Kathmandu, September 1:

The Community Television Promotion Committee (CTPC) today urged the government to ease the process of licensing the community television stations in the country.

Talking to this daily, Bhupendra Raj Basnet, coordinator of CTPC, said, “The government should come up with supportive rules and regulations to encourage community TV stations in the country.”

One needs to furnish Rs 350,000 as royalty fee to the government to establish a TV station with 500-watt transmitter.

However, community television operators are seeking relaxation in royalty fee to operate TV stations with 50-watt or 100-watt transmitters. They are also demanding the government to recognise community television stations on par with community radio stations and give facilities accordingly.

A total of ten community television stations are in operation through cable service providers in Bhairahawa, Butwal, Palpa, Pokhara, Narayanghat and other cities. Immod TV of Butwal has already acquired licence from the government.

The committee has already submitted its five-point demand to the Ministry of Finance to draw government’s attention towards community TV stations.