KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Oli has said that the ad-free broadcasting service (Clean Feed) will be implemented as per the law from October 23, 2020.

He said this during a meeting with the Chairman of the newly formed Media Alliance Nepal, Bhaskar Raj Rajkarnikar and the team at the Prime Minister’s official residence, Baluwatar today.

PM Oli also congratulated the team of office bearers and members of the newly-elected body.

Prime Minister further said that the law on the Right to Information was not meant to create a cycle of rumors.

He also urged one and all to move forward with mutual cooperation assuring the government’s support and guarantee of the physical security of the journalists.

PM Oli also assured of all possible assistance, security and protection in other areas as well.

It should be noted that the Development and Technology Committee of the Federal Parliament under the House of Representatives had on September 21 directed the government to implement ‘clean feed’ (ad-free channel) by October 23.

After holding discussions with officials including the secretary of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the committee has directed to make the television channels broadcasting in Nepal ad-free by taking down link permission.

The committee has directed to start clean feed in Nepal one day before the implementation of the Advertising (Regulating) Act 2076 in Nepal. The act is going to be promulgated from 22 October 2020.

The committee has also demanded a plan made by the ministry to stop the broadcasting of foreign channels that are not clean-feed in Nepal.

The committee has also directed to provide the report made by the ministry about the number of foreign channels in Nepal that are in a state of suspension due to the implementation of this act and its positive / negative impacts within 15 days.

The committee has also instructed the Ministry of Communications not to implement policy to provide ad to the foreign channels from Nepal.