Media in Nepal

Nepal's media sector includes 8,040 print publications, 1,204 radio stations, 249 television channels and 5,126 online news media listed in the Press Council Nepal Media Year Book 2082 for fiscal year 2024/25. These figures describe registered or listed media, not necessarily active outlets or their actual reach. The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MoCIT), the Department of Information and Broadcasting (DOIB), Press Council Nepal (PCN), Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) and National Information Commission (NIC) perform different regulatory, professional and information-access functions. Household access remains uneven. The 2021 National Population and Housing Census recorded internet access at home for 37.8% of households, smart mobile phones for 73.0%, television for 49.4%, radio for 34.2% and a computer or laptop for 15.0%. Home internet access was 45.7% in urban areas and 21.5% in rural areas, with provincial figures ranging from 55.2% in Bagmati to 20.3% in Karnali. Topography, electricity, device ownership, mobile data and subscription prices affect whether people can use a particular service. A listed outlet or available platform therefore does not guarantee practical access everywhere. The Constitution protects freedom of communication and prevents prior censorship. It also permits legal restrictions concerning sovereignty, territorial integrity, relations between communities, sedition, defamation, contempt of court, incitement to crime, public decency or morality, and discrimination based on caste or gender. Article 27 and the Right to Information Act 2064 provide a basis for requesting information from public bodies. Article 28 and the Privacy Act 2075 protect privacy, while the Copyright Act 2059 protects creative and journalistic works. Journalistic practice is guided by the Press Council Nepal code. It requires a sound source and factual basis, objectivity, balance, correction and the opportunity for a reply. It protects sources and privacy, prohibits discrimination, and requires care with victims and children's identities. Advertising should not be presented as news, and manipulated image, video or audio material should not be passed off as authentic. Complaints about media or journalism can be submitted online to PCN. Possible responses include correction, a reply, an apology, a warning, withdrawal of classification or support, measures affecting a press pass or accreditation, and recommendations for further action. Broadcasting has separate licensing rules. DOIB issues and renews FM, television and downlink permissions under the National Broadcasting Act 2049 and Rules 2052, the Radio Act 2014 and the Radio Communication Licence Rules. A regular FM application is processed in about two weeks when the file is complete. Licence fees range from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 20,000,000 depending on transmission power. Renewal costs 10% of the licence fee, and the renewal application is due by the end of Ashadh. A delay beyond six months can lead to automatic cancellation. Downlink applications cost Rs. 10,000, with an approximate channel fee of Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 700,000 depending on whether the service is free or paid and whether it carries advertising. Processing takes about two months, and the distribution fee is 2% of annual gross revenue. Public service broadcasting is provided through Public Service Broadcasting Nepal under the Public Service Broadcasting Act 2081. Radio Nepal operates continuously, has seven provincial stations and 36 FM relay stations, and broadcasts news in 26 languages and programmes in 25 languages. Its reported reach in the fiscal year 2081/82 Economic Survey was about 94%. Nepal Television operates five HD channels continuously and offers web, app, YouTube and Facebook access, including live, catch-up and video-on-demand services that may be free or paid. Streaming in Nepal has no single nationally dominant local platform. Functional choices include Radio Nepal's web and app services, Nepal Television's live, catch-up and video-on-demand services, private television and YouTube channels, online portals and international streaming services. Access depends on the internet provider, mobile data, device, electricity, subscription, platform licence and possible geographic restrictions. Costs therefore differ by service. An NTA internet-provider licence costing Rs. 300,000, with renewal at Rs. 270,000, is a provider cost and not the price paid by an individual user. Social media services are subject to the Directive for Managing the Use of Social Networks 2023 and related MoCIT notices. A platform may need listing with MoCIT, a Nepal point of contact, a resident complaint-hearing officer and a self-regulation or compliance officer. Moderation and filtering are expected to address Nepali and national-language content, and platforms may be required to cooperate on unlawful or inappropriate content and cybercrime matters. Non-compliance can lead to possible deactivation or blocking. The availability and current status of a specific platform must be checked separately rather than assumed for every service. Children's best interests, protection and development rights apply under the Children Act 2075. Children also have privacy rights, and a local Judicial Committee can provide a complaint pathway for a child-rights violation. Journalistic material should not reveal identifying information in sexual or socially stigmatized cases involving children and should avoid additional victimization. The reviewed sources do not establish one uniform national age-rating or youth-protection standard for every streaming and social-media platform. People participate in Nepal's media system by reading, listening, watching, commenting, filing complaints, requesting public information and practising citizen journalism within the law. An information request normally goes to the relevant Information Officer. The DOIB service charter provides for same-day information or processing under the applicable Right to Information deadline and statutory fee. If access is refused, the requester can complain or appeal to NIC. Public service broadcasters also provide information and complaint channels, while PCN handles complaints concerning media and journalistic conduct. Professional access has separate procedures. DOIB can archive an online-media registration on the same day when the required evidence is complete, including company registration, memorandum and articles, domain information, PAN or VAT details, PCN listing, citizenship evidence, a board resolution and photographs. A local press representative's press pass costs Rs. 400, a freelance journalist's costs Rs. 600, and a temporary pass costs Rs. 900; processing is listed as same day. Foreign press fees are Rs. 1,500 for a regular pass, Rs. 900 for a temporary pass and Rs. 500 for a non-tourist visa recommendation. A journalist employment dispute handled through DOIB takes about 30 days according to the research basis. Media providers, journalists, platforms and users have different responsibilities. These include truthful and balanced reporting, correction, privacy and child protection, respect for copyright, and avoiding hateful or crime-inciting content. The practical media choice depends on whether the aim is news, public information, entertainment, local coverage, participation or professional publication, as well as on the available connection, device, language, price and legal status.