PHNOM PENH: BBC Media Action’s brand-new television comedy-drama explores what it takes to be a “Sok San family” in 21st-century Cambodia. The team behind the popular programmes Dream Station, Don’t Wait for Rain and Klahan9 House are pleased to launch their newest long format offer, Sok San Family and to partner once again with Cambodian Broadcasting Service.
The 13-episode series will premiere on Sunday 19th June on the CTN channel and follows the often-comic ups and downs of Pu Sok and Ming San and their children as they strive to live their best lives. Whilst the family appears to be united, cracks have started to appear as the children get older and want more independence.
Eldest daughter Chan is growing more withdrawn, fiery Kdeb Ampil’s big ideas keep getting her into trouble and Teth’s laidback attitude to life is testing everyone. Join the Sok San Family as they squabble and struggle with the big and small stuff of modern life, learning lessons, having fun and growing closer bonds as they go.
Gemma Hayman, Country Director of BBC Media Action, Cambodia said, “We are thrilled to launch Sok San Family and very pleased to partner with Cambodian Broadcasting Service to reach as wide an audience as possible. Our talented and creative team has worked hard to develop and produce this original new programme which aims to challenge negative attitudes about young people’s abilities, role model ways in which they can get involved in public life and encourage discussion on these issues – all entertainingly and engagingly. We hope that audiences love it”.
Rajveer Singh, Chief Executive Officer of, Cambodia Broadcasting Service said, “It is a moment of great pride for CBS to be partnering with BBC Media Action to bring Sok San Family to our audiences across the length and breadth of Cambodia. Our companies share a common vision in bringing to our stakeholders the best of entertainment offerings and Sok San Family is thus a natural synergy for CBS.”
The television series forms part of BBC Media Action’s multiplatform youth empowerment
project Klahan9 SPACE – supporting participation and civic engagement – which is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Embassy of Sweden
Section Office in Phnom Penh. The project aims to increase levels of participation and
community engagement amongst young Cambodians by equipping them with knowledge,
skills, confidence and networks and shifting negative attitudes around youth participation.
Adrian Scherler, SDC Head of Governance Portfolio said, “SDC is enchanted to be part of the launch of this exciting TV programme as this is one of the significant components of the Klahan9 project. We hope the programme reaches a wide and diverse audience across the country and that it will spark intergenerational reflections within families and among communities. We are proud to partner with BBC Media Action to use media and communication as important instruments to motivate and support young Cambodians to participate in public life.”
Camilla Ottosson, Head of Development Cooperation of Embassy of Sweden Section Office, Phnom Penh said, “In line with the strategy of Sweden’s development cooperation with Cambodia focusing on human rights, democracy and rule of law, we see BBC Media Action is one of our valuable partners in Cambodia in terms of supporting youth in civic engagement and participation. Sweden, along with SDC, is happy to congratulate BBC Media Action on the launch of Sok San Family, a TV show that will inspire millions of young Cambodians to participate and engage in public life. To work with youth through humour on important topics relevant to society is excellent and we hope it will reach many viewers and have a positive impact on young people’s lives in Cambodia.”
In addition to the Sok San Family TV programme, the Klahan9 SPACE project includes the
provision of digital content, community outreach activities and support to media
practitioners. The project is led and implemented by BBC Media Action alongside partners
Youth Council of Cambodia (YCC), Youth Resource Development Programme (YRDP),
Bophana Audio Resource center.
Sok San Family will air on the CTN channel, Sundays at 12.00 pm and Saturdays at 5.00 pm. It will also be available online at https://www.facebook.com/klahan9cambodia and https://www.youtube.com/c/klahan9cambodia.
Photo by: BBC Media Action
