Reality shows define Nepal’s TV culture today, but they face an uncertain future

Until 2017, Bishal Bhandari used to run a phone-in TV programme. He used to feel sad every night when he would find his family members watching reality shows on foreign TV instead of his own channel.

“I used to feel bad but couldn’t force them to tune to Nepali programmes because the shows lacked quality and used to stand nowhere compared to the standard of foreign shows,” the Comedy Champion producer and director says, “After the start of the Nepal Idol season 1 , I felt the change at my own home; my family would sit together and watch the show. The charm was very different.”