broadcaster Needed to Meet Viewers Beyond the Television Screen
1. Television reach was no longer limited to broadcast schedules
Indosiar had built its audience through traditional television broadcasting. Viewers knew when their favorite shows aired and could plan their routines around the schedule.
Digital behavior introduced a different expectation. People wanted to access news and entertainment when it suited them, rather than only when a program was broadcast.
A viewer might miss a television episode, discover a show through a digital channel, or want to watch while away from home. Another might want to check the day’s schedule before deciding what to watch.
The website needed to support these new behaviors while extending the value of Indosiar’s existing content.
2. The previous digital experience did not fully support discovery
A television channel has a large amount of content to organize. Programs, episodes, news, schedules, announcements, and live broadcasts all compete for attention.
If the website does not present these areas clearly, viewers may struggle to find what they came for. They may not know where to see recently aired shows, how to check the schedule, or how to start watching live content.
This creates a gap between the strength of the broadcaster’s programming and the usefulness of its digital platform.
Indosiar needed a website that helped users move quickly from arrival to action: find a show, understand when it aired, check what was coming next, or watch a live broadcast.
3. The website had to serve viewers with different intentions
Not every visitor arrives for the same reason.
Some users may want to read the latest news. Others may be looking for a favorite television serial, reviewing recently aired programs, or checking the daily schedule.
The website needed to support both quick tasks and broader exploration. A viewer who knew exactly what they wanted should be able to find it quickly. Someone browsing casually should also be able to discover something worth watching.
This required a clear information structure that did not force every visitor through the same path.
4. Mobile access had become part of the viewing experience
Viewers were increasingly accessing online content through smartphones and other mobile devices.
A website that looked acceptable on a desktop could still be difficult to use on a smaller screen. Images might not scale correctly, text could become hard to read, and key actions might be difficult to reach.
For Indosiar, responsive design was therefore essential. Users needed to browse programs, check schedules, and access streaming content comfortably across different screen sizes.
The platform had to support the reality that digital viewing often happens outside the living room.
5. A live channel needed a digital extension
Indosiar’s broadcast schedule was the foundation of its television identity, but a website could extend that schedule into a more flexible experience.
Live streaming gave viewers a way to access programming online rather than relying only on a television set.
However, live streaming needed to be connected to the wider website experience. Viewers had to be able to find the feature easily, understand what was currently available, and move between live content and program information.
The challenge was not simply to add a streaming player. It was to build a digital environment in which streaming felt like a natural part of the Indosiar experience.
6. The business needed to preserve loyalty as viewing habits changed
Indosiar’s objective was not only to increase digital traffic. It was to maintain engagement with viewers as their media habits evolved.
If audiences began spending more time on digital platforms, Indosiar needed to remain present there. The website could become a direct relationship channel, giving viewers access to programs and updates beyond the television broadcast.
This created a long-term strategic need: make the digital platform useful enough for viewers to return regularly.
Designing the Website Around How Viewers Find and Watch Content
1. We began with the actions viewers needed to complete
Suitmedia focused the website experience around practical viewer needs.
Users needed to find important information, browse programs, view recently aired shows, check the daily schedule, and access live streaming.
These actions became the foundation for the website’s layout and navigation. The platform was structured to help users identify their destination quickly rather than asking them to search through a broad collection of pages.
This approach kept the design connected to the purpose of the site. The website was not only a corporate presence for the broadcaster; it was a working access point for entertainment and news.
2. We created a clear path to the most important content
The redesigned layout prioritized the content viewers were most likely to seek.
Recently aired shows were given visibility so users could discover what had already been broadcast. The daily schedule helped viewers understand what was coming next. Live streaming provided direct access for users ready to watch immediately.
These elements supported different stages of the viewing journey:
- Discovery: What programs are available?
- Context: When did they air, and what is scheduled next?
- Action: Can I watch something now?
Connecting these stages reduced the effort required to move from curiosity to viewing.
3. We made the daily schedule a practical planning tool
A current program schedule is one of the most useful features a television website can offer.
It helps viewers decide whether to watch live, return later, or explore another program. It also reinforces the connection between Indosiar’s television programming and its digital platform.
The schedule was presented as an updated daily resource rather than static background information.
This made the website more relevant to repeat visitors. People had a reason to return even when they were not looking for a specific show, because the schedule could help them plan their viewing.
4. We highlighted recently aired programs
Recently aired shows helped bridge the gap between broadcast and online discovery.
