The Ministry of Information has plans to launch three or four digital television channels in 2023 to facilitate the wider dissemination of content alongside their online presence, its website announced on Wednesday.
The ministry currently has a television channel and radio station under its auspices.
Ministry of Information spokesman Phos Sovann said on Thursday that it planned to catch up in the global switch to digital as Cambodia was “lagging behind”.
“We, like it or not, need to [switch to digital] because it is the global trend. We promise to be broadcasting in 2023, but among Asean countries, we are the ones lagging behind,” he said.
Sovann said the ministry is requesting a budget from the government. It informed the National Assembly and Ministry of Finance and Economy of its plans in 2013.
“We are requesting a budget from the government, but we do not know yet what the government thinks about [the plans]."
“The government can approve the request from the state budget or it can approve us to get a loan. We need a decision from the government as to whether funds will come via a loan or the state,” he said.
While there are 200 terrestrial and cable television channels available in the Kingdom, only five broadcast digitally.
