The Government of Nepal’s Ministry of Information and Communication has introduced the First Amendment to the Public Welfare Advertisement Broadcasting Procedures for Electronic Media, 2083 BS, revising provisions governing the distribution, broadcast, monitoring and payment of government-funded public welfare advertisements through radio and television. Approved at the ministerial level on Bhadra 5, 2083 BS, the four-page amendment was issued with the consent of the Ministry of Finance under Section 65(4) of the Financial Procedures and Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2076 BS. The amendment takes effect immediately and introduces changes to Sections 9, 11, 14, 18 and 22 of the original procedures. These revisions are intended to clarify broadcaster eligibility, improve administrative oversight and establish more structured arrangements for public welfare advertising through electronic media.
A major provision of the amendment establishes per-minute advertising rates for television broadcasters, based on their classification and broadcasting platforms. Under the revised framework, Super Prime television channels are allocated Rs 1,810 per minute, Prime channels Rs 1,265 per minute and General channels Rs 950 per minute for public welfare advertisements broadcast through terrestrial, satellite or cable platforms. The amendment also updates the payment provisions, specifying that television broadcasters authorized to transmit public welfare advertisements will receive payments at the approved rates, regardless of whether their transmission is through terrestrial broadcasting or cable networks. Additionally, the amendment revises provisions concerning broadcasters’ financial documentation by introducing references to the previous fiscal year, strengthening the requirements for assessing financial information.
The ministry has also introduced new monitoring and administrative requirements for radio and television broadcasters receiving public welfare advertisements. Under the amendment to Section 11, designated authorities must use a newly prescribed monitoring form included as Annex 3, which appears on pages 3 and 4 of the document. The form requires detailed information about broadcasters, including their operating organization, district, broadcasting technology, programme categories, establishment year, revenue sources, employees and previous public welfare advertising activities. It also requires verification of whether advertisements were broadcast according to approved schedules, whether broadcast records were maintained and whether advertisements were transmitted without interruption. Monitoring officials must record identified problems, recommendations and observations, providing a documented basis for evaluating compliance and the proper use of public advertising funds.
Another significant change concerns the eligibility of broadcasters operating under common ownership. The amended Section 22 removes the reference to network radio from one provision and establishes that where a single broadcasting organization, permanent account number holder or individual owns multiple radio and television operations, public welfare advertisements will be provided to only one radio station and one television channel. This provision is intended to regulate the distribution of government advertisements among broadcasters and address situations involving multiple media outlets under the same ownership. The document also makes a wording change to Section 9 concerning mandatory compliance with existing procedures. The amendment establishes revised advertising rates and monitoring arrangements but does not announce an increase in the overall government advertising budget, identify selected broadcasters or confirm payments already distributed under the revised framework.
