To prepare for it, Salim then collaborated with Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) of Hong Kong which was placed at the MCTI head office in Semarang.

President Soeharto ultimately decided to merge both ideas into a single company, PT Indosiar Visual Mandiri.

Building on the cooperation established during the initial plans for MCTI, Indosiar formed a partnership with Hong Kong-based TVB, a well-established player in the television industry.

TVB was chosen for its cost-efficient operations, strong in-house production capabilities, and its "Asian" programming style that closely matched Indonesian audience preferences.

Additionally, the network hired 1,000 local employees and brought in 150 foreign workers—many of whom held key positions in production, planning, and direct marketing.

In response to these concerns, Indosiar’s management decided—just a month before its official launch on December 18, 1994—to cut the number of TVB employees to just 30.

Over time, the number of foreign workers was further reduced through increased training for local staff, and by 1996, almost no TVB expatriates remained at Indosiar.

[6][7][8] Two years after, Indosiar began to air the musical series Melangkah Di Atas Awan (A Walk in the Clouds).

[9] Despite this, Indosiar continued its operational plan by conducting trial broadcasts (called "pre-premiere broadcasts") starting on December 18, 1994 (postponed from the initial plan in July and August 1994) at 19.00 to 21.30 WIB (or 22.00 WIB/22.30 WIB if there is a TVRI relay) in the areas of Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Medan, and Ujung Pandang.

In order to satisfy the audience's desire for many foreign programs, Indosiar even immediately launched a new technology, namely NICAM, which produces clear sound.

In general, Indosiar at that time targeted the family market, and had planned to broadcast many local programs/films from the beginning, plus in-house programs (even preparing an internal production house).

As its programming evolved, Indosiar introduced Indonesian soap operas in the musical genre (starting with Melangkah di Atas Awan), as well as romance and family dramas (beginning with Tersanjung).

Additionally, Indosiar featured a variety of animated series, including Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball, Digimon, and Chuggington, which were broadcast every Sunday from 6:30 AM to 12:00 PM.

Between 2004 and 2007, its popularity was further boosted by reality singing competitions such as AFI, StarDut, Mamamia, and others, many of which engaged audiences emotionally and encouraged participation through SMS voting.

The adoption of various soap operas and drama programs further signified Indosiar's change into a television for "lower class" viewers.

The things that became the subject of gossip, such as the flying dragon animation and the superhero character Jayapati (who resembled Batman) in Tutur Tinular 2011.

Indosiar also often airs non-dangdut reality programs such as Golden Memories, Akademi Sahur Indonesia and Stand Up Comedy Academy.

In addition, Indosiar has also increasingly established FTV programs with religious nuances (since 2014) such as Azab, Suara Hati Istri and Pintu Berkah (produced by Mega Kreasi Films).

Indosiar showed some Korean, Japanese, and Taiwanese dramas, including Goblin, Hwang Ji Ni (or Hwag Jin Yi), ''Jewel in the Palace''(Dae Jang Geum), ''Princess Hours''(Goong), Prince Hours (Goong S), Full House, ''Boys Before Flowers'', My Fair Lady, No Limits, Style, Brilliant Legacy, Great Queen Seon Deok, 18 vs 29, all from Korea; One Litre of Tears (or One litre no Namida), Ultraman Mebius, Detective Conan, and Hanazakari no Kimitachi e from Japan; and Romance in the White House and Starlit from Taiwan.

Nowadays, religious-themed series become the station's most featured daytime programming, while dangdut talent shows are airing for evening programme.