EP 123 • Freedom Chautary

123. Future of Public Service Broadcasting

The debate on public media and Public Service Broadcasting is still ongoing after two decades of the formulation of the Bill to amend and integrate the laws related to Public Service Broadcasting, 2020 in Nepal. The bill is still under consideration in parliament.

Freedom Forum has been working and advocating for the Public service broadcasting for long and FF had also submitted its review on the bill at the parliament on August 2020. The review stated that Universality, Diversity, independence in editorial, funding, and governance, and distinctiveness and innovative are the four major pillars of PSB. However, the bill is not in line with the nature, standards, and global recognition of a public service broadcaster. Hence, the proposed provisions should be reconsidered to make them globally recognized as per the standards and global experience of a public service broadcaster.

Recently, Minister for Communication and Information Technology Gyanendra Bahadur Karki said that the state-owned Radio Nepal and Nepal Television would be merged and transformed into public service broadcasting (PSB) as soon as possible during his speech marking the 72nd anniversary of Radio Nepal. This is a relief to years-long advocacy.

In this context, we present the 123rd episode of the Freedom Chautary podcast featuring Harry Lock, editorial manager at Public Media Alliance on 'Media uncovered'. This episode will provide the importance of PSB and its experience in the context of strengthening democracy at the country and global level.

Let's listen to 'Media Uncovered'…..