Countries: Nepal, an ABU member country.

Nepal is a country located in South Asia, more concretely in the Himalaya region. This little but populous land is bordered by India and China. Kathmandu is the capital city of the country, and also, the largest urban space in the country. Nepalese is the state language of the country, and is understood in all the regions of the state. 

The nepalese broadcaster has never intended to participate in the ABU Song Festivals, but since the network is a member of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, Nepal is elegible to take part in both musical events.

Nepal Television Corporation is the state broadcaster of Nepal. For many years NTC, was the only TV station of all the country until the appearance of new TV and radio networks in the country. 

The experimental broadcasts of the company were launched in January of 1985. Some moths later, the network started its new phase with the regular broadcasts from the end of that year. 

At first the corporation was specialised on informative programs, but the programming has been changing to the entertainment programs. 

Entertainment industry.

The nepalese music scene is very varied and different in every region of the country. The modern musical scene started its development in the 1970, due to the popularity of the indian Bollywood film music. Due to the popularity of the melodies of those films, the nepealese music scene has been influenced and boosted by the film industry. Many singers and bands, usually become popular due to the cinema, but some of them have managed to achieve popularity outside the cinematographic industry.

More recently, new music styles apart from the ethnic influenced pop music have reached the nepalese audience. Rock music and Hip Hop have been on the rise, with some new bands and artists that have contributed to enrich the nepalese music scene.

Since 1998, Hits FM, one of the most important musical radio stations of the country has been organising an annual gala in order to award the most prominent musical artists of the country.

Below, from left to right, some nepalese singer that could be elegible to represent Nepal in the ABU TV Song Festival.

Anju Panta, Nima Rumba,

Nabin Bhattarai, 1974 AD,

Subani Moktan and Nalina Chitrakar.

ABU Song Festival future.

Nepal has not taken part in the ABU TV Song Festival or in the ABU Radio Song Festival, but as an active member of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, NTC, the state TV station, is elegible to participate in the future.

Venues.

Birendra International Convention Centre, located in Kathmandu, would be a suitable venue for both the ABU TV Song Festival, or the ABU Radio Song Festival in case that Nepal was interested in hosting the event.