Cambodia Investment Review
In episode 95 of Rising Giants Podcast, Sopheak Chheng, a leading Cambodian content creator and founder of the Rean Thort channel, sat down with Rising Giants’ co-hosts Max Thornton and Dom Kalousek at the RG Studio located at Phnom Penh’s Choice Accelerator co-working space to discuss topics ranging from his career journey to the intricacies of content creation and monetization in Cambodia.
Read more: Rising Giants E94 with Richard Yim On The Impact Of AI In Cambodian Business
Starting from humble beginnings in 2014, Sopheak’s Rean Thort channel has grown to command a following of close to 500,000 YouTube subscribers. It initially began as ‘The First Free Photography & Video Tutorials in Khmer Language in Cambodia’ but has since evolved to encompass various subjects, including music, film, gaming, and sports.
He explained, “In the first three years, I was always consistent with photograph themes and the gear or camera needed. Building an identity is so vital when starting out. But there’s a limitation after a point. You’ve got to think about new themes, and that led me to explore film, movie, and travel video reviews.”
In-brand sponsorship is key for Cambodian content creators
He emphasized the importance of quality in content, saying, “It’s not just the script. It’s the tone, video quality, and other factors that make people subscribe and keep watching you. That happened naturally for me over the last nine years.”
Sopheak’s journey however wasn’t without its challenges. Before content creation, he worked with Sabay as a TV producer and department head for four years and co-founded Smallworld co-working space. He said, “What I learned from senior mentors at Sabay was discipline. It’s vital in the media industry and in meeting strict deadlines.”
Discussing his pathway towards monetization, Sopheak revealed the initial difficulties, stating, “Making revenue was very hard because Cambodia just became a monetization destination. I had to use my US account, and local brands were not really advertising. Now, in-brand sponsorship is where the real money is. Less than 5% of my revenue comes from the platform.” However, he added that his CPM payment (cost per thousand impressions) has grown from $0.03 to $2, but this still not a viable pathway alone.
Sopheak’s podcasting journey has been about inspiring and educating the local market. “I always enjoyed listening to conversations especially the Joe Rogan podcast, and the local Khmer-language market is not as saturated. I started buying microphones and building content. But my biggest challenge has been educating the local market about what a podcast is. Podcasting is like farming; you need to plant the seed, water it, and nurture it!” he said.
He also talked about how he approaches prospective guests, emphasizing trust and respect. “I never liked to reach out via direct message. I give guests the freedom to say anything and advise they have the option to edit. That creates trust and respect,” Sopheak added.
Next step and the journey to 500,000 subscribers
Sopheak’s ambitions go beyond YouTube and podcasting. “Feature films are next on my agenda. I feel I could get the funding and contacts to create Cambodian documentaries. Long-term sponsorship deals are vital to become truly independent as a content creator. These are your backbone of income,” he said.
Sopheak was candid about the challenges in building a team. “My staff sometimes doesn’t focus, and I should have been tighter on them. But perhaps due to my ego, I have ended up doing everything myself or automation. It’s hard to trust new staff with my home studio. I’m thinking about a separate studio office,” he revealed.
Sopheak believes in constant change and inspiration. He said, “I try to change my setup every few months to stimulate new ideas. Traveling out of the city and talking to new people has been great. One thing I did recently was a photoshoot in Taiwan with a well-known influencer with a basic camera setup, and I brought this idea back to Cambodia.”
Sopheak’s advice to other creators encapsulates his philosophy: “Being consistent and persistent with whatever you are doing, and doing it every day as a responsibility, without expecting too much in return to avoid disappointment.”
Sopheak Chheng’s candid conversation serves as an illuminating guide for content creators and entrepreneurs. From identifying a niche, being disciplined, navigating monetization challenges, innovating with new mediums, to planning future ventures, his journey embodies the traits that make him one of the most influential content creators in Cambodia.
