Media of Nepal

Media of Nepal include radio, television, newspapers, and the internet.

Radio

Historically, radio has been the most prevalent form of mass communication in Nepal. Government-owned Radio Nepal has been the sole domestic radio provider since 1951, and by 1995 it was broadcasting in short-wave, medium-wave, and FM frequencies. Private operators can lease the FM channel, and there are plans to establish FM stations outside the capital.^[1]

Radios: 2,000,000 (2006)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 50, shortwave 1 (2006)

Television Channels in Nepal

Television programming commenced in 1985, and broadcasters include government-owned Nepal Television, which has two channels, and private broadcasters Nepal One, Shangri-La, and Space Time Network. All private television broadcasters have experienced financial losses and content restrictions. Foreign programs can be accessed via satellite or cable. Statistics on viewership are not available, but it is estimated at less than 15 percent of the population.^[1]

Television in Nepal started with Nepal Television in January 1985. It was launched as a project under the sixth development plan (1980-1985) with the slogan "Communication for Development". It was set up with a broad mission statement, "Produce and telecast programs on educational, religious and cultural conservation to promote national unity, conserve heritage and promote national interest". It was part of a research project to study the feasibility of establishing television to ascertain if this was econcomically and technically possible. It had a monopoly for over 15 years.
After 27 years Nepal has sixteen television broadcasters including the government run Nepal Television and NTV PLUS. The private broadcasters are: Kantipur Television owned by Kantipur Publication which is located at Tinkune, Kathmandu; Image Channel owned by Image Groups of Companies is situated at Lazimpat, Kathmandu; Avenues Television, a news and current affairs channel located at Tripureswor, Kathmandu, which is owned by Avenues Ad started broadcasting from July 2007.After Avenues Television, more news Channels were launched, Sagarmatha Television, was launched in July 2007 and is situated at Singhadurbar, Kathmandu.ABC TV Nepal and National TV were lanched in 2008, News 24, Himalaya Television and Mountain Television were launched in 2010.Entertainment Channels started popping in 2009 with TV Filmy, with E-24 Television launching soon in 2012.Regional Channels like Terai TelevisionNepal Mandal and Makalu Television started coming from 2010.Mission Star was launched recently.Nepal 1 is beamed from India. Channel Nepal which was located in Shantinagar, Kathmandu was the first Nepali language satellite channel, which discontinued in 2011.
They are all listed below -

• Nepal Television, the main television
• Kantipur Television
• Image Channel
• NTV PLUS
• Avenues Television
• Sagarmatha Television
• ABC TV Nepal
• National TV
• News 24
• Himalaya Television
• Mountain Television
• TV Filmy
• Nepal Mandal
• E-24
• Terai Television
• Makalu Television
• Channel Nepal
• Nepal 1
• Young Asia Television (Nepal)

Television broadcast stations: 18 (2012) (plus 9 repeaters) (2007)

Televisions: 500,000 (2006)

Newspapers and magazines

According to government figures, in 2003 Nepal had 3,741 registered newspapers, of which 251 were published daily. Government-owned Gorkhapatra (Gorkha Journal) had the highest daily circulation at around 75,000. Most registered newspapers were published either weekly (1,304) or monthly (1,122). Most vernacular news media are regarded as having little credibility as a result of affiliations with political parties.^[1]

Magazines and periodicals - 295

Internet

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 6 (2000)

Internet users: 400,000 (2006)^[2]

Country code (Top level domain): NP

References

External links

• Nepal Radio Live
• Nepal News - News feed and photos about Nepal
• 'Media and Telecommunication Lansdcape in Nepal', a 'infoasaid' guide, May 2011, 106 pp.