The Advertising
Association of Nepal (AAN) has criticised the policy to distribute government
advertisements to the media in a proportionate manner. It is a replication of
former king Gyanendra's one-door system in advertisement, they said in a
national meeting today.
Former king Gyanendra
had introduced a one-door system on February 1, 2006, during his direct rule to
influence the media. But the decision was revoked after continuous struggle by
advertising agencies. "The UCPN-Maoist led government has introduced the
proportionate distribution system after seven years and AAN is against
it," said president of the association Raj Kumar Bhattarai.
The policy aims to
distribute advertisements of government agencies to newspapers, radios
(including FMs), television channels and others in a proportionate manner.
According to AAN,
despite the cabinet decision on the advertisement policy on January 31, 2013,
authorities have not provided details of it to the association. "The
government has not provided us a copy of the decision, so we believe there is
something suspicious in it," he said, adding that the advertising sector
will not accept it at any cost. AAN will fight it and compel the government to
withdraw it, he added.
About 178 advertisement
agencies are in operation in the country and doing business worth about Rs 3.5
billion. The advertisement market has been stagnant due to slow economic growth
following the political instability and turmoil for years.
The association has
warned the government that it will fight the decision in court. It has also
sought support from intellectuals and professionals for their protest. AAN will
also take to the streets if the decision is not withdrawn soon, Bhattarai
warned.
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