Hindi Media

The proposed editions of Rashtriya Sahara from Kanpur and Varanasi are getting delayed day by day. Even after finalisation of logistics and other details there has been very little progress. The daily has planned launching of Patna, Kanpur and Varanasi editions simultaneously. Only Patna edition from the group has seen the llight of the day and the other two editions are still waiting in the offing. Battle for ad revenues and circulation is becoming tougher by the day in Kanpur with Hindustan moving in after launching editions from Meerut and Agra. On the hand Dainik Jagran to protect its territory has already launched another morninger from Kanpur and Lucknow. Amar Ujala is also having plans of launching an edition from Lucknow but that may realise only after the launch of Gorakhpur and Aligarh editions form the group.

Sources in TOI say The Times of India will launch three editions from Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur respectively within next 2-3 months. These editions will be published in the printing facilites of Rajasthan Patrika. The deal between TOI and Patrika was to come in November but delayed due to certain reasons.

To enter Rajasthan, Bennett, Coleman & Co is setting up a joint venture company with the Jaipur-based Rajasthan Patrika, the Kotharis-owned newspaper company that publishes the leading Hindi daily Rajasthan Patrika in the state. Though the details of the joint venture are not available, media industry sources said the new company will print, market and distribute The Times of india in Rajasthan. Though newspaper readers in Rajasthan prefer to read Hindi dailies, The Times of india hopes to create a market for its English brand by riding piggyback on ‘Rajasthan Patrika’s’ distribution reach. in turn, media experts said, ‘Rajasthan Patrika’ will gain from the combined advertising sales that Bennett, Coleman will do for both The Times of india and Rajasthan Patrika. Bennett, Coleman’s Executive Director Ravi Dhariwal, however, refused to comment on the deal with ‘Rajasthan Patrika’. “i do not want to comment on speculation. When there is something, we will announce it,” he said. When

Lokmat group publisher of popular Marathi daily Lokmat and English daily Lokmat Times is pondering over the idea of launching three new editions of its Hindi daily Lokmat Samachar. Noted journalist Madhukar Upadhyay after a stint with Press Trust of India is now with Lokmat Samachar and is said to be the brain behind new manouveres from the group in Hindi print media space. In the past Lokamt Samachar has been witness to price war from Navbharat. In its stronghold Nagpur the newspaper faces competition from Navbharat as well as Dainik Bhaskar. At present there are four editions of Lokmat Samachar. The group's expansion plans may take it to Chattisgarh. Maharashtra based Navbharat is also busy charting out future expansion plans. It is planning to have three new editions from Bhbaneshwar, Kolkata and Ranchi apart from venturing into FM radio space. However there has been little progress on these fronts since the news last came in.

Shuchi Bansal / New Delhi December 29, 2006 Access to funds, shift in ad spends drives growth. Behind the mushrooming of new and parallel Hindi newspaper brands lies the story of a buoyant advertising market in the Hindi-speaking states. Publishers who are launching second titles in the same market see merit, therefore, in segmenting their readers and offering more focused audiences. It is obvious that the understanding of markets and marketing has reached new levels in Hindi publishing. The Hindi papers’ advertising cake is estimated to be Rs 1,500 crore, and growing at an average of about 19 per cent a year. But like all averages, that hides the high and low points. Rajasthan Patrika’s marketing head, Arvind Kalia, claims, for instance, that Rajasthan is experiencing an exceptional 50 per cent growth in advertising. Advertisers have evidently realised that product consumption in markets like Jaipur is going up. “The theory of a regional market boom is now a reality and it is getting

Amar Ujala - Prabhat Khabar deal which seemed to be through is now in limbo. The rumour of the deal not going through has gained credence with group editor of Prabhat Khabar Harivansh during his recent visit to Patna insisting on his team to reduce costs. If the deal is not through then Prabhat Khabar may find itself in turbulent waters and expansion plans may have to be shelved.