A viewer may have missed a program or may have seen a reference to it without knowing when it aired. By making recent programming more visible, the website gave users a way to continue exploring Indosiar’s content after the broadcast moment.
This also created a stronger connection between the television channel and its digital audience. The website could reflect the channel’s current programming rather than presenting only general information about the brand.
The feature supported both habitual viewers and people discovering a show for the first time.
5. We made live streaming easy to reach
The live streaming feature was central to the enhanced digital experience.
Its purpose was to let viewers watch favorite programs online with minimal effort. This extended Indosiar’s reach beyond people who were physically near a television at the scheduled broadcast time.
The streaming feature needed to be visible and integrated into the website’s broader navigation. A viewer should not have to understand the technical structure of the platform before finding the live broadcast.
The design therefore connected live viewing with program discovery and scheduling, creating a more complete viewing journey.
6. We used a clean layout to reduce navigation friction
The website adopted a clean layout that helped users focus on important information.
This was a deliberate decision. Television websites can easily become visually crowded because they need to present many shows, images, schedules, and updates.
A cleaner structure reduced the number of competing elements on the page. It helped users recognize key sections and move through the platform without unnecessary interpretation.
The objective was not to remove the richness of Indosiar’s content. It was to organize that richness so viewers could access it more comfortably.
7. We designed the website responsively
The website was built with a responsive interface so that images and text could scale across different mobile screen sizes.
This ensured that the experience remained usable on smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers.
Responsive design supported more than convenience. It helped preserve Indosiar’s brand experience across different viewing contexts.
A user checking the schedule on a phone should receive the same essential information as someone browsing from a desktop. The layout could change, but the experience needed to remain clear and complete.
8. We balanced visual content with readability
Television and entertainment websites depend heavily on visual assets. Program images can attract attention and help viewers recognize familiar shows.
However, visual content can also overwhelm users if it is not organized carefully.
Suitmedia balanced imagery with readable text and clear page structure. Program visuals supported discovery, while titles, schedules, and navigation helped users understand what they were seeing and decide what to do next.
This balance made the website engaging without turning it into a wall of competing images.
9. We connected news and entertainment in one destination
Indosiar served audiences interested in both news and entertainment.
The website needed to support these content types without making the platform feel disjointed. Users should be able to access current information while also discovering programs and live content.
Bringing these areas together reinforced Indosiar’s role as a broad television and media brand. The website could serve different reasons for visiting while maintaining one consistent digital identity.
10. We designed the platform to encourage repeat visits
A website becomes more valuable when users return regularly.
Updated schedules, recently aired shows, live streaming, and current news each created a different reason to revisit indosiar.com.
This repeat-use model was important because loyalty is built through ongoing utility. Viewers did not need to wait for a major campaign or special announcement to engage with the website.
The platform could become part of their regular media routine.
11. We treated the website as an extension of the broadcast brand
The website was designed to complement Indosiar’s television presence rather than compete with it.
Broadcast programming remained central, but the digital platform provided additional access and flexibility. Viewers could use the website to prepare for a broadcast, catch up after one, or watch online when television access was inconvenient.
This created a more connected relationship between the channel and its audience.
The website helped Indosiar adapt to digital behavior while preserving the familiarity of its existing entertainment and news identity.
From Television Destination to More Flexible Digital Viewing
1. Viewers gained easier access to programs and information
The redesigned website gave users a clearer way to find Indosiar’s news, entertainment, recently aired shows, and daily schedules.
This reduced the effort required to understand what was available and when.
The improvement was important for both regular viewers and new visitors. People familiar with Indosiar could reach their preferred content more quickly, while first-time users received a clearer introduction to the channel’s programming.
2. Live streaming expanded access beyond the television set
The live streaming feature allowed viewers to watch favorite programs online.
This created greater flexibility in how audiences accessed Indosiar’s content. Viewers were no longer limited to a television set in a particular location.
The feature also strengthened the connection between Indosiar’s traditional broadcast model and changing digital habits.
For the broadcaster, streaming provided a way to remain available in more situations while continuing to build engagement with its existing programming.
3. The responsive design improved access on mobile devices
Users could browse the website through different screen sizes without losing the clarity of the content.
Images and text adapted to mobile devices, making it easier to check schedules, explore shows, and access the platform while away from a desktop computer.
This was especially relevant as more viewers used smartphones as part of their daily media consumption.
4. The layout helped users move more quickly through the website
The clean design and considered structure made navigation easier.
