|
|
 |
||||||||
|
About Radio Nepal Current affairs: Programme Schedule: News Archive:
|
INTRODUCTION Radio Nepal was established on 1st April 1951. Initially, the transmission covered duration of 4 hours and 30 minutes through a 250 Watt SW transmitter. Over the years, Radio Nepal has strengthened its institutional capacity considerably and diversified itself in terms of programme format, technical efficiency and coverage. Radio Nepal airs programmes on Short Wave, Medium Wave and FM frequencies. Regular broadcasts cover duration of 16 hours everyday which includes 2 hours of regional broadcasts 09:30 hrs. to 11:00 hrs. in the morning and 18:05 hrs 18:30 hrs in the evening. However on public holidays, there is an additional 2 hours, extending the total duration to 19 hours. FM Kathmandu, the first FM-Channel covering Kathmandu valley and adjoining areas was started in 1995 from its premises at Singh Durbar, Kathmandu. ROLE OF RADIO BROADCASTING IN NEPAL Radio broadcasting is the cheapest and quickest means of mass communications in Nepal. In a mountainous country like Nepal, radio broadcasting has proved to be a very effective medium for disseminating information, educating people and entertaining the masses. Radio Nepal recognizes that its primary obligation is to serve its listeners. It has been providing various programs aimed at creating mass awareness in its attempt to reflect the views of all sections of the society. The people in the hilly areas and many of the remote villages have little or no access to motorable roads nor to any communication and entertainment facilities. Illiteracy being a common feature among the people, little use is made of the newspapers, which have very limited and delayed circulation. Therefore, Radio has been the most suitable means of disseminating information and providing entertainment to masses in Nepal.
View the transmitting stations of RNE: Radio Nepal Transmission at a Glance
TRANSMISSION COVERAGE *Medium Wave transmission covers 70% to 80% of the population. Radio Nepal's Transmission coverage map (click here to view map) Radio Nepal's frequency schedule: click here PROGRAMMING (a) Regional Programmes: Two hours of programmes for audience in different regions broadcast from regional stations simultaneously from 09:30 hrs to 11:00 hrs and 17:30 hrs to 18:30 hrs every day. (b) National Programmes: Broadcast for a duration of 16 hours everyday (05:00-11:00 and 13:00-23:00 hrs.) and 18 hours on public holidays from 05:00 hrs to 23:00 hrs. Radio Nepal uses a wide range of formats including features, documentaries, docu-dramas, dramas, talk shows, interviews, music shows, live commentaries etc. Recognizing the citizen's right to be informed under a multi-party democracy, Radio Nepal attempts to provide informative, educational as well as entertainment programmes. The major programme highlights include:
Educational:
Entertainment:
Information: Programmes on information and education constitute 42% of the total programming and entertainment covers the remaining 58% which also include commercials. RADIO NEPAL: FM - KATHMANDU In consonance with the policy of forging ahead in tune with the changing broadcasting scenario, Radio Nepal launched the first FM Channel in Nepal on he 30th of Kartik 2052 B.S.(16th Nov.1995). The FM Channel airs programmes on 100 MHz on the FM band through a 1 KW stereo transmitter installed at Khumaltar, Lalitpur. A fairly well equipped studio with stereo facilities has been established at Singh Durbar. This studio along with the provision of a standby studio has made it possible to broadcast programmes live. Radio Nepal has a policy of leasing out its air time to private parties to broadcast programmes on its FM channel by permitting private operators to use their own staff. These programmes have proved to be very popular among the urban youth of Kathmandu. NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS Radio Nepal broadcasts news bulletins in at regular intervals (hourly) from 06:00 hrs until the close of the transmission. News bulletins in English are broadcast at 08:00 hrs, 14:00 hrs and 20:00 hrs everyday.In additional to the news in Nepali and English, there are bulletins in other languages at various timings. They are Magar, Gurung, Tamang, Rai Bantawa, Limbu, Newari, Bhojpuri, Hindi, Urdu, Tharu East and Tharu West, Avadhi, Sherpa, Maithili, Sanskrit, Kham Magar and Doteli. Radio Nepal attempts to provide prompt and accurate coverage of all national and international news including political, economic and social highlights in a balanced and objective manner. It attempts to safeguard the basic principle of public interest and the public's right to be informed as the prime public broadcaster of the country. The station has designated stringer reporters in more than 50 districts for coverage of news and information.