Shuchi Bansal Groups launch second brands, new editions. Jagran Prakshan Limited, publisher of Hindi daily Dainik Jagran, has rolled out its second newspaper brand, I-next, in Kanpur and Lucknow. The city-centric, compact-sized daily is targeted at 18 to 35 year olds, priced at Rs 3, and claims a print run of 50,000 copies in each city. Two weeks ago, Rajasthan’s leading newspaper Rajasthan Patrika started Daily News in Jaipur, a Hindi language product with an English brand name. Patrika’s paper is priced at a nominal 50 paise. Meanwhile, newspaper readers in Agra, an Amar Ujala stronghold, may soon find an afternoon daily in the city. Ajai Agarwal, the Agra-based former partner in Amar Ujala (he sold his stake to the Meerut-based majority owners of the paper recently), is now planning a paper for the afternoon slot. In the action-packed Hindi newspaper market, the entrenched players are starting second brands, while others are expanding through new editions. There are unconfirmed repo

TIMES NEWS NETWORK NEW DELHI: De Shaw, one of the world’s largest hedge funds, is picking 18% stake in north India-based media house Amar Ujala Publications. The hedge fund with global aggregate investment capital under management of $25 billion, would pick equity in both Amar Ujala Publications and its printing company in a deal worth Rs 117 crore. According to sources, DE Shaw would pick 18% stake in Amar Ujala Publications through a preferential allotment for a cash consideration of Rs 58.5 crore. In addition, it would pick 18% stake in A&M Publications, the printing unit of the media house for a similar consideration of Rs 58.5 crore. The transaction values the two entities at about Rs 650 crore cumulatively. Amar Ujala Publications is presently a closely-held company engaged in the business of publishing and printing the Hindi newspaper Amar Ujala. The publication was recently undergoing a battle for control between the shareholders. The newspaper is circulated in north Indian

Rumours have been in the air for long as far as tie-up between Times of India and Rajsathan Patrika is concerned. Now it seems more credible the talks have already begun and after Sandesh (Gujarati) and Mid day, Times looks all set to have a stake in the leadin daily of Rajasthan. In the past marketing director of Rajasthan Patrika Siddharth Kothari is said to have met Bennet and Coleman officials.

It may take some time to become official but the deal between Amar Ujala and Prabhat Khabar is now almost final. Amar Ujala will invest money in the Ranchi based newspaper group but will only be a minority stakeholder. Hence the management structure of the Prabhat Khabar will almost remain same with Harivansh being the group editor as he is at present. The fresh inflow of funds will help Prabhat Khabar to fund its expansion plan for the newspaper as well as its foray into radio. The newspaper is likely to go through a revamp after the deal is officially announced.

Ajay Agarwal is rumoured to have firmed up his plans of launching a new Hindi daily from Uttar Pradesh. He is planning to launch 12 editions across the state. Every month a new edition will be launched.

The Noida office of Amar Ujala these days is witnessing hectic activity as the newspaper gears to launch new editions and is in the race for acquiring stake in Ranchi based newspaper group Prabhat Khabar. Group editor Shashishekhar has been on a foregin visit a month ago. The visit as indiers claim was to garner foregin direct investment (FDI) to fund its aggressive expansion plans. It is said that there will be infusion of fresh capital in the group through foregin direct investment by January.

Daink Bhaskar, Jaipur is feeling the heat generated by the launch of Daily News By its rival Rajasthan Patrika and is planning to launch itself another daily My Rajasthan to counter it.

Manoj Binwal has made a comeback to Dainik Bhaskar, Jaipur. He switched over to Rajasthan Patrika and was heading the team entrusted with the task of launching Daily News. He switched sides once again a day prior to the D day ie launch of Daily News. Now Deputy Editor of Rajasthan Patrika Govind Chaturvedi has been made editor Daily News. On the other hand after losing N.K.Singh to Indian Express, Daink Bhaskar has lost yet another veteran of print media. Girish Mishra to Navbharat. Girish Mishra was looking after editorial responsibilites at Bhopal edition of Dainik Bhaskar.

