Please tell us something about Nepali advertising industry.
Nepali advertising industry has been growing by 15 percent every year. It generates revenue of around Rs 5 billion annually. AAN, which was established with just 11members, now has 300 members. Not only has our members and turnover increased, the trend of advertisement has also changed. It has evolved from traditional print and TV advertisements to co-branding, activation, content marketing and online advertisement.How do you plan to celebrate the day?
To celebrate the day, we are planning to felicitate seven agencies that are associated with AAN since its inception. We will also felicitate past presidents and coordinators of Crity Awards. Similarly, we are helping the family of AAN member Dinesh Mool who lost his life in the earthquake. We will support education of his children and provide cash assistance of Rs 51,000 to his family.
AAN is officially launching 'Ad Tracking System' on Saturday. This system will help to keep track, store and secure all necessary information of advertisements published in different print media. Media houses, clients and even advertising agencies can use the data whenever needed. This will help clients to plan their business and spending accordingly and the media houses too can find out which sector and which clients are spending the most.
We are also participating in Bagmati Clean-up Campaign in the Pashupati Temple area on Saturday morning.
How did the earthquake affect advertising industry? What are your plans for recovery of the industry?
Advertisements in print media and television were almost nil right after the earthquake. It continued for a week. After that, advertisement flow gradually started to pick up and now it has gained momentum. We had to face loss of Rs 250 million in a month.
The situation has started to normalize and corporate houses have slowly started providing advertisements. The pre-budget offers have started. But we are waiting for Dashain festival, when advertisers do not hesitate to spend, for recovery of the industry.
As the president of TAAN, what are you doing for the development of Nepali advertising industry?
We have been lobbying with the government for implementation of 'clean feed' policy in transmission of foreign channels in Nepal. The channels, which broadcast their content by charging, cannot broadcast advertisements. This system is called 'clean feed'. If this policy is implemented, turnover of Nepali advertisement industry will grow by billions of rupees. As per our request, the government has formed a Clean Feed Committee. We are hopeful that the policy will be implemented.
We are also lobbying with the government to ban dubbed ads so that local business will grow. Similarly, we have been requesting the government to form Advertisement Development Board to supervise and monitor advertisements at micro level. AAN is also working with other stakeholders to build Media Center in 20 ropani of land provided by the government.
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