IRS 2009 R2: Dainik Jagran, TOI maintain lead; publications finally see some growth in total readership

The IRS 2009 Round 2 figures are out and there is finally some good news for publications as total readership is finally picking up. The Times of India maintains its lead among English dailies, while Dainik Jagran reigns among Hindi dailies.

Three of the Top 10 English dailies have shown marginal increase in total readership. The English dailies showing growth are The Times of India with a total readership of 135.3 lakh in Round 2 as against 133.4 lakh in 2008 R2; Deccan Chronicle with a total readership of 29.1 lakh in R2 as against 28.2 lakh in 2008 R2; and DNA going up to 15.3 lakh, as compared to 13.4 lakh in 2008 R2.

Two of the Top 10 Hindi dailies have also shown some growth in total readership – Hindustan and Navbharat Times. While Hindustan’s total readership has gone up to 279.4 lakh in R2, as against 266.3 lakh 2008 R2, Navbharat Times has registered a total readership of 53.7 lakh in R2, as compared to 51.8 lakh in 2008 R2.

The Times of India leads the Top 10 English dailies’ list. Following it is Hindustan Times with a total readership of 61.4 lakh (63.5 lakh in 2008 R2). In the third position is The Hindu with a total readership of 52.3 lakh (52.8 in 2008 R2), followed by Deccan Chronicle, and The Telegraph with a total readership of 28.0 lakh (29.7 lakh in 2008 R2).

In the sixth spot is The Economic Times, the only business daily making it to the Top 10 list, with a total readership of 17.5 lakh (20.1 lakh in 2008 R2). The seventh position sees a tie between The New Indian Express and DNA, with both dailies registering a total readership of 15.3 lakh each. However, both dailies have dipped marginally with The New Indian Express having a total readership of 18.3 lakh in IRS 2008 R2 and DNA having a total readership of 13.4 lakh in IRS 2008 R2. Following them is Mid-Day with a total readership of 15.1 lakh (16.2 lakh in 2008 R2) and Mumbai Mirror with a total readership of 14.6 lakh (16.2 lakh in 2008 R2).

Dainik Jagran maintains its lead among the Top 10 Hindi dailies with a total readership of 547.9 lakh, down from 557.4 lakh in 2008 R2. At second position is Dainik Bhaskar with a total readership of 329.6 lakh (338.3 lakh in 2008 R2). Amar Ujala is at No. 3 with a total readership of 290.7 lakh (293.8 in 2008 R2), followed by Hindustan, and Rajasthan Patrika, which has registered a total readership of 139.8 lakh (140.0 lakh in 2008 R2).

Punjab Kesari is placed at the sixth position with a total readership of 104.9 lakh (109.7 lakh in 2008 R2), followed by Aj with a total readership of 57.1 lakh (64.4 lakh in 2008 R2), Navbharat Times, and Prabhat Khabar, which has a total readership of 49.2 lakh (49.5 lakh in 2008 R2). Placed tenth is Nava Bharat (Maharashtra/ Chhattisgarh) with a total readership of 46.1 lakh, a marginal dip from 46.7 lakh in 2008 R2.