Kantipur Publications
A privately held Nepali media company publishing newspapers and magazines and operating broadcast and digital media properties.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Kantipur Publications Pvt. Ltd. is a Kathmandu-based Nepali media company established in 1993 by Shyam Goenka. It began with two newspapers, the Nepali-language Kantipur and the English-language The Kathmandu Post, at a time when Nepal's constitutional and political changes were creating greater space for privately owned journalism. The company developed into one of Nepal's most prominent private media organizations and helped establish commercial print journalism as a credible alternative to the country's historically dominant state-owned newspapers. Its publishing portfolio has included Kantipur, generally described as Nepal's most widely read newspaper; The Kathmandu Post; Saptahik, an entertainment-oriented weekly; Nepal Magazine, focused on politics and society; Nari, a women's magazine; and Kopila, a children's supplement distributed with Kantipur. The company has also built a broader media presence through television, radio, sports and digital platforms. Its broadcasting interests have included Kantipur Television Network, commonly known as KTV; Kantipur FM on 96.1 FM; Kantipur Gold; and Kantipur Max. Its websites, including eKantipur and The Kathmandu Post's digital platform, extend the company's reporting and publishing activities online. Kantipur's history has been closely connected with Nepal's political development. During the civil conflict and periods of royal rule, its journalists and directors faced official pressure, arrests, questioning and restrictions. In 2001, directors Binod Raj Gyawali and Kailash Sirohiya were arrested and charged with sedition after the company published comments by a Maoist leader concerning the death of King Birendra. Following the 2001 state of emergency and King Gyanendra's 2005 takeover, the company continued publishing critical coverage despite intensified controls over the press. Editor Narayan Wagle was questioned by police in March 2005 over material regarded as critical of the king. The restoration of democracy in 2006 substantially improved the operating environment for private media. The company also experienced pressure from Maoist-aligned labor and political organizations in 2007. An agreement with the All Nepal Trade Union Federation was followed by the resignation of long-serving chairman Hem Raj Gyawali. In 2024, chairman Kailash Sirohiya was arrested in connection with allegations concerning Nepalese citizenship documentation. Sirohiya denied wrongdoing and said the arrest was retaliation for reporting concerning alleged financial irregularities involving Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane; the allegations and his response became a major episode in the company's public profile. Kantipur Publications has additionally entered sports ownership through the Kathmandu Gorkhas franchise in the Nepal Premier League. In 2025, during Nepal's Gen Z protests, a building at the company's headquarters was reportedly set on fire after staff were forced to leave, while the Kantipur and Kathmandu Post websites were also reported to have gone offline. The company remains an important Nepal-focused news and publishing group, although its ownership, operating structure and current performance are not fully documented in the supplied sources.
History
Kantipur Publications was founded in Kathmandu in February 1993 by Shyam Goenka, when Nepal was entering a more open period for private journalism following constitutional changes that expanded the space for a free press. Goenka launched Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post with limited resources and against skepticism about the commercial prospects of a privately owned media company. The two newspapers became the foundation of a larger publishing enterprise. The company's growth helped change Nepal's media landscape. Before the emergence of large private publishers, credibility and national reach were strongly associated with government-owned publications such as Gorkhapatra and The Rising Nepal. Kantipur's newspapers introduced a successful private-sector model, attracted journalists and editors, and contributed to the professionalization of Nepali newspaper journalism. Binod Raj Gyawali and Kailash Sirohiya later became equal partners with Goenka, according to the supplied historical account, and the company developed into one of Nepal's best-known media organizations. Kantipur's journalism repeatedly operated under political pressure. After the royal family massacre in June 2001, the company published comments by a Maoist leader about the death of King Birendra. Directors Binod Raj Gyawali and Kailash Sirohiya were arrested and charged with sedition. The episode