Digital TV service launches

Cambodia's newly-established digital wireless TV service provider One TV will begin broadcasting to the Kingdom by September15. 

One TV is a venture between Russia’s General Satellite and Cambodia’s Royal Group, under the company Royal Media Entertainment Corporation Limited (RMEC), which will provide digital satellite television services and plans to cover 70 per cent of the country’s TV audience. 

Badzhadzh Samir, CEO of RMEC, said during a press conference yesterday that the commercial launch event will offer a special digital bundle free of charge, which consists of a digital set-top-box and antenna. The unit costs US$50 normally, though customers will be required to purchase a smart card if they want to watch. Stocks are said to be limited. 

“One TV adopted the concept of plug-and-play which allows you to connect the set-top-box to your TV set and the antenna to experience the world of Digital TV instantly. This new technology, of broadcasting the source signal, allows for better quality when watching your favourite programs,” he said. 

“One TV is bringing the world of entertainment to you, and will be able to cover 70 per cent of the population in Cambodia with its digital wireless connection, providing people with an affordable and reliable source of information,” he said. 

Broadcasting coverage will include Phnom Penh and eight provinces like Pursat, Battambong, Banteay Meanchey, Siem Reap, Kampong Thom, Kampong Cham, Svay Reing and Sihanoukville, Samir said. 

Ouk Vora, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of RMEC, said the service coverage of One TV is relying on CTN’s infrastructure, and that in the immediate future under the ASEAN Framework all the channels within the member states must be broadcast digitally. 

“We are proud to be one of the first countries in the region to start the switch. One TV is a platform which offers a chance for all domestic channels to become digital,” he continued. He added the company also plans to gain 500,000 subcribers in the next five years and will expand its coverage to other provinces. 

General Manager of Indochina Research, Laurent Notin, welcomed the news of Cambodia’s first digital television service. “Of course, if they are launching, they definitely see a market here.”

Indochina Research’s media index survey for July 2012, which took place in five locations both urban and semi-urban, showed that 98 per cent of people watch TV; 32 per cent of households have cable or satellite and among those, 47 per cent use a local cable provider. Thirty-nine per cent use PPCTV; 8 per cent CCTV and 5 per cent DTV, according to the report.

Notin said that the channels watched most often on PPCTV were: PPCTV 9 – 19 per cent; PPCTV 10 – 15 per cent; K World – 15 per cent; PPCTV 11 – 15 per cent and HBO – 8 per cent.

One TV offers three packages for customers, such as: One World with 20 channels cost $3 per month; One Elite with one world plus 20 channels worth $6 per month; and One Premium with one world, one elite  plus 20 channels that costs $12 per month.