The Clean Feed Policy, announced last year by the Information and Communication Ministry of Nepal, had set a deadline of October 23, 2020, for all cable operators to take appropriate measures for continued broadcast.

With the end of the deadline, many international channels, especially Indian channels, have been taken off the air for failing to abide by the policy rules.

So far, only 22 out of 92 internationals channels have made necessary amendments as per the new policy.

According to the Managing Director of Dish Home Sudip Acharya, 32 channels under Star India have gone off-air due to the new policy. Even the major channels like CNN and BCC have been barred from broadcasting.

“When the sports channels were turned off due to clean feed, Nepalis could not even watch the Indian Premier League (IPL) of the season 2020. So far, only 22 channels have come to clean feed,” said Sudhir Parajuli, President of Subisu Cable Net Pvt. Ltd.

“Apart from a few exceptions, almost all foreign channels carry commercials made by multinationals and conglomerates for which Nepali viewers are paying monthly charges, while the domestic advertising industry is shrinking. Hence, the need for implementation of clean feed,” states the policy.

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In a relief measure to local cable operators, the Government of Nepal (GoN) is rethinking on implementing the ‘clean feed policy’ it has planned for roll-out on July 16, 2017.

In this regard, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MOIC), GoN admitted that it’s not in a position to implement the policy as planned, and plans to go with a phase-wise implementation. The government doesn’t have enough technical manpower to regulate the policy, says Mahendra Man Gurung, MoIC Secretary.

The government’s decision to take a back step comes in the light of contention over rolling out of new rules for foreign channels.

While the Mass Communication Policy 2016 calls for barring of foreign advertisements in TV channels under the policy, both recorded and live, the Indian broadcasters refuse to develop separate ads for Nepal.

It is noteworthy that more than 90% of the total 200 channels available for subscription in Nepal are Indian channels that transmit foreign ads. The policy requires these channels to be either ad-free or broadcast Nepali content.

The local cable operators feel that the decision to implement the policy as planned will hit their revenue and business, as a whole.

“Shouldn’t these discussions have been held before deciding to introduce the policy?” asks Dhurba Sharma, chief of Digital System Nepal — the local dealer of Indian television channels such as Sony, ZEE and Colors.

As the policy is focused on digitalization of TV broadcasting in Nepal, the dealer feels it should be rolled out only after the intention is achieved.

Whereas, local ad agencies, the major benefactors of the policy, are hopeful of doubling their annual revenues, currently at Rs 5-6 billion, through the policy implementation. They feel that the policy would also contribute to the promotion of native culture and lifestyle.

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