VOD Beginnings

VOD is a radio program production started in January 2003 by the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights (CCHR), a human rights non-governmental organization established in November 2002. It initially broadcast 20-minute radio program daily on a purchased airtime from a privately-owned station Beehive Radio (FM105 MHz), which has only a capacity of 1KW transmission reaching only population in the capital of Phnom Penh. Buying airtime from other stations was too difficult as radio owners or managers expressed concerns on possible government’s pressures or actions against them if they will accommodate VOD. CCHR applied for a radio license twice in 2003 and 2004, but was denied by the government for reasons that the country is already filled with too many frequencies. But at present, Cambodia has only 26 FM and one AM radio stations so far.

In 2004, VOD broadcasts news reports twice a day At 12:00 to 12:20 p.m. and 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. and other programs including the recorded proceedings of CCHR’s public forums with a total broadcast time of 4 to 8 hours. VOD became a fresh source for information in Cambodia compared to Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia (RFA), and Radio France International (RFI), which broadcast only daily for one hour in Cambodian language. In a 2006 survey of the International Republican Institute (IRI), donor-partner of CCHR, VOD gained the daily listenership of 26% following VOA and RFA.

In December 31, 2005, Kem Sokha, President of CCHR, was arrested at CCHR’s office, followed by another arrest of three human rights activists. VOD was the only broadcast media covering the event. Through the broadcast it has rallied the support of the people until the release of four human rights activists from jail on January 17, 2006.

In February 11-13, 2006, human rights group called Alliance for Freedom of Expression (AFEC) organized the “March for Freedom of Expression,” a 50-kilometer march from Phnom Penh to Odoung mountain, and VOD played a major role in mobilizing the people and updating the people on the progress of the march.

In June 2007, VOD was separated from CCHR and the Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM) was established by the staffs running the VOD programs. During this time VOD sustained its broadcast for two hours of news, current affairs and other radio programs but aired simultaneously from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in five radio stations – Phnom Penh (Beehive Radio 105FM), Kampong Thom province (Radio Stung Sen), Battambang province (Radio Kraing Moeung), Oddar Meanchey province (Radio Kiridang Rek), and Siem Reap (Radio Angkor Rotha).

In October 2008, CCIM began the operation of its radio station in Phnom Penh through leased agreement with an existing radio station. The radio station named Radio Sarika FM106.5MHz broadcast 16 hours daily from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. with power of 10 kilowatts. This resulted to the cancellation of broadcast in other radio stations.

VOD Today

With the Radio Sarika FM 106.5MHz, VOD is now producing more radio programs than before. News reports are broadcast in the morning, noon-time, and evening which are the prime time hours and a news break every hour.

Radio program of various formats such live discussions with call-ins and thematic radio programs. Currently, VOD hosts a regular live discussion called “Roundtable” and produces thematic radio programs on climate change, media issues, social accountability reporting, human rights education, and youth education. Previous programs include topics on rule of law, land issues, anti-corruption, women’s issues, and radio programs on specific incidents of human rights issues.

These radio programs are supported by various local and international donors, such as the Open Society Institute (OSI), Friedrich Newman Foundation (FNF), United Nation Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNCOCHR), British Embassy-Bilateral Fund, Affiliated Network on Social Accountability (ANSA), and European Commission (EC) - European Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR). Previous donors include: USAID through the International Republican Institute (IRI), German Development Services (DED), PACT-Cambodia, and the Working Group on Human Rights Mechanism.

As more broadcast time is available at the Radio Sarika FM 106.5MHz, VOD is working on to produce more radio programs on various topics.

Beginning March 2009, CCIM operated another radio station in Siem Reap province with a power of 5 kilowatts. This means that coverage of listeners of VOD programs also increased.

CCIM strongly believes that media plays a very important role in the society. Thus, it is committed to develop the VOD and its radio stations to perform such role and contribute in improving the society.