PHNOM PENH (Khmer Times) – In a bid to support the local film industry, the government has banned foreign films being aired on TV in the critical 7 pm to 9 pm prime time slot.
The move comes after the ministry floated the idea last week in an effort to promote the Khmer art and film industry.
Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith said the ministry would revoke the licenses of any stations that flout the ban.
Local television stations generally broadcast foreign films and foreign-made TV programs in the time frame, including popular dramas from Thailand and Singapore, such as “The Journey”, a Singaporean series that looks at the travails of first-generation Chinese immigrants who set foot on the island of Singapore to seek their fortunes.
“There have been criticisms over the excessive airing of foreign-made films on local television stations,” Mr. Kanharith said.
TV stations can still play foreign films outside the 7-9 pm time slot.
The new measure will go into effect on November 1, which will give television stations time to rearrange commercial contracts with partners, Mr. Kanharith said.
Mr. Kanharith recalled that in 1993, the year he became Information Minister, he asked local television stations to air foreign-made films only 40 percent of the time.
“Now we don’t set a percentage, but we set it by hour. And when we can produce more local films, we will start setting a percentage again as other countries do,” he said.
What Viewers Want
Chhay Bora, President of the Motion Picture Association of Cambodia, welcomed the measure as a positive way to keep foreign films from flooding the market and drowning out Cambodian productions.
“The Ministry is responding to requests from the public, and they want local film productions and actors,” said Mr. Bora.
He recognized foreign-made films are better quality, but said the deluge of foreign art was diluting the purity of Khmer work.
Som Chhaya, Deputy Director General of the newly-launched PNN television, said the only reason PNN screened foreign films was because of local demand. Mr. Chhaya said the ban would affect PNN’s $3 million contract for Thai films but they would comply.
Mr. Chhaya questioned whether the ban would have the intended effect in an age of streaming on the Internet and DVDs.
Prominent Cambodian actress Dy Saveth said the ban would encourage local productions and artists. “Khmer have their own culture. Khmer have Angkor Wat Temple. So we have to make our culture strong,” she said.
Phnom Penh resident Meas Dara touted the move as the only way to improve Khmer art. But he said all of this while looking for Thai movies at a market near Olympic Stadium.
“Khmer films will become the most watched thing on TV, so Khmer culture will be improved,” he said.