A FOURTH TV channel will be broadcasting in the country within 10 months, according to the Phnom Penh Municipality (PPM) Vice Governor's Assistant Khau Meng Hean.

KCS (Kampuchea Communication Siam) Cambodia Co Ltd plans to install a new antenna and broadcast TV programs on a new Channel 3 from the old Phnom Penh Muncipality (PPM) building situated in front of the Phnom Penh railway station, according to Hean.

He said the KCS signed a 30-year joint venture contract with the PPM on Aug 26 under which KCS would also modernize radio programs put out by the municpality and strengthen the broadcasting signals from the building.

Hean said KCS would invest $5 million in the project, while PPM would provide only the building and some existing employees.

KCS Representative Kham Puorn Keo Muny said he was unsure how the company planned to make money from the project, but he said it would probably come from the revenues earned through attracting people to advertise on the TV and radio channels.

He said: "The main purpose of the company is to serve the Royal Government and to serve the Phnom Penh Municipality."

Under the terms of the 30-year contract KCS will share the profits of the operation with the PPM in a 65 to 35 ratio over the first 15 years.

For the final 15 years the profits would be shared 55 percent to 45 percent, and KCS would be solely responsible for bearing the costs if the project runs at a loss, said Hean.

The board of directors to oversee the operation will consist of three people from the KCS and two people from the PPM.

Hean said the new programs for the TV and radio station were currently under study, and he added that KCS planned to design better programs than those being shown by the IBC channel 5.

"The plan will also help update the Municipality's news announcements. So far the PPM [to run TV news stories] has to rely on TVK which broadcasts for us only twice a week."