Television in Indonesia started in 1962 (during the opening ceremony of the 1962 Asian Games), when the then state-run station TVRI began broadcasting – the third country in Southeast Asia to do so. TVRI held a television monopoly in Indonesia until 1989 when the first commercial station, RCTI began as a local station and was subsequently granted a national license a year later. The Indonesian television is regulated by both Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Kemenkominfo) and Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI).

Each of the networks have a wide variety of programmes, ranging from traditional shows, such as wayang performances, to Western-based programmes such as Indonesian Idol, Family Feud, MasterChef, Top Model and The Voice. One typical television show common to almost every network is sinetron Sinetron is usually a drama series, following the soap opera format, but can also refer to any fictional series. Sometimes it can be comedic, like the popular Bajaj Bajuri series, featuring a auto rickshaw driver and the people he drives around.

There are a number of awards given for excellences in Indonesian television, notably Panasonic Gobel Awards and Indonesian Television Awards, as well as Anugerah KPI held by the KPI.