'Dancing With the Stars' Coming to Cambodian TV

12/18/2013 by Patrick Brzeski
The Hollywood Reporter

ABC

Elizabeth Berkley on "Dancing with the Stars"

Cambodia Broadcasting Corporation will produce the 49th local version of the hit format from BBC Worldwide.

Cambodia Television Network (CTN) has licensed global BBC Worldwide hit format Dancing With the Stars, with the show set to premiere in the developing Southeast Asian nation in mid-2014.

Cambodia Broadcasting Corporation, which owns CTN, will produce the local version of the show.

“Cambodia is an important market in the growth of our business in Asia,” said Mark Whitehead, senior vp and general manager of South East Asia for BBC Worldwide.

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Earlier this year, Whitehead's team debuted BBC World News, BBC Lifestyle and BBC Knowledge in Cambodia.

"Dancing with the Stars has been a huge worldwide success and we are confident that the local format will take on the same reception with the viewers there,” he added.

Outside the U.K., 49 versions of Dancing with the Stars have been licensed, with local versions airing in six continents, in countries as diverse as Lebanon, India and Australia. The Dancing with the Stars brand has also branched out into live events, consumer products, gaming and digital properties.

“We are extremely excited to be able to work with BBC Worldwide on Dancing with the Stars,” saidBernard Anthony, general manager of Cambodian Broadcasting Service. "Being able to adopt this internationally successful BBC format reinforces our strength and capabilities as a network. We hope that this is just the start of a fruitful long-term relationship with BBC Worldwide."