occurred amid a broader deterioration in press freedom. A state of emergency declared in November 2001 suspended constitutional press protections, and journalists and publications across Nepal faced arrests, bans and other forms of repression. The pressures intensified after King Gyanendra's February 2005 takeover. Private media organizations worked under restrictions while journalists faced detention and physical abuse. Kantipur nevertheless continued to publish criticism of the royal regime. In March 2005, editor-in-chief Narayan Wagle was questioned by police over material suspected of criticizing the king. During the 2006 uprising, the company continued operating despite crackdowns. The restoration of democracy in May 2006 brought a major improvement in the legal and political environment for the company and Nepal's private press generally. In 2007, Kantipur faced pressure from Maoist-aligned groups including the Young Communist League and the All Nepal Trade Union Federation. The company reached an agreement with the federation, but the episode was followed by the resignation of Hem Raj Gyawali, described in the supplied material as the company's longest-serving chairman. The company subsequently broadened its media activities beyond print. Its portfolio has included the Kantipur Television Network, Kantipur FM, Kantipur Gold, Kantipur Max and digital news services. Kantipur FM, established in 1998, is described as Nepal's first privately owned and operated FM radio station and broadcasts on 96.1 FM in the Kathmandu Valley. The group has also maintained a significant magazine and supplement portfolio, including Saptahik, Nepal Magazine, Nari and Kopila. Kailash Sirohiya has served as chairman, with Sambhav Sirohiya identified as managing director. In May 2024, Sirohiya was arrested over alleged citizenship-law violations after his citizenship-card number was reported to match that of another person. He rejected the allegations and said the arrest was connected to Kantipur's reporting on alleged financial irregularities involving Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane. In 2025, a Kantipur headquarters building was reportedly burned during Nepal's Gen Z protests, staff were reportedly forced to leave, and the Kantipur and Kathmandu Post websites were reported to be unavailable. Kantipur Publications also owns the Kathmandu Gorkhas franchise in the Nepal Premier League, extending its activities into sports ownership and promotion.
- 2025
Headquarters reportedly attacked during Gen Z protests
[1]A Kantipur headquarters building was reportedly set on fire during Nepal's Gen Z protests, and related websites were reported offline.
- 2024
Chairman Kailash Sirohiya arrested
[1]Sirohiya was arrested over alleged citizenship-law violations, which he denied and characterized as politically retaliatory.
- 2007
Labor and political pressure leads to chairman's resignation
[1]Following pressure from Maoist-aligned organizations and an agreement with a labor federation, chairman Hem Raj Gyawali resigned.
- 2006
Democratic restoration improves press environment
[1]The restoration of democracy in Nepal ended the most severe period of royal restrictions on Kantipur and other private media organizations.
- 2005
Editor questioned under royal rule
[1]Editor-in-chief Narayan Wagle was questioned by police over allegedly critical reporting about King Gyanendra.
- 2001
Directors arrested during press-freedom crisis
[1]Binod Raj Gyawali and Kailash Sirohiya were arrested and charged with sedition following publication of comments about the royal-family massacre.
- 1998
Kantipur FM established
[1]The company established Kantipur FM, described in the supplied source as Nepal's first privately owned and operated FM radio station.
- 1993
Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post founded
[1]Shyam Goenka established Kantipur Publications and launched its two core newspapers in Kathmandu.
Products and positioning
A leading privately owned Nepali media house combining mass-market newspaper publishing with English-language journalism, magazines, broadcasting and digital news. Its public identity is strongly associated with professional journalism, broad national reach and editorial activity during periods of political instability.
Daily newspaper · 1993
Kantipur
Kantipur is the company's flagship Nepali-language daily newspaper. Founded in 1993, it became one of Nepal's most widely circulated and influential newspapers, covering national politics, society, business, culture and international affairs.
English-language daily newspaper · 1993
The Kathmandu Post
The Kathmandu Post is Kantipur Publications' English-language daily. It provides news and analysis for Nepali and international readers interested in Nepal, with coverage spanning politics, society, business, culture and regional affairs.
