One Year Of One Tv: Gs Group Broadcasting Project Has Become The First Cambodian Nationwide Digital Operator

Top Quote One year ago exactly, on September 15, 2012, Cambodia's first digital pay TV platform One TV was commercially launched. Within the year the project has become the first nationwide digital terrestrial operator in the country. End Quote
  • (1888PressRelease) September 18, 2013 - One TV has made real a breakthrough in TV broadcasting in the country, bringing quality TV to Cambodian homes and coming ahead of the officially planned digital TV switchover. Furthermore, the operator has widely enriched the content in one year period listening out for viewing preferences of the local population.

    With soft launch taking place in July, 2012 in Phnom Penh, the commercial launch of the project developed and run by GS Group holding (General Satellite Corporation at that time) in partnership with a large Cambodian corporation Royal Group of Companies, followed in autumn. At that time 20 channels were available in DVB-T standard. By September 2013 the number of channels available has reached 80 including local content, popular Asian channels and international networks. Extending the number of anticipated channels in digital quality, the operator has focused not only on existing channels but also started production of its own unique Khmer content. The first two channels, One TV Karaoke and One TV Cinema have been recently launched.

    The rise of One TV in the Cambodian telecommunications market has stirred up the players already existing. Cable operators had to lower their prices alarmed by the possible fall of demand for their services. "Within one year One TV managed to extend its coverage area reaching 70% of the country. Thus, today the operator is the only pay-TV operator on a national scale", - Sergey Dolgopolsky, Director, Foreign Projects, GS Group, commented. "By the end of December, 2012 nine provinces of the country were covered by our signal. That is 70% of Cambodia's territory. Wide coverage zone is one of One TV main competitive strengths. At the present moment there are no pay TV operators in the country that would broadcast nationwide".

    GS Group came as initiator, investor and technical integrator for One TV digital platform. This was the first foreign broadcasting project of the holding. It employed the company's experience in calculating, network and technology modeling necessary to launch and develop this kind of projects - the expertise that the holding gained through over 20 years of work at the telecommunication market.

    Cambodian project became a success also because GS Group managed to find a local partner with similar interests in the market. "To start One TV we have found a partner who at was also interested in launching digital broadcasting in the territory of Cambodia", - Polina Belova stated. "We happened to have the same goals, and we quickly came to an agreement. Preparations for the launch of the first national digital operator took only six months, that is to say, a record breaking time for the project of this level". The holding owns 51% share. The rest belongs to Cambodian Royal Group of Companies.

    GS Group broadcasting project came as a breakthrough for Cambodia. The operator has come ahead of the general digitization process in the country as switching from the analogue TV is scheduled only by the year 2015. "Initially the state was planning the transition from analog to digital TV by 2015", said Mr. Dolgopolsky. "And GS Group introduced digitization already now. As a result of One TV launch as early as in 2012 the country got its first digital pay TV operator with nationwide coverage. Cambodian population has lived one full year with TV of digital quality. Also, more than 130 jobs for local specialists were created, training and education programs were arranged for them".

    In June 2013 One TV was presented at the largest Asian exhibition Broadcast Asia'2013 where the platform was highly estimated by the industry's experts and named "a model for digitization of Asian countries". "GS Group is not seeking easy ways. Your experience in Cambodian market is remarkable and unique", Stephen Wong, Newmedia Solutions PTE LTC Senior Expert commented. "One TV model can be applied in other Asian countries - of course, with some changes and modifications because the market is diverse. But for sure it can streamline and facilitate digitization of the region".

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