New Players
WMC - FM 102
Women’s Radio FM 102, also known as WMC, was founded in 1998 by Women’s Media Center (WMC) and officially started to broadcast in 1999 (KAS, 2009). WMC is a non-governmental and non-profit organization, created by a coalition of five women in 1995 to promote and empower Cambodian women. It is one of the most popular radio stations among youth in Cambodia [BBC Media Action, 2014, p.13] and general listeners [CMRD, 2015].
The WMC programs focus mainly on women’s issues [KAS, 2009]. It was the first of the few radio stations that dared to broadcast VOA’s and RFA’s news programs of which the government was not in favor [LICADHO, 2008]. However, before 2013 elections, WMC had to suspend broadcasting for a few days due to an order from the Ministry of Information, banning all radio stations from relaying or airing Khmer language programs produced by foreign donors during the electoral campaign.
Women’s Radio is also the first radio station run and owned by an NGO, thanks to its main focus on social change for women, not politics [LICADHO, 2008]. It is believed that WMC could get a license from the Ministry of Information thanks to its former co-director, Tive Saraveth, who worked at the Ministry and became friend with the Minister of Information, Khieu Kanharith [LICADHO, 2008]. Running with the supports from its various donors, Women’s Radio also sells airtime to peer NGOs. The station is regarded as an independent media outlet in Cambodia as its reporters are believed to usually include various credible sources and report in a neutral manner to their stories [TI Cambodia, 2014].
Women’s Radio is also available on [WMC’s website] which regularly updates current news and online TV.
In October 2017, WMC was reportedly to take down the contents of VOA and RFA.
Audience Share
0.06
Ownership Type
private
Geographic Coverage
nationwide
Content Type
free content
Media Companies / Groups
Women's Media Center
Group / Individual Owner
Not Applicable
It is a non-profit organization that does not have shareholders. Ist Executive Director is Chea Sundaneth.
General Information
Founding Year
1998
Founder
Women’s Media Center (WMC)
Ceo
Chea Sundaneth
Contact
No. 19A, St. 564, Sangkat Beoung Kak I, Khan Toul Kork, Phnom Penh, Cambodia (PHONE) 023 881 497 (MAIL) info@wmc.org.kh (WEB) www.wmc.org.kh
Financial Information
Revenue (in Mill. $)
Missing Information
Operating Profit (in Mill. $)
Missing Information
Advertising (in % of total funding)
Missing Information
Market Share
Missing Information
Further Information
CMRD (2015). Media Consumption Survey
The Cambodian media landscape counts at least two new outlets, a TV and a newspaper. Since the former started its daily activity and the latter its broadcasting in 2015, MOM decided not to include as most relevant medium. With less than a year of existence, the audience shares would not be representative of their popularity.
It can be highlighted, however, that their growth is taking place rapidly and their strategy seems more aggressive than the existing media on the market. Both are now hiring journalists and newsroom staffs from existing newsrooms, heightening the competition on both TV and print sectors, which are already highly concentrated.