Cambodian Broadcasting Service (CBS)
The Cambodian Broadcasting Service (CBS) operates as a leading commercial broadcaster in Cambodia and is part of The Royal Group, one of the country’s most influential conglomerates. With a media portfolio that includes CNC, CTN, and MyTV—among the most-watched television channels in Cambodia—CBS plays a central role in shaping the country’s audiovisual landscape.
Media assets
Television: CTN Cambodia, MyTV Cambodia, CNC Cambodia, CTN International Cambodia
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
CBS falls under the control of The Royal Group, which is wholly owned by Kith Meng, a prominent Cambodian-Australian businessman. Meng wields considerable influence in the Cambodian corporate and political arenas, heading more than 40 companies across sectors ranging from telecommunications to banking. Known for his close ties to former Prime Minister Hun Sen, Meng has frequently been described by local and international media as a “prime ministerial adviser.”
Following Hun Sen’s retirement in August 2023, leadership transitioned to his son, Hun Manet, who was elected to the National Assembly during the controversial July 2023 general elections—an electoral process heavily criticized by independent observers for lacking transparency and competitiveness. Although formally stepping down, Hun Sen declared he would maintain a political role behind the scenes, preserving his family’s entrenched influence.
In late 2022, CBS became a founding member of the Cambodian Television Alliance, a joint initiative involving Bayon High Media System, Hang Meas TV Group, and the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The alliance was formed to create Cambodia’s largest digital broadcasting platform, consolidating the country’s fragmented media landscape under a single umbrella. The alliance’s governance structure consists of a seven-member board, including one government representative and six from the alliance partners. The board is chaired by Hun Mana, daughter of Hun Sen, reinforcing the enduring intertwining of political power and media ownership in Cambodia.
David Elliott Ulmer continues to serve as CEO of CBS, a position he has held since around mid‑2023. Ulmer has steered the company toward digital transformation, integrating AI and forging international partnerships.
Source of funding and budget
CBS is primarily financed through commercial advertising revenues. However, persistent concerns have been raised regarding possible indirect state support. These suspicions stem from the long-standing alliance between Kith Meng and the Hun family, suggesting a potential conflation of political loyalty and commercial benefit. Although no official government subsidies have been disclosed, the financial relationship between the state and Royal Group media holdings remains insufficiently transparent. No budgetary disclosures for 2024 have been published as of June 2025.
In March 2025, CNC (Cambodia News Channel), part of CBS, launched an AI‑powered multilingual news service on YouTube, offering Khmer news translated into English, Arabic, French, and Mandarin Chinese. This marked the first such AI‑driven multilingual broadcast in Cambodia, expanding the network’s global reach.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence at CBS remains highly questionable. Kith Meng is widely recognized for his public displays of loyalty to the Hun family, including prominently placed portraits of Hun Sen and his children within corporate offices. More critically, the broadcasting license for CNC explicitly mandates the promotion of governmental narratives.
There is no evidence of legal safeguards protecting journalistic independence within CBS outlets. Nor do there appear to be internal or external mechanisms for independent editorial oversight. In practice, the network operates within a heavily politicized media environment where editorial content often aligns with the prevailing political orthodoxy.
July 2025