COMPUTERIZATION OF THE NEWS ROOM
In its effort to utilize the advances
in modern technology and introduce useful changes in its
broadcast environment, Radio Nepal has recently launched a project
called "Newsroom Computerization Project". The overall concept of
the project is to eventually make a paperless newsroom. A special
broadcast software, NewsBoss, developed by Desktop technologies,
Australia has been initially licensed to seven workstations
linked-up within a local area networking system. With the support
from UNESCO, Radio Nepal is proud to be among the few radio stations
in Asia trying to turn the news system digital. The main features of
the system are: It is a pilot project and is implemented in the central newsroom. Upon the satisfactory performance of this system, Radio Nepal has a plan to computerize its regional stations' newsrooms and interconnect them to the central grid.
Radio Nepal started its program
distribution through V-SAT Network from 26th August 1999. Earlier it
was distributing
Telecom ( NTC ). In the system introduced recently, the main hub station is at Singhadurbar, Kathmandu and the programme can be received in all the receiving stations. With the introduction of new system, an AM high quality monaural program channel now available is through the V-SAT. The system has the facility of upgrading to provide multichannel capability for further use.
AUDIENCE SURVEY There is an in house Audience Survey Unit, which undertakes surveys periodically to find out patterns of listenership and effectiveness of the programs, broadcast by Radio Nepal. Reports of such surveys are available for reference at Radio Nepal.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Radio Nepal enjoys cordial relations with all friendly countries and broadcasting organizations. It is a member of the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) and liaises closely with the regional broadcasting centre and Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD). Training programmes at Radio Nepal are conducted on a regular basis either by in-house trainers or in cooperation with other friendly institutions. Several training courses have been conducted in cooperation with the Deutsche Welle (The Voice of Germany) and the BBC. Programmes under the SAARC Audio Visual Exchange SAVE are broadcast every month. Organizations like JICA, USIS and UNICEF have extended generous assistance in the past and continue to show renewed interests in our activities. Occasionally Radio Nepal joins hands with International broadcasting stations to co-produce programs of mutual interest.
OTHER FACILITIES The Broadcasting Headquarters at Singha Durbar in Kathmandu has two broadcasting houses consisting of one drama studio, two music studios, one reporting studio, three continuity studios, one news studio and seven programme production studios. One of the music studios is equipped with a 24 track recording facility. This studio is open for hiring purposes for anyone desirous of recording music digitally whether solo track or for albums after payment of studio charges which are very relatively reasonable compared to other private studios. The complex also has one open air live theatre facility for functions and musical performances. Like other transmitting stations, the Head quarters also has a 100 kVA stand by diesel generator to cope with occasional power failure.
ARCHIVING
The mainstream of broadcasting
business these days is moving towards digitization. Radio Nepal is
making a modest effort to make use of the latest development in
computer and digital
BUSINESS DIVISION ‘C' time 13:00 to 17:00 hours
10:05 to 22:55 hours
Sunday to Saturday
IN THE INTERNET
LOOKING AHEAD There are plans for fill in stations at different parts of uncovered areas and the operation of a second channel in the existing premises to cope with the increasing demand for more air time from different INGOs and NGOs. Few small FM stations to be operated with the partnership of local agencies like the Municipalities and District Development Committees are to be established in the near future. Radio Nepal faces the challenges of moving with the changing times in the light of the new innovations in broadcast technology. Most of its outdated transmission equipment needs to be replaced or refurbished. In program production, the digitization process has already been started, but a lot needs to be done. With the good wishes of all its listeners Radio Nepal aims to offer quality and distinctiveness in addition to its responsibility to inform, educate and entertain.
|
||||||||
|
This page is designed and updated by Radio Nepal, Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, Nepal © 2004 Radio Nepal. All rights reserved. For further information contact us at: radio@engg.wlink.com.np |
|||||||||
radio. The task of
digitizing old songs and mastering on digital format (COMPACT DISC)
has recently been initiated. Today, CD has become the dominant
digital storage medium due to its large storage capacity, high
fidelity and low cost. Now our valuable songs of the good old days,
which were recorded on analog reel tape, are getting new life.