FM Radio mushrooming in Nepal

Kathmandu, May 21 (UNI) With the restoration of democracy in Nepal, the number of FM radio stations in the Himalayan country has increased to 203.

Ministry of Information and Communications of Nepal has provided licenses to 203 FM (Frequency Modulation) Radio stations till mid-May in 14 Zones for broadcasting their programmes.

Only 68 among the 203 FM stations, licensed to provide communications in rural areas according to National Broadcasting Act 2049 BS and Regulations 2052 BS, are regularly broadcasting their programmes, the ministry said.

Altogether 22 among 38 FM stations, which had obtained licenses in Kathmandu Valley, are broadcasting their programmes regularly.

Nepal Television, Nepal Television Metro-2, Kantipur Television, Sangrila Television, Image Channel and Channel Nepal Network are the television channels that are broadcasting their programmes among 16 television channels that had received licenses for broadcasting.

Few television channels are in the process of broadcasting their programmes, the ministry said.

Similarly 487 Satellite Cable Television Networks have received licenses for operation.

There was only one radio and one TV channel run under the government in 1990. However, the government started to give license to private sector and the number increased drastically, said an official of the ministry.

UNI