Weekly entertainment tabloid
Saptahik
Saptahik is a weekly entertainment-oriented publication associated with Kantipur Publications. Its editorial focus includes popular culture, entertainment and lifestyle content for a broad Nepali readership.
News and current-affairs magazine
Nepal Magazine
Nepal Magazine is a magazine focused on politics, society and public affairs. It extends the company's journalism beyond daily news into longer-form reporting and analysis.
Women's magazine
Nari
Nari is a monthly women's magazine in the Kantipur Publications portfolio. The supplied source identifies it as a publication serving a female readership, although detailed editorial and circulation information is not provided.
Children's weekly supplement
Kopila
Kopila is a children's weekly supplement distributed with Kantipur. It broadens the newspaper's audience by providing age-oriented content for younger readers.
Television network
Kantipur Television Network
Kantipur Television Network, commonly known as KTV, provides news and original entertainment programming. The supplied source describes it as an affiliate channel to CNN.
FM radio station · 1998
Kantipur FM
Kantipur FM broadcasts news and original entertainment programming on 96.1 FM in the Kathmandu Valley. It was established in 1998 and is described as Nepal's first privately owned and operated FM radio station.
Sports television channel
Kantipur Gold
Kantipur Gold is a sports-focused broadcasting property associated with the company. Its stated role includes carrying national and international sporting activities and supporting sports development.
Television channel
Kantipur Max
Kantipur Max is a television channel featuring movie-based content as well as selected national and international sports, including football, cricket and volleyball.
Sports franchise
Kathmandu Gorkhas
Kathmandu Gorkhas is a Kathmandu-based franchise in the Nepal Premier League owned by Kantipur Publications. The franchise gives the company a direct role in cricket promotion and sports-related commercial activity.
Controversies
2025
Headquarters fire during Gen Z protests
A Kantipur Publications headquarters building was reportedly burned during Nepal's Gen Z protests after staff were forced out. The company's principal news websites were also reported to have gone offline.
2024
Citizenship case involving chairman Kailash Sirohiya
Kailash Sirohiya was arrested over alleged violations of citizenship laws. He denied wrongdoing and claimed the case was connected to Kantipur's reporting about alleged financial irregularities involving a senior government official.
2007
Maoist-aligned pressure and chairman resignation
The company faced pressure from Maoist-aligned political and labor organizations. An agreement with a labor federation was followed by the resignation of long-serving chairman Hem Raj Gyawali.
2005
Police questioning of editor Narayan Wagle
Editor-in-chief Narayan Wagle was questioned by police over reporting considered critical of King Gyanendra amid restrictions on Nepal's private media.
2001
Sedition charges against company directors
Two Kantipur directors were arrested and charged with sedition after the company published comments by a Maoist leader about the death of King Birendra during a period of severe political and press tension.
Brand decisions
2024
Public response to chairman's arrestOtherBackground
Chairman Kailash Sirohiya was arrested over alleged citizenship-document violations after a citizenship number was reported to match another person's number.
Action taken
Sirohiya denied wrongdoing and publicly linked the case to alleged retaliation for Kantipur's reporting on alleged financial irregularities.
Aftermath
The arrest intensified scrutiny of the company, its chairman and the relationship between political power and investigative media in Nepal.
1998
Expansion into private FM radioStrategyBackground
The company sought to extend its media reach beyond print.
Action taken
Kantipur established Kantipur FM on 96.1 FM for news and entertainment broadcasting in the Kathmandu Valley.
Aftermath
The station became part of the company's wider print, broadcast and digital media portfolio.
1993
Entry into privately owned newspaper publishingStrategyBackground
Nepal's changing constitutional environment created an opportunity for private media, although skepticism remained about the commercial viability of an independent publishing house.
Action taken
Shyam Goenka launched Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post as the company's initial newspaper properties.
Aftermath
The newspapers became the foundation of a major private media group and contributed to the growth of professional journalism in Nepal.
Sources2 sources
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