CAMSOC denies setting high broadcasting fees

Facing claims by a Thai media outlet that Cambodia has demanded an exorbitant fee in exchange for broadcasting rights for the upcoming SEA Games 2023, the Secretary General of the Cambodia SEA Games Organising Committee (CAMSOC), General Vath Chomroeun, yesterday dismissed them as misinformed.

In a publication on Saturday, Thai PBS World, a major Thai media outlet, reported Cambodia is asking US$800,000 (about 28 million baht) for the live broadcast rights to the SEA Games event in May.

Quoting “An informed source at the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT)”, the report said that none of the participating countries, including Thailand, are willing to pay that price.

“The SAT may have to seek help from Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, in his capacity as chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand, and the money may have to come from National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission’s research and development fund, because the Sea Games are one of the seven sporting events classified in the ‘Must Have’ category,” he said.

The source told Thai PBS World that, since the Sea Games Committee allowed the hosting country to ask the participant countries for a broadcasting rights fee, up to now none of them has demanded more than 10,000 dollars.

When contacted for response yesterday, CAMSOC Secretary General Vath Chomroeun said Cambodia has never demanded a fixed price for the broadcasting rights.

He added that the fee quoted by Thai PBS World is inaccurate since negotiations are still ongoing between CAMSOC’s agency and Thai authorities.

“We (CAMSOC) are not involved in fee negotiation, as we leave it to our agency,” he said. “The final fee will be the one agreed upon by both parties, and Cambodia will not have any decision on it. We are not forcing anyone to pay for the rights.”

Chomroeun explained that the fee for broadcasting is decided by marketing considerations and the size of the individual audience, and thus differs from country to country.

He added that any reporting that claims no participating country is willing to pay for the broadcasting fee for the SEA Game event hosted by Cambodia is also untrue.

“As of now, almost all countries have acquired the rights to broadcast SEA Games from Cambodia, including Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia,” Chomroeun said.

“The rest are still in negotiation process.”

He added that all local TV channels in Cambodia will have access to broadcasting live SEA Games matches, tournaments and events without having to pay any fee when it takes place in May. Khmer Times