RADIO NEPAL and it's HISTORY

INTRODUCTION
Radio Nepal was established on 1st April 1951. Initially, the transmission covered duration of 4 hours and 30 minutes through a 250 Watt SW transmitter. Over the years, Radio Nepal has strengthened its institutional capacity considerably and diversified itself in terms of programme format, technical efficiency and coverage. Radio Nepal airs programmes on Short Wave, Medium Wave and FM frequencies. Regular broadcasts cover duration of 18 hours everyday which includes about 2 hours of regional broadcasts 09:45 hrs. to 11:00 hrs. in the morning and 18:00 hrs 18:30 hrs in the evening. FM Kathmandu, the first FM-Channel covering Kathmandu valley and adjoining areas was started in 1995 from its premises at Singh Durbar, Kathmandu.

ROLE OF RADIO BROADCASTING IN NEPAL
Radio broadcasting is the cheapest and quickest means of mass communications in Nepal. In a mountainous country like Nepal, radio broadcasting has proved to be a very effective medium for disseminating information, educating people and entertaining the masses. Radio Nepal recognizes that its primary obligation is to serve its listeners. It has been providing various programs aimed at creating mass awareness in its attempt to reflect the views of all sections of the society. The people in the hilly areas and many of the remote villages have little or no access to motorable roads nor to any communication and entertainment facilities. Illiteracy being a common feature among the people, little use is made of the newspapers, which have very limited and delayed circulation. Therefore, Radio has been the most suitable means of disseminating information and providing entertainment to masses in Nepal.

TRANSMISSION COVERAGE
*The short Wave transmission of Radio Nepal is estimated to reach listeners throughout the kingdom.

*Medium Wave transmission covers 70% to 80% of the population.

Radio Nepal's Transmission coverage map (click here to view map)

Radio Nepal's frequency schedule: click here


PROGRAMMING
(a) Regional Programme:

Regional programme for audience in different regions is transmitted from regional stations simultaneously from 09:45 hrs to 11:00 hrs and 18:00 hrs to 18:30 hrs every day.

(b) National Programmes:

National programme is Broadcast for a duration of about 16 hours everyday (05:00-23:00 hrs.) excluding the regional programme transmission period. Special entertainment programme goes on air in the day time during 11:00-13:00.

Radio Nepal uses a wide range of formats including features, documentaries, docu-dramas, dramas, talk shows, interviews, music shows, live commentaries etc. Recognizing the citizen's right to be informed under a multi-party democracy, Radio Nepal attempts to provide informative, educational as well as entertainment programmes.

The major programme highlights include:

Educational:
Programmes on religion, literature, science and technology, agriculture, distance learning, women , health and sanitation, public health, children and youth.

Entertainment:
Music: Nepali songs, Hindi songs and Gazals and Western music.
Songs in the different national languages.
Radio dramas and comedy shows.


Information:
» News and Current Affairs.
» Phone-in for Parliamentarians.
» Radio Reports.
» Review of the press.
» Developmental Programmes.


RADIO NEPAL: FM - KATHMANDU

In consonance with the policy of forging ahead in tune with the changing broadcasting scenario, Radio Nepal launched the first FM Channel in Nepal on he 30th of Kartik 2052 B.S.(16th Nov.1995). The FM Channel airs programmes on 100 MHz on the FM band through a 1 KW stereo transmitter installed at Khumaltar, Lalitpur. A fairly well equipped studio with stereo facilities has been established at Singh Durbar. This studio along with the provision of a standby studio has made it possible to broadcast programmes live. Radio Nepal has a policy of leasing out its air time to private parties to broadcast programmes on its FM channel by permitting private operators to use their own staff. These programmes have proved to be very popular among the urban youth of Kathmandu.

NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS

Radio Nepal broadcasts news bulletins in at regular intervals (hourly) from 06:00 hrs until the close of the transmission. News bulletins in English are broadcast at 08:00 hrs, 14:00 hrs and 20:00 hrs everyday.In additional to the news in Nepali and English, there are bulletins in other languages at various timings. They are Magar, Gurung, Tamang, Rai Bantawa, Limbu, Newari, Bhojpuri, Hindi, Urdu, Tharu East and Tharu West, Avadhi, Sherpa, Maithili, Sanskrit, Kham Magar and Doteli. Special news bulletins on SAARC related contents (SAARC News) and news for Children (Bal Samachar) have been broadcast as well. Radio Nepal attempts to provide prompt and accurate coverage of all national and international news including political, economic and social highlights in a balanced and objective manner. It attempts to safeguard the basic principle of public interest and the public's right to be informed as the prime public broadcaster of the country. The station has designated stringer reporters in more than 50 districts for coverage of news and information.


COMPUTERIZATION OF THE NEWS ROOM

In its effort to utilize the advances in modern technology and introduce useful changes in its broadcast environment, Radio Nepal has recently launched a project called "Newsroom Computerization Project". The overall concept of the project is to eventually make a paperless newsroom. A special broadcast software, NewsBoss, developed by Desktop technologies, Australia has been initially licensed to seven workstations linked-up within a local area networking system. With the support from UNESCO, Radio Nepal is proud to be among the few radio stations in Asia trying to turn the news system digital. The main features of the system are:
» Text Editing
» Audio Editing
» Auto recording
» Wire Service
» Prompter for the news delivery
» Archiving

It is a pilot project and is implemented in the central newsroom. Upon the satisfactory performance of this system, Radio Nepal has a plan to computerize its regional stations' newsrooms and interconnect them to the central grid.


