Sarika FM 106.5

Radio Sarika FM 106.5MHz

The Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM) endeavors to operate its own radio stations to be able to air its radio programs according to its own programming. In the past, CCIM produced radio programs under the name Voice of Democracy (VOD) but were only aired in airtime rented from various radio stations.

In October 2008, CCIM began the operation of its radio station through a leased agreement of an existing radio station in Phnom Penh with a frequency of FM 106.5 MHz.With this station, CCIM freely decides its own radio programming for 16 hours from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.

The decision to operate the radio station was tricky because during this time CCIM’s major donor completely concluded its financial support, only a few donors remained supporting projects related to production of various radio programs. With the stoppage of funding, CCIM would no longer be able to pay the airtime it has rented in five radio stations and would also mean the discontinuation of the production of radio programs.

However, CCIM took the advantage of taking the offer from the owner of the radio station to rent the whole radio station. CCIM tried to look for sources to be used in the initial operation of the radio station which includes security deposit for the contract, rental and expenses for utilities at the start of the operation. Fortunately, the Open Society Institute (OSI) generously offered a bridge funding to CCIM for three months to be able to stabilize the operation of the radio station. The East-West Management Institute (EWMI), a USAID sub-grantor also offered additional bridge fund.

At present, Radio Sarika FM 106.5 MHz is now on its normal operation featuring radio programs produced by Voice of Democracy (VOD), the radio program production of CCIM, filling up the prime time hours with news reporting, hourly breaking news, and the rest of the airtime is scheduled with live radio discussions and thematic radio programs with support from various local and international donors.

Radio Sarika FM 106.5 MHz programming is a combination of information and music, thus it uses the slogan “the source of information and entertainment.” The radio accepts advertising or announcements through radio spots, program and airtime sponsorships, and airtime rental in order to generate income for its operation. CCIM aims Radio Sarika FM 106.5 MHz will continue its broadcast through a self-sustaining operation. Radio Sarika will operate separately from CCIM but works closely in radio programming, particularly in providing contents to the radio.In March 2009, CCIM took the offer to rent the radio station in Siem Reap. The radio station, Radio Angkor Ratha FM95.5, used to air VOD programs in a two-hour airtime from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Today, CCIM operates the radio station from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The radio station has a power of 5 kilowatts transmission and airs the radio programs of Radio Free Asia (RFA) and Voice of America (VOA) before and after the airtime of Radio Sarika FM.