It debuted for the first time on the newly inaugurated RCTI on 15 November 1989 as the local news program Seputar Jakarta (Around Jakarta), as well as the network's first newscast before it evolved to go nationwide on 15 November 1990.

Since the end of 2005, the program has regained its position as the most-watched newscast in the country, according to ratings by Nielsen Media Research.

During its early years, Seputar Indonesia was also carried by RCTI's then sister network SCTV.

The main evening edition retained the Seputar Indonesia name due to the historical context.

Historically, it was also broadcast by SCTV before the network produced its news program, Liputan 6 respectively.