When Was Nepal Television Established?
Nepal Television (NTV), the autonomous public service broadcaster of Nepal, was established on December 31, 1983. As one of Nepal’s largest broadcasting organizations, NTV boasts significant studio and transmitter infrastructure. The network offers four television channels: NTV (general entertainment and news), NTV Plus (sports and entertainment), NTV News, and NTV Kohalpur (regional news and entertainment). NTV also provides online streaming and mobile app services, including a recently launched OTT mobile app designed to expand its reach.
NTV broadcasts all four channels 24/7 in HD, catering to diverse genres and audiences. The network transitioned to HD broadcasting on January 31, 2019. This upgrade significantly enhanced the viewing experience for its audience across all its channels.
NTV has partnered with NEW IT VENTURE CORPORATION (NITV), a leading OTT/IPTV development and consulting firm based in Japan, to develop an advanced digital platform and manage its international distribution through various online mediums. This collaboration aims to expand NTV’s global presence and accessibility.
The Nepal Television app offers a range of features, including smooth live streaming of all four channels, DVR/catch-up functionality for up to a week, electronic program guides, on-demand playlists of popular shows, online news feeds, a video library of older content, notifications, interactive social engagement features, and adaptive bitrate streaming for optimal viewing across different network conditions. The app also includes a news portal available in both Nepali and English, providing a comprehensive offline experience.
NTV, the oldest and most-watched television channel in Nepal, held the distinction of being the sole television channel in the country for many years. NTV and its sister channels primarily broadcast programs reflecting Nepal’s culture, ethics, and religion. The 8:00 PM news broadcast remains a particularly popular feature of the channel.
NTV Plus, launched in 2060 BS (2003/2004 AD), targets a younger demographic with entertainment, informative, and sports programming. Broadcasting major sporting events, such as the World Cup, Olympic Games, and various national and international competitions, has significantly contributed to the channel’s appeal among younger viewers. While focused on youth-oriented content, NTV Plus also incorporates programming related to Nepali ethics and culture.
NTV Kohalpur, a news-focused channel, commenced broadcasting on April 14, 2017 (1st Baisakh 2074 BS). This channel provides regional news coverage and entertainment specifically tailored for the Kohalpur region.
NTV News, dedicated to news broadcasting, began operations on October 18, 2014 (1st Kartik 2071 BS). This channel offers comprehensive news coverage from Nepal and around the world, keeping viewers informed about current events. NTV maintains a strong social media presence on platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. These platforms provide additional avenues for viewers to engage with the network and access its content.