The fate of Prabhat Khabar’s new ownership will be decided in a few days. The big newspaper groups in the race — Jagran Prakashan, Dainik Bhaskar, Bennett, Coleman & Co., Amar Ujala and ABP — to buy Prabhat Khabar have apparently bid between Rs 50 crore and Rs 115 crore. Media industry sources say that the UP-based Amar Ujala, owned by Atul Maheshwari and Anil Agrawal, is among the highest bidders. Since the Jhawars of Usha Martin declined comment, the bid estimates are guesstimates and not precise numbers. An executive of one of the bidders says that the paper should not be valued at more than Rs 55-60 crore because the latest readership surveys show the paper trailing behind Hindustan in Jharkhand. With a readership of 10.77 lakh, Hindustan has marched ahead of Prabhat Khabar’s readership of 9.86 lakh. Dainik Jagran with a readership of 7.73 lakh is not far behind. Others point out that Prabhat Khabar’s circulation is still its strong point. Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) figu

Shuchi Bansal / New Delhi December 09, 2006 Its editor used a novel strategy to completely reinvent it, but what’s ironic is that what began as a search for funds to expand may now result in a change in ownership. Two months ago, the editor of Jharkhand’s leading Hindi daily Prabhat Khabar approached the newspaper’s owners, the Usha Martin group, with a proposal to start new editions in Chhattisgarh and to re-launch the paper in Patna. The reason was simple. Prabhat Khabar had been feeling the heat of competition from rivals such as Hindustan from HT Media Ltd and Dainik Jagran from Kanpur’s Jagran Prakashan Group. Standing still was not an option. The Jhawars who run Usha Martin responded that the newspaper company could sell equity to raise the money for expansion. Harivansh — Prabhat Khabar’s editor of 18 years — was pleased with the reply. Since 1996, the paper had been running on its own steam without financial support from Usha Martin, which is a wire rope and speciality steel ma

Leading Hindi daily of Jharkhand Prabhat Khabar amidst reports of a buyout by another leading Hindi daily Amar Ujala is all set to revamp its Patna edition. There are plans to increase number of pages from 14 to 20 (16+4). Machines have already arrived in the city. The daily has been striving hard for the second slot in the already crowded market after the launch of Rashtriya Sahara from Patna. Hindustan's Patna edition has already gone for a makeover to preserve its number one position.

Daily News has formally entered the Jaipur's already volatile newspaper market. The new daily launched by Rajasthan Patrika has been priced at Re. 1. Patrika and Dainik Bhaskar are already engaged in a price war and of late it is said a war of words has also begun on the kiss controversy. Both the players are busy raising the finger of accusation against each other.

Press Trust Of India / Mumbai December 06, 2006 Jagran Prakashan Ltd, publishers of Dainik Jagran, today said it is going to launch a compact daily under the name "I-next" by middle of December in the mini metros of Kanpur and Lucknow. Targeted at the young generation in the age group of 18-34 years, I-next would be primarily in Hindi, though a combination of English and Hindi words shall be used keeping in mind the lingo of the young generation, a statement from Jagran Prakashan informed the Bombay Stock Exchange. The daily will cover local, national as well as international issues apart from sports, lifestyle, career, and health related ones. Last month, Jagran Prakashan had appointed Pawan R Chawla as the Editor of its compact multi-edition daily to head the editorial team.

DNA Business Bureau Sunday, December 03, 2006 20:07 IST NEW DELHI: Prabhat Khabar, a Hindi daily published from Jharkhand, is expected to finalise a deal for offloading a significant stake by December 15, according to sources. Among those keen to pick up a stake are Bennett Coleman, HT Media, Dainik Bhaskar (one of the promoters of DNA), Dainik