-R.K. MANANDHAR

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R.K. Manandhar is the president of the Image Channel Private Limited. Image, which had been broadcasting its programs through NTV for the last six years, has now got the license to operate its own metro channel. Manandhar, the sophisticated and experienced chief of the Image Channel, spoke to SANJAYA DHAKAL about the prospects of private channels. Excerpts:

Image Channel and others are shortly launching their broadcasts. How do you feel about this?

We have been involved in the television and entertainment sector for the last six years. Initially we started out as production house. But now we are coming out as full-fledged broadcaster. Three channels Image, Kantipur and NTV’s metro are going to be aired as terrestrial metro television. Other three will be satellite-based. I feel this is good for the entertainment sector of the country. Definitely, there will be competition. If we did not have these channels, we would have to compete with foreign channels.

When will the Image metro channel start?

We have already tested our equipment. Ninety percent of equipment that we need are already here. We have also tested our equipment. Now we are waiting for the officials of the Ministry of Communication to inspect and test our equipment. After that we will start our regular transmission.

What will be the program content of your channel?

Earlier, as a production house, we focused wholly on entertainment programs. Now as we prepare to become a full broadcaster we are dividing our program make up into entertainment and news-based. In fact, we plan to divide it in such a manner that our own entertainment programs will occupy 40-50 percent, news-based programs will occupy 30-40 percent and acquired (foreign and others) programs will occupy 10-20 percent. We plan to air for 3-4 hour in the morning and 4-5 hour in the evening initially.

How much of a challenge do you think it will be for making software?

Indeed, it is the greatest challenge. Earlier when we had to air only 1.5 hours a day program through NTV, we had to work quite hard. We had even invested 30-40 million rupees and employed 40-50 people for the purpose. Definitely, it will not be a cakewalk now that we prepare to become a full-fledged independent broadcaster. We have invested Rs.100 million for this project. Producing telefilms and serials is not cheap. However, we are talking with private production houses in that direction. In fact, I believe it is not possible for broadcasters to engage in producing all materials themselves. We have to let private production houses do that for us. Once you start broadcasting you have to be fully ready to provide programs on exact time that has been promised to your viewers. No excuse will be acceptable if you cannot produce serials midway.

The government has given licenses to half a dozen operators to air private channels in an apparently small market like Nepal. What do you say?

Surely, the government should not have given license to many. Even big countries like Japan restrict the entry of too many players. Otherwise, everyone will be a loser. Though we have to respect the norms of market economy, there has to be certain regulation from the government. If it is absent, then the quality will deteriorate and it will also trigger unhealthy competition. Nobody will gain if any one of the players loses. The money he loses will be the resource lost by the nation. Besides, the government has to be extra careful in giving away frequencies, which will be permanently lost. What I think will be the best option is that the government should clearly spell out the business viability and discourage too many players in a single sector. And it should also regulate the sector. The government attitude of treating businessmen and investors like milching cow is not a healthy policy. When investors lose their money, the whole society will suffer in terms of lost resources, technology and manpower. The government should treat them as partner in progress.

What is the mood of investors like yourself at a time when the country is going through an extremely difficult economic phase?

Well our mood is exactly like that of the country. We were awarded the license at a time like this. We couldn’t refuse it or ask the government to postpone it. When politics and socio-economy is in such a bad shape there is no way we businessmen could feel satisfied. Currently, the tourism is down, industries are down while people are thinking that they are still untouched. But these sectors are not isolated ones. They will hit the banking sector. Once the banking sector is hit, it will directly affect the common people. And it doesn’t look very far going by the present pace of deterioration. n