The Cambodian Broadcasting Service (CBS) is a broadcast operator under the control of The Royal Group, a prominent investment company in Cambodia with a diversified portfolio spanning multiple industry sectors. It operates three of Cambodia’s most popular television channels: CNC, CTN, and My TV.
Media assets
Television: CTN Cambodia, MyTV Cambodia, CNC Cambodia, CTN International Cambodia
State Media Matrix Typology: Captured Private (CaPr)
Ownership and governance
The Royal Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kith Meng, a dual citizen of Cambodia and Australia who oversees the operations of over 40 companies in Cambodia. Meng is known to be a close associate of the former Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Sen. Some media outlets have referred to him as a “prime ministerial adviser.”
In August 2023, Hun Sen retired, paving the way for his son, Hun Manet, 45, to assume the role of Prime Minister. He was elected to the National Assembly in July 2023, a process that was deemed unfair by independent observers. Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge guerrilla leader, stated that he would continue to be involved in politics in other capacities.
In a significant move in late 2022, Bayon High Media System, in collaboration with Royal Group (owner of CBS) and Hang Meas TV Group (a prominent Cambodian media conglomerate), announced the formation of the Cambodian Television Alliance. This alliance aims to establish the largest digital television platform operation in the country. Furthermore, the alliance includes the participation of the government, represented by the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
According to the statute of the alliance, seven board members, one from the government and six from the Cambodian Television Alliance, will supervise the operations of the joint platform. Hun Mana, one of former Prime Minister Hun Sen’s daughters, was selected as the alliance’s board chair.
Source of funding and budget
CBS is primarily funded through advertising, though there have been past concerns that the government may have provided financial support to media outlets in The Royal Group due to the close relationship between the group’s owner, Kith Meng, and the family of former Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Editorial independence
The group’s owner, Meng, is known for his staunch support of former Prime Minister Hun Sen. Meng has a penchant for displaying large portraits of Hun Sen’s family members in the offices of his company. Furthermore, the broadcasting license for CNC, one of the group’s media outlets, stipulates that the outlet is required to “help the government broadcast the nation’s progress and development,” according to Media Ownership Monitor, a project of the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
There is no evidence of legislation that would safeguard the autonomy of journalists employed by CBS media outlets. Furthermore, there are no discernible independent assessment or oversight mechanisms to substantiate the editorial independence of the organization.
September 2024