TV Network To Begin Airing

A new channel, the Cambodian Television Network, will launch in Phnom Penh on March 8, a CTN official said Wednesday.

CTN is a joint venture between Sweden’s Modern Time Group and the Royal Group, the parent company of MobiTel and Telesurf. Claiming more than $7.5 million in invest­ment, CTN will begin broadcasting within a 60-km radius of the capital before going nationwide toward the end of the year.

“It’s now time to modernize Cam­bodian TV…. The intention is to bring international standards to Cambodian TV,” Royal Group Chairman Kith Meng said.

According to a news release,  more than $1 million will be spent on programming this year.

“Eventually self-production will form the backbone of our channel. To achieve this we will a require a high-tech facility [to] pro­duce mu­sic programs, game shows and dramas,” Kith Meng said.

At its facility in Takhmau district, Kandal prov­ince, production is under way for local documenta­ries as well as educational shows on the English language and computers. CTN also plans to produce Cambo­dia’s first situation comedy, the news release said.

The release that CTN also has bought broadcast rights to the Eng­lish Premier League’s Sun­day matches, European com­edies, and Asian and South Ameri­can dramas. News will be relayed from London via satellite as well.

TV3 Station Manager Fay Sam Ang said Wednesday he is not worried about losing viewers to a new station.

“If there are lots of tel­e­vision stations, this will be an ad­van­tage to the Cambodian people,” he said.

Apsara TV General Director Sok Ey Sam agreed, saying his station’s unique cultural and educational programming had se­cured Apsara TV a loyal viewership.

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