KATHMANDU, April 3: Various stakeholders have voiced serious concern over a recent government decision that could significantly undermine privately operated media outlets.
The concerns follow a directive issued on Wednesday by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, instructing all subordinate bodies to publish and broadcast government information and advertisements exclusively through state-owned media. The move has drawn strong objections from concerned parties.
The directive has been circulated to all government agencies, secretariats, commissions, as well as provincial and local governments. Advertising agencies and private media organisations have expressed alarm, warning of far-reaching consequences. According to the circular, all public information funded by the state treasury must be disseminated solely through state-owned outlets such as Gorkhapatra, Nepal Television and Radio Nepal. It further stipulates that payments must be made directly to the accounts of the respective institutions in accordance with approved tax procedures.
Stakeholders argue that the policy could severely weaken the private media sector and represents an attempt by the government to interfere in the implementation of federalism.
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Under the new provision, government entities will no longer be permitted to use private media platforms for publishing or broadcasting advertisements, with payments directed exclusively to state-owned outlets. Advertising agencies have warned that the decision will hinder effective communication with target audiences, disrupt creative advertising practices and deal a significant blow to the private media industry. They have called on the government to reconsider the move.
Sudip Thapa, president of the Advertising Association of Nepal (AAN), stated that government advertisements should not be treated merely as regulated public procurement items. He urged authorities to review the decision, emphasising that advertising agencies must retain the flexibility to select appropriate media platforms based on audience reach and communication effectiveness, and to manage dissemination accordingly.
The AAN further noted that restricting advertisements solely on the basis of media ownership contradicts existing legal provisions. It highlighted that, under current arrangements, advertisements are channelled through advertising agencies, and that the government itself has long relied on private-sector service providers in various sectors, including development. However, the new decision effectively bars government bodies from utilising such services.
Drawing the attention of the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the AAN stated that Nepal’s advertising sector has played a vital role in facilitating government communications while helping regulate and professionalise the industry. It expressed hope that the decision would be reconsidered.
Meanwhile, stakeholders have raised broader concerns about the government’s stance on federalism and the communication sector. At a time when governance is exercised through three tiers, they argue that directives imposed by the federal government on subordinate levels undermine the spirit of federalism.
Article 232(1) of the Constitution stipulates that relations among the federal, provincial and local levels shall be guided by cooperation, coexistence and coordination. Schedules 6 to 9 further define the exclusive and concurrent powers of the three tiers of government.
Until now, government advertisements had been disseminated through both public and private media in line with public procurement procedures. The Advertisement Regulation Act, 2076, also provides for the placement of advertisements through advertising boards and allows dissemination across various media platforms. Legal provisions clearly permit private media to publish and broadcast government information, while the Constitution guarantees their autonomous operation within defined jurisdictions.
Local governments have interpreted the directive as an encroachment on their jurisdiction. The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has also expressed serious concern over the circular mandating exclusive use of state-owned media.
The FNJ has demanded an immediate reversal of the decision, expressing strong dissent. It warned that at a time when private media outlets are already grappling with financial strain due to the COVID-19 pandemic and broader economic challenges, cutting off government advertisements could force closures and threaten journalists’ livelihoods. The organisation further cautioned that the move could create conditions akin to censorship, posing a direct threat to press freedom.
Calling the decision contrary to constitutional guarantees of full press freedom, liberal economic policy and federalism, the FNJ urged the government to withdraw it without delay. It also warned of protests if the decision is not revoked.
Former Press Council Chairman Bal Krishna Basnet also criticised the move, describing it as a targeted attack on private media. He accused the government of imposing an economic blockade on private outlets while seeking to shield state-owned media from competition.
