Nepal Television (NTV) started as a project in January 1985, under the sixth development plan (1980-1985). NTV was established with the Slogan “Communication for Development” with a broad mission statement “Produce and telecast programs on educational, religious and cultural conservation to promote national unity, conserve heritage and promote national interest. Provision was made "to undertake feasibility study of the establishment of television in the country, to begin TV transmission service at selected places if found feasible from economic and technical standpoint". It began its experimental transmission for Katmandu valley in a very modest manner with VHS equipment and in the UHF band. In those days, there were only about 400 TV sets, the majority of which were used basically for video purposes. Some of these receivers were also used for receiving Doordarshan signals (Indian TV program). In those days its audience was about 2000 people and a 100-watt transmitter was set to cover Katmandu Valley during its experimental transmission. Nepal television started broadcasting news and educational as well as entertainment programs regularly from 29th December 1985. At that time NTV lacked professional program production facilities and was using the VHS format producing and transmitting programs. During the SAARC Summit in 1987, NTV acquired the professional Umatic high band for program production through its resources. A limited number of professionals editing system, studio equipment such as vision mixer, cameras were purchased from Japan. As the demand of program producers and news crew, NTV acquired some more editing system and cameras for electronic newsgatherings (ENG) as well as Electronic Field production (EFP)

In February 1986, it became a full-fledged Corporation under the Communication Corporation Act 2028. Established as an electronic media, NTV is one of the most effective mass communication media of Nepal. Most of the people of the country live in remote areas and are illiterate, poor and away from modern communication. NTV is the only effective media to relay the message like Educational, Health, Agricultural, Sanitation, and Human rights etc. to those people. Information makes people conscious about development, health, human rights etc. It also helps to preserve and promote the country's culture.

NTV has started its broadcasting via satellite from 20th Ashad 2058 (4th July 2001). The objective of satellite transmission is to upgrade the signal quality of existing terrestrial relay stations to have countrywide expansion and makes signal available outside the country as well. It is expensive and beyond capacity of average Nepalese citizen to receive the signal by setting the TVRO to each and every household. Hence, NTV is planning to install TV Transmitters with TVRO in Various parts of the country to access NTV signal by simple receiving system (Yagi antenna).

After accessing to the satellite the signal of NTV is available outside Nepal in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, China, Greece, Hong Kong, India (Mid Northern part), Iran, Iraq, Japan, Laos (Northern Part), Mongolia, Most parts of Russia, North Korea, Pakistan, Taiwan, Thailand (Northern Part), Turkey and Vietnam (Northern Part).

At present NTV signal is up-linked from Sagarmatha Earth Station of Nepal Telecommunication Corporation (NTC). The signal is sent to the earth station through optical fiber link from the transmitting studio at Singh Durbar. NTV is going to operate its second channel (Metro) soon, under Chinese grant. This project Consists of 5 KW transmitter with transmitting tower of 72 meters height and a studio complex.