Following the decision of Nepali cable service providers to stop airing some Indian news channels in Nepal last week, a leading newspaper ran a report decrying the unofficial ban on private Indian news channels. The free speech advocates were saying ‘content’ must be left to ‘viewers' discretion’.

KATHMANDU, July 11: The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MoCIT) has expressed serious concern over the publication/dissemination of ill-intended and ill-founded news reports about Nepal and its Prime Minister by some Indian media outlets. Issuing a statement on Friday, the ministry has urged all sides to become sensitive on the matter, as it was against the international norms and practice of journalism and could have an adverse impact on Nepal-India relations.

KATHMANDU, July 10: Nepali cable service providers have stopped airing Indian news channels in Nepal. Multi System Operators (MSOs) in Nepal have decided that all the Indian news channels except Doordarshan, the state-owned television channel in India, will not be broadcast in Nepal.