A brief summary of media policy of nepal

Overall policy
Major objective of Media policy are to encourage the media and journalist to aware of
their responsibilities and duties regarding the furtherance of healthy media in society. Media
policy enhance the supportive media of furtherance of democracy by revising all existing laws
relating to media sector, information and telecommunications under the administration of the
ministry of information and communications.
Media policy helps to encourage healthy investment and creating a media as a platform for the
governmental and non- governmental organizations and the general public to practice the right to
information, and develop the media as means to safeguard against all kinds of exploitation,
discrimination, injustice etc.
Foreign investment in media is allowed. Any foreign
firm/company, investor can invest up to the 49%. Media policy helps to prohibits monopolies by
limiting the ownership, media concentration. This policy helps to allow 2-5 years transition
period to the concerned party to comply with anti-monopoly and ownership limitation
provisions. Media policy aim to limit the publication or broadcasting of any content by
government ministry, departments, offices and other entities to a single publisher or broadcaster
not to exceed 5% of total content of such publication or broadcasting.
Establishment of following bodies
For the regulation and monitoring of media sector, for the self-regulated journalism sector, for the
enhancement of capacities of media sector, for the transformation of telecommunication
authority to a converged broadcasting establishment of following bodies are required:
Public Service Broadcaster (PSB)
Nepal press Council
Media commission

Media education and training

Media policy has intended to encourage an independent national media education and training
council to make available to the public training methods, awareness program and Consciousness
on issues related to women and other backward or marginalized people and for the equal
opportunities for education and training to the employee of PSB and private broadcaster.
Media policy proposed to safeguard that PSB shall make educational programs 20% and cultural
programs 15% of all programs to facilitate the harmony among multiple cultures and languages
in Nepal.
Sectorial Policy

1. Broadcasting

Media policy has proposed the Public Broadcasting Service to be accurate, fair, and
impartial and ensured to be autonomous. Media policy offered to transform Radio Nepal and
Nepal Television as PSB with target service coverage of 100% in order to provide necessary
information for all the people of Nepal. This policy intends to determine and allocate available
FM and terrestrial TV channels for different category of broadcasters i.e. for PSBs, commercial
broadcasters and noncommercial broadcasters. Media policy proposed to determine basis to
classify commercial and noncommercial broadcasters and differentiate their right, privileges and
obligation based on their category.
Investment in broadcasting
Any individual or organizations can invest or can hold the share in any broadcaster up to 15%.
Royalties, licensing and renewal fees

Media policy ensures that following body will receives contribution from royalties,
licensing and renewal fees paid by the broadcasters, film producer and Cinema exhibitors:
PSB shall receive a fixed amount of or 50%.
Media commission shall receive fixed amount of 15%.
Independent national media education and training council shall receive a fixed amount of or
20%
2. Print Media
Media policy ensures the optimum freedom of press and publication by creating an
environment for journalists to perform their duty without facing any undue pressure or threat.
Media policy intends to abolish the conventional system of paying advertising fees to newspaper
and publisher for the improvement of their financial situation.
Media policy proposes to develop Gorkhapatra Corporation as modern publication by making
competitive with private sector and by involving private sector in the management of the
corporation. It encourages the newspaper and publisher to produce guidelines for codes of
conduct, editorial standards to create an environment in which self- regulation can be observed.
3. Cinema
Media policy planned to enhance the Nepali cinemas as a medium of fresh and healthy
entertainment by encouraging and protecting production of cinemas which promote democratic
values and principles, nepali art, culture, enhancing the harmonious relationship among various
cast, tribes, languages of Nepal; protects interests of marginalized class and communities. Media
policy has intended for the autonomy and independence of Film Development Board for the selfregulation and monitoring mechanism within each cinema production. This policy allows
foreign investment in cinema production or infrastructure industry within the scope of Foreign
Investment and Technology Transfer Act, 1992.
4. Advertisement

Media policy planned to enact a separate legislation for the dealing of content, method,
manner and all aspect of advertisement. Media policies encourage and promote advertisement
which promote national unity, integrity, harmony and prevent advertisement being used for
specific political party, a political organization and political activity. Media policy help to
provide proper information through advertisement for optimum enjoyment of general peoples
right to have correct information about available products and service.