BROADCASTS IN NEPAL
In Nepal, broadcasting started hand in hand with first revolution the country witnessed. The leaders, who were embarking upon a revolution against the then Rana regime, recognized effectiveness of radio broadcast as a tool for dissemination of ideas and started using it. The entire crew and equipment of the ´Democratic Nepal Radio´ was moved to Singha Durbar premises as Nepal Radio, and its commencement is dated Chaitra 20, 2007B.S. (April 03, 1951). Later, it was renamed Radio Nepal.
Established as a by-product of revolution, broadcasts of the time understandably consisted of inspirational songs and materials promoting social transformation and preparing the populace to a democratic system as opposed to the oppressive dictatorial regime of the past. In course of time, as the coverage of the radio station increased, so did the broadcast hours, and the station began to air programs for students, youth, women and children. As a sole government funded broadcaster in the country, RN was the natural pioneer in the field of public broadcasting. Its early exchanges indicate that RN had interactions with Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), All India Radio (AIR), and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and had modeled its broadcasts in line with theirs.
With time, changes took place not only in the broadcasts, but also in the way governments functioned, and the manner in which they were funding their public institutions. On a fateful day in 1985, Government of Nepal restructured RN, making it a self-sustaining board which required it to expand its commercial services to fund its operations. This change introduced flexibility: Alterations in the format of programs no longer needed government approval. By this time, Nepal Television had also started its transmissions ending the long time monopoly of RN as the sole public broadcaster in the country.
PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING AND FUNDING
Of the several definitions of PSB, the common factors in the UNESCO and Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development definitions are that PSB aims for the public good, serves the entire population, contributes to the region´s socio-economic development, and offers quality programs of information, education and entertainment consistent with the community´s moral and ethical values and ensures a high technical standard with proper balance and a range of topics.
Though several Committees have recommended measures to distance the institution from the government, there have been very few recommendations on remedying the present situation.
It needs to be emphasized that RN remains the only broadcaster in Nepal with a nationwide reach, one that has been playing a pivotal role as an instrument of social and economic development, besides contributing in national integration and entertaining the people, even in the remotest villages & terrains.
All major PSBs have been funded through License Fees. Australia, India and the USA use other sources including government appropriations. Also, the BBC World Service´s income is from a Grant-in-Aid from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. With governments seeking to reduce tax and increased competition reducing access to available advertising revenue, questions are increasingly being asked on ways of funding PSBs.
NATIONAL SCENARIO
After the political change of 1990, National Broadcast Act 1993 was enacted, giving way to licensing of private, commercial broadcasting; presently, over a dozen private TV stations are operational (26 licensed) and hundreds of small local FM stations, ranging anywhere between 302 (operational) to 373 (licensed), are spreading useful messages to their targeted audience. The broadcast act has brought about a sea change in the national broadcast scenario; unfortunately, the Act completely ignored the existence of the two state-run broadcast institutions Radio Nepal and Nepal Television. Act remains totally silent on these two institutions, pretending they never existed, whereas the consequences of the Act would understandably result in serious implications in the smooth running of these entities.
PSB MODEL FOR NEPAL
With enactment of Broadcast Act nearing 20 years and Radio Nepal still being heard and discussed; it is evident that its role in disseminating information, educating people and entertaining the masses is still relevant. The dilemma in the realm of PSB has been non-coherence in the policies and actions of the government: Commercial broadcasters are on the increase, but the approach taken in 1985 towards RN has never been reviewed. Thus, the present anomaly in RN: Broadcast culture calls it to be a PSB, funding compulsions drag it towards market forces, while the government would like it to remain its mouth piece.
An independent researcher of PSB in Nepal, Tulasi R Kafle in his paper “Public Service Broadcasting in Nepal” concludes that due to political and governmental intervention and low funds, RN has lost the trust of the majority of people where private radio stations are in range.
Though several committees have recommended measures to distance the institution from the government, there have been very few recommendations on remedying the present situation of RN which always has to look to the government for financial support. Example of the BBC goes on to show that state funding assured by law does not come in the way of the institution’s independent decision making power.
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
RN, the trend setter in broadcasting, has not been able to exhibit its rightful dignified presence in the recent past. Its officials are no more the natural leaders who encourage anchors and producers and do not exhibit pleasure in being a part of such a prestigious organization. Contagious effects of the financial crisis at the institution and state´s indifference has marred enthusiasm away from all employees; because legal arrangements failed to incorporate mechanisms by which the incumbent would benefit financially with emergence of and multiplication of later entrants.
For RN to truly function as a PSB, few actions are necessary including amendments in the Broadcast Act/Regulations. Some of which are to define PSB in a Nepali context with the mention of Radio Nepal and Nepal Television. Along with that the RN governing council should be the apex body with specific qualifications for the Governing Council Members, and allowing fair representation from publicly elected office-bearers, socially deprived groups and minorities. Definite pre-requisites should be determined for the post of the CEO and directors of RN board who have to have a minimum of five year tenure with no provisions for termination, except on moral grounds. The selection of the CEO and directors should be predefined by the Selection Board.
The new regulations should also include a mechanism which will ensure automatic transfer which does not require any executive decision of 50 percent of all the fees that is presently receivable by the Ministry of Information & Communications through licensing and renewal of all forms of activities carried out under the National Broadcast Act 1993. Lastly, an introduction of a mechanism of Public Hearing should be carried out before taking major decisions that can impact RN or the citizens it is serving, in a manner completely different from before.
Writer has worked at Ministry of Information & Communications and at Radio Nepal for a considerably long time. Having been retired from RN as its Deputy Executive Director, he is currently a Member at the Nepal Telecommunications Authority
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