Clean feed policy comes into effect from Friday midnight

The much-awaited clean feed policy in television systems comes into effect from Friday midnight.

Issuing a press note today, the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology directed the foreign television channels, which are being broadcast in Nepal to abide by the clean feed policy from Friday. Newly appointed minister for Communication and Information Technology Parbat Gurung – in the regular press meet – to announce the cabinet meeting decisions today – shared that the government had taken a ‘historic decision’ to implement the clean feed policy effective from Friday midnight under the Advertisement Regulations Act 2019.

The Advertising Association of Nepal (AAN), and other various media related organisations welcomed the government decision claiming that the television advertisement market will be expanded by double after the move. “The AAN had been asking the government to bring the clean feed policy since a decade,” a press note from AAN reads, adding that the clean feed policy also guarantees the sovereignty of a country. 

With the government decision, the international advertisers have been barred from airing their advertisements in foreign television channels. The clean feed system allows television signal distributors to replace advertisements in foreign television channels with local advertisements as practiced in most of the developed countries.

Media sector welcomes clean feed policy

 Nepali media sector – including advertising agencies – has welcomed the government decision of implementation of clean feed policy, expecting the government move will expand the advertising market to almost double.

Issuing a joint statement today, Nepal Media Society, Broadcasting Association of Nepal and Association of Community Radio Broadcasters Nepal welcomed the decision. Earlier yesterday, Media Alliance Nepal has also welcomed the government move.

The government yesterday directed distributors of foreign television channels to broadcast them in Nepal without advertisements from October 23, warning of legal action against those, who fail to comply.

“Nepali media sector welcomes the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology move yesterday, the press note reads, adding that the implementation of clean feed policy –  that has been continuously lobbied and demanded by media sector since long has to be immediately implemented. “The clean feed policy will help domestic production and industry to expand while helping reduce their dependency.”

it is necessary to clarify some ambiguities in the bill through an advertisement instruction manual based on discussions with concerned organisations as it is necessary to form an advertisement board to implement the law, the press note reads, adding that the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology had reminded the distributors of foreign television channels that the Advertisement (Regulation) Act 2019 requires foreign television channels to be aired in Nepal without advertisements within October 23 this year and that the law has already given them one year to make the preparations necessary for airing foreign content free of advertisements.

The Cable TV operators screen pay channels and free-to-air channels on Nepali television sets. While the free-to-air channels, even if they carry advertisements, are shown to viewers without charge, foreign pay channels play advertisements of various multinational brands. But the pay channels can also be aired without commercials after levying certain charges on viewers under the clean feed policy.

Nepal Ice Crity Awards concludes

The 11th Nepal Ice Crity Awards –organised by the Advertising Association of Nepal (AAN) in association with Nepal Telecom – concluded here today.
Inaugurating the event, minister for Information and Communications Gokul Prasad Baskota, said that the government is committed to implementing the clean feed policy in the country. “The government is preparing a bill and framework by cooperating with the concerned stakeholders,” he said, adding that the implementation of the clean feed will benefit the Nepali advertising industry.
The event also witnessed the distribution of awards under 31 different categories, according to a press note issued by the Advertising Association of Nepal (AAN). “Among the 61 nominee agencies, some 23 agencies received the Crity awards under different titles,” it reads, adding that Avani Advertising received six awards, Business Advantage received six awards and Prisma Marketing four awards. “Likewise, Out Reach Nepal grabbed four awards, V-Chitra three, Consult One three, Digitalin three, Key Advertising two and Original Entertainment grabbed two awards in the event.”
Meeting Point grabbed two awards, whereas Ad Desire, NNS Creation, Creo Communication, Digiadvertising, Full Circle, Makeways, MX Creation, Mars Advertising and Research along with Media Journal received one award each under various titles. “The Square Design and White Feathers also received one award each under different categories,” the note reads further.
The awards were sponsored by Nepal Ice and powered by CG Cement.