The Public Broadcasting Bill will be completed soon: Bishwakarma

The sub-committee on the Public Service Broadcasting Bill formed by the Education, Health and Information Technology Committee of the House of Representatives has discussed the bill with officials of Radio Nepal and Nepal Television.

In the discussion, Buddhi Bahadur KC, Executive Director of Radio Nepal, suggested that the Bill should be refined while maintaining the importance of the history of Radio Nepal and Nepal Television.
He also suggested that the digital platforms currently in use by both institutions should be included in the bill, the system of listeners and viewers council, ombudsman system, system of filling positions, code of conduct, investigation and investigation committee should be set up for complaints related to the broadcasted materials and also suggested that public service broadcasting should be financially ensured.
Executive Director KC suggested that the appointment of the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Public Service Broadcasting should be made by an independent body in the Bill.

Similarly, General Manager of Nepal Television, Phoolman Bal, suggested that the Bill should provide for the formation of a committee under the chairmanship of the Speaker of the House of Representatives or the Chairman of the Public Service Commission to recommend the appointment of the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Public Service Broadcasting and that the Chief Executive Officer should be through open competition.

In the discussion, the Secretary of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Ramakrishna Subedi, emphasized that the government is in favor of the country’s harmony in public service broadcasting and not in imitation of foreign countries.
Member of the sub-committee, MP Ram Prasad Chaudhary said that the bill will be decided by the committee soon.