The Antenna Foundation Nepal joined the rest of the world to mark the 10th edition of #WorldRadioDay on Saturday under the theme “New World, New Radio.”

It hosted a public online conference titled, ‘World Radio Day Special Discussion’.

The event featured Communications and Information Technology Minister Parbat Gurung along with radio personalities and concerned stakeholders.

They discussed the current situation of radio while also presenting some of the challenges and opportunities. 

Chandra Neupane, President of Broadcasting Association of Nepal (BAN), said: “FM radios, community radios are the number one means to reach remote places, and the vulnerable population. Around 60 per cent of the information is relayed by radio alone.”

“In 1950, during its fight against the Rana autocracy, the Nepali Congress Party and freedom fighters had begun running radio transmissions called Prajatantra Nepal Radio from Biratnagar. When Nepali Congress' campaign succeeded, the new government shifted the radio programme to Kathmandu, which was later renamed Radio Nepal. Up until 1995 Radio Nepal was the only radio station before the frequency modulation (FM) entered Nepal. In 1997, Radio Sagarmatha became the first independent community radio in entire South Asia that further reinforced the importance of radio and paved the way for others to come,” he added

When some radio personalities brought up the issue of royalty fees being levied to the already suffering radio and media industry, Minister Gurung urged them to suggest improvements in writing for the government to take proper action. 

During the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown, the popularity of radio has grown further, claimed Suman Basnet, Regional Director of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcaster, AMARC (Asia-Pacific). 

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