Users could identify important sections and find relevant information without being overwhelmed by competing content.
This improved the efficiency of the digital experience. A viewer could spend more time watching or exploring programs and less time figuring out how the website worked.
5. The platform encouraged deeper engagement with Indosiar content
By combining recently aired shows, daily schedules, and live streaming, the website offered multiple ways for viewers to interact with the channel.
A viewer could check what was on, discover a program, and watch live content within the same broader environment.
This increased the number of opportunities for Indosiar to remain connected with its audience throughout the viewing cycle.
6. Website traffic demonstrated strong audience demand
Following the enhancement, indosiar.com reached more than 1.5 million monthly pageviews and over 25,000 average daily visitors.
These figures indicate that the website became a meaningful digital destination for Indosiar’s audience.
The numbers should not be interpreted as proof that every visitor watched a live stream or became a long-term viewer. They do, however, show substantial activity around the enhanced platform and support the business case for investing in a stronger digital experience.
7. Digital access strengthened the value of existing content
The website did not require Indosiar to create an entirely new content category to generate value.
Instead, it made existing news and entertainment programming more accessible through another channel.
This created an efficient second-order benefit. The same programming could reach viewers through television and digital access, helping Indosiar extend the useful life and reach of its content.
8. The platform created a foundation for future digital development
Once a broadcaster has a stronger website structure, it can continue improving the relationship between content, schedules, streaming, and audience behavior.
Future developments can build on the platform rather than starting from an outdated digital foundation.
The project therefore created more than an improved interface. It gave Indosiar a stronger base for adapting to future changes in how audiences discover and consume media.
What Indosiar Reveals About Digital Platforms for Broadcasters
1. Digital transformation should extend the value of existing content
Broadcasters already invest heavily in programming.
A digital platform can increase the value of that investment by making content available in more contexts and giving audiences more ways to discover it.
The goal is not always to create more content. It can be to make existing content easier to access, understand, and revisit.
2. A schedule is a service, not just a listing
A daily program schedule helps users plan their behavior.
When it is current and easy to access, it becomes a reason to return and a bridge between the television channel and the digital platform.
This is a simple feature with strong practical value.
3. Live streaming works best when it is part of a complete experience
A streaming player alone does not create a strong digital platform.
Users need to know what they are watching, when programs air, what they missed, and where to find related content. Streaming becomes more useful when it is connected to discovery and scheduling.
4. Responsive design is essential for modern media access
Viewers may move between television, mobile devices, and desktop computers throughout the day.
A responsive website allows the brand to remain accessible across those contexts. It also prevents the digital experience from excluding users who rely primarily on mobile devices.
5. Clean navigation protects attention
Entertainment websites need to be visually engaging, but visual overload can make content harder to find.
A clean interface helps viewers focus on the program, schedule, or action they came to access.
6. Repeat visits are built through changing utility
A website can encourage loyalty when it gives users different reasons to return.
Schedules, recent programs, news, and live streaming each support a different type of visit. Together, they create an ongoing relationship rather than a one-time interaction.
7. Digital platforms can strengthen traditional media brands
Online access does not necessarily weaken television.
A well-designed digital platform can help traditional broadcasters remain relevant as viewing behavior changes. It extends the brand’s reach while continuing to support the value of broadcast programming.
8. Audience traffic is most useful when connected to behavior
Pageviews and visitors show that a platform is attracting attention.
The next stage is to understand what users do: which programs they explore, how often they return, whether they use streaming, and which content drives longer visits.
This turns traffic into insight that can guide future content and platform decisions.
Strategic Insights for the C-Suite
- Extend existing content before assuming you need entirely new content.
A stronger digital platform can increase the reach and useful life of content the business already produces. Make that content easier to discover, access, and revisit across devices. - Design around the viewer’s complete journey.
Discovery, scheduling, viewing, and catch-up should work together. A streaming feature creates more value when it is connected to clear program information and easy navigation. - Treat mobile access as a core audience requirement.
Viewers move between devices and locations. Responsive design ensures the brand remains available when and where audiences choose to engage. - Use simplicity to protect attention.
Media websites often contain large amounts of visual and editorial content. Clear structure helps users find what they want quickly and reduces the risk of losing them to unnecessary navigation. - Build repeat utility into the platform.
Current schedules, recent programming, news, and live access give audiences reasons to return. Loyalty grows when the website remains useful between major campaigns or broadcasts.
