In addition to regular programming, viewers of state-run TVK can now watch about 15 minutes of “equity news” each weekday evening, which details the activities of 12 political parties ahead of the April 1 commune elections.
Coverage of each of the parties running has been divided equitably—that is to say, proportionally—in the broadcasts, which first aired on TVK Friday after the evening news.
Equity news—a joint project of the UN Development Program and TVK first introduced for the 2003 national elections—has this year devoted 38 percent of its coverage to the CPP, 21 percent to the SRP, 20 percent to Funcinpec, 11 percent to the Norodom Ranariddh Party and 10 percent in total to eight smaller parties.
Time was divided based on several criteria, such as how many seats a party won in the 2002 commune elections or a party’s experience level, according to the UNDP.
TVK has long been accused of pro-CPP bias in its political programming. But in Monday evening’s broadcast, TVK anchors described campaign rallies of the top four parties and interviewed senior officials from the CPP, SRP and Funcinpec.
CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap said he approved of coverage being given to all parties, but said some have been criticizing the CPP in the political coverage. “The ruling party has become the victim,” he said.
SRP leader Sam Rainsy said that he has been too busy campaigning to watch. He added that equitable political coverage is a good thing, but does not redress the CPP’s general dominance of state media.
Funcinpec spokesman Nouv Sovathero, who has been interviewed on the show, said equity news is “good for all the parties.”
But NRP spokesman Muth Channtha disputed the division of time, saying that all 12 parties should receive the same amount of coverage.
Mar Sophal, monitoring coordinator with the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, said TVK is “playing a [neutral] role during the campaign period.” But he added that he doubts this will continue once the elections are over.
