NTV, Radio Nepal to formally begin operation under PSB from Tuesday

Kathmandu, Jan. 12

The state-owned Nepal Television (NTV) and Radio Nepal are beginning their operation as one institution under the Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) Act 2081, from Tuesday, January 14, first day of Magh in Nepali calendar month.

The two broadcasting companies have been brought under the PSB to keep them away from the political and commercial interests and focus on public service mandate.

Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, will kick off the pre-launching that coincides with a three-day workshop on the PSB framework starting on Tuesday, January 14.

Dr. Mahendra Bista, Chairperson of Public Service Broadcasting Nepal said that Radio Nepal and Nepal Television have already been transformed into public service broadcasters. The pre-launch event will give a formal beginning to it.

Dr. Kundan Aryal, Head of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at the Tribhuvan University, emphasised the need for public service broadcasters to remain free from vested political and commercial interests. “Such institutions must rise above narrow interests to address the fundamental communication needs of the people,” he said.

Dr. Aryal also underscored the importance of providing balanced news and fulfilling the public’s information needs in areas such as agriculture, education, and health. According to him, a national public broadcaster should cater to the communication needs of all citizens.

The pre-launch programme will feature a panel of eight experts discussing various topics including interactions with experts on international PSB practices, deliberations with representatives of major political parties on democracy and nation-building, and dialogue with relevant ministers and experts on the role of public broadcasting in education and health.

The programme will also feature engagement with disaster management experts, consultations on communication policies and practices with policymakers and subject-matter experts, and conversations with cultural, literary, and social advocates on promoting national unity.

Likewise, plans are in place to consult with officials from Japan’s public broadcasting service to learn from their experiences and improve Nepal’s PSB system.

Dr. Bista expressed confidence that the event would contribute to the technical and digital transformation of Nepal’s public service broadcasting. He remarked, “This initiative aims to ensure Radio Nepal and Nepal Television reach citizens across the country, addressing their issues and meeting the demands of stakeholders."

The three-day programme is also expected to help in formulating short, medium, and long-term plans for public service broadcasting in Nepal.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 13 January 2025.