The launch initially covers the capital city, with plans to go nationwide by the end of this year.
Although Cambodia is still recovering from decades of civil war, the country is currently being served by six TV stations, with the most popular being sports and entertainment channels TV3 and TV5, which are partially owned by Thai investors, and the Government-owned TVK, which operates with support from the Japanese and French governments.
CTN is a joint-venture between local conglomerate Royal Group of Companies Cambodia and Stockholm-based Modern Time Group broadcaster, which also runs channels in Britain, Scandinavia and Russia.
Kith Meng, CTN chairman and Royal Group CEO, said that more than US$1 million would be spent on programming this year, with 40 per cent locally-produced. "Eventually, self-production will form the backbone of the channel," he said.
Programmes produced locally include news, documentaries, English-language learning shows and sit-coms. Foreign programmes include Sunday English Premier League, European comedies and Asian and South American dramas.
CTN is aiming to attract a daily viewership of five million by the end of next year: roughly half the country's population.
