Historic Media Feat: Nepali Enterprise Directs FIFA World Cup 2026 Broadcasting with NPR 400 Million Project

The ongoing FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, has sparked global football frenzy. While South Asian nations, including Nepal, are absent from the historic 48-team tournament, the sporting event has already driven massive domestic economic activity. Breaking past industry precedents, a Nepali company has bypassed regional Indian media syndicates to strike a direct broadcasting rights agreement with the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). Ace Pro Media, led by Chairman Som Dhital—who also managed the broadcast of the 2022 World Cup in Nepal—secured the primary rights directly from FIFA for USD 1.775 million (approximately NPR 272.5 million). Company officials state that once VAT, TDS, satellite linkage, technical infrastructure, royalties, and promotional expenses are factored in, the aggregate investment climbs close to NPR 400 million. To maximize distribution across television and digital interfaces, Ace Pro Media has forged strategic commercial partnerships with leading local networks. For television viewers, the games will be exclusively aired on 'Himalaya Sports HD', a newly launched sports channel under the Himalaya Television Network banner. Access to the matches on cable or DTH platforms (such as DishHome, Clear TV, and NetTV) is priced at a subscription fee of NPR 999 per subscriber. Industry sources estimate a target of nearly 400,000 television subscribers, which would translate into approximately NPR 399.6 million in television revenue alone. Simultaneously, capitalizing on widespread smartphone and internet penetration, digital media is set to play a dominant role. Media partners project that over 500,000 users will purchase paid subscription passes through the DGO app and digital networks (including the NetTV app) at an inclusive rate of NPR 549. Meeting this digital benchmark is anticipated to generate an additional NPR 274.5 million, steering the landmark broadcasting venture toward massive commercial scale.