RADIO PROGRAM DISTRIBUTION THROUGH V-SAT NETWORK

Radio Nepal started its program distribution through V-SAT Network from 26th August 1999. Earlier it was distributing its program to the different broadcast stations through the telephone lines of Nepal

Telecom ( NT ). In the system introduced recently, the main hub station is at Singhadurbar, Kathmandu and the programme can be received in all the receiving stations. With the introduction of new system, an AM high quality monaural program channel is now available through the V-SAT. The system has the facility of upgrading to provide multichannel capability for further use.


AUDIENCE SURVEY

There is an in house Audience Survey Unit, which undertakes surveys periodically to find out patterns of listenership and effectiveness of the programs, broadcast by Radio Nepal. Reports of such surveys are available for reference at Radio Nepal.


INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Radio Nepal enjoys cordial relations with all friendly countries and broadcasting organizations. It is a member of the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) and liaises closely with the regional broadcasting centre and Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD). Training programmes at Radio Nepal are conducted on a regular basis either by in-house trainers or in cooperation with other friendly institutions. Several training courses have been conducted in cooperation with the Deutsche Welle (The Voice of Germany) and the BBC. Programmes under the SAARC Audio Visual Exchange SAVE are broadcast every month. Organizations like JICA, USIS and UNICEF have extended generous assistance in the past and continue to show renewed interests in our activities. Occasionally Radio Nepal joins hands with International broadcasting stations to co-produce programs of mutual interest.


OTHER FACILITIES

Radio Nepal has its own studios for programme production, music recording, drama recording, talks shows and news broadcasts. A music library at its premises in Singh Durbar has a collection of about 40,000 songs. Foreign broadcasting Stations also make use of our Studio facilities and transmitters for live and other broadcasts on a rental basis.

The Broadcasting Headquarters at Singha Durbar in Kathmandu has two broadcasting houses consisting of one drama studio, two music studios, one reporting studio, three continuity studios, one news studio and seven programme production studios. One of the music studios is equipped with a 24 track recording facility. This studio is open for hiring purposes for anyone desirous of recording music digitally whether solo track or for albums after payment of studio charges which are very relatively reasonable compared to other private studios.

The complex also has one open air live theatre facility for functions and musical performances.

Like other transmitting stations, the Head quarters also has a 100 kVA stand by diesel generator to cope with occasional power failure.


ARCHIVING

The mainstream of broadcasting business these days is moving towards digitization. Radio Nepal is making a modest effort to make use of the latest development in computer and digital radio. The task of digitizing old songs and mastering on digital format (COMPACT DISC) has been initiated. Today, CD has become the dominant digital storage medium due to its large storage capacity, high fidelity and low cost. Now our valuable songs of the good old days, which were recorded on analog reel tape, are getting new life.


BUSINESS DIVISION
After the change in its structure in 1984A.D. as a self-sustaining board, Radio Nepal has been more aware in marketing. It has been adopting the policy of selling commercial air-time to interested parties. Promotional advertisements in the form of jingles and other formats as well as sponsored programmes are aired. The time division categories are as follows:

NATIONAL TRANSMISSION:
Super time 05:15 to 13:30 hours Saturday
‘A' time 05:15 to 09:30 hours Sunday to Friday
‘B' time 17:00 to 22:00 hours Sunday to Saturday

‘C' time 13:00 to 17:00 hours

10:05 to 22:55 hours Sunday to Saturday
13:30 to 17:00 hours Saturday

IN THE INTERNET
In an attempt to reach interested listeners world wide, Radio Nepal has entered the Internet since April 1997. Since the start of this service, increasing numbers worldwide have visited the home page. The growing popularity of Radio Nepal in cyberspace is encouraging and there are plans in the offing to expand this service to include some programmes and music in addition to the existing Nepali and English news bulletins and Ghatna Ra Bichar, program in the evening and Paribesh in the morning (a news and current affairs).

Information about Radio Nepal and its contents can be accessed through its portal www.radionepal.org. In order to broaden its coverage and reach worldwide, Radio Nepal has also commenced Online Radio Service since December 2006. One can access live Radio Nepal contents though the same portal. The service on internet broadcasting has continued with joint efforts of Radio Nepal, Worldlink Communication and New IT venture Corporation, Japan.

LOOKING AHEAD
From its modest beginning, Radio Nepal has expanded considerably over the years. With over 600 staff members in different divisions and the acquisition of equipment in tune with the technological innovations, Radio Nepal aims to emerge as the media for the millions in Nepal as well as across national frontiers.

There are plans for fill in stations at different parts of uncovered areas and the operation of a second channel in the existing premises to cope with the increasing demand for more air time from different INGOs and NGOs.

Few small FM stations to be operated with the partnership of local agencies like the Municipalities and District Development Committees are being established in the remote districts.

Radio Nepal faces the challenges of moving with the changing times in the light of the new innovations in broadcast technology. Most of its outdated transmission equipment needs to be replaced or refurbished. In program production, the digitization process has already been started, but a lot needs to be done. With the good wishes of all its listeners Radio Nepal aims to offer quality and distinctiveness in addition to its responsibility to inform, educate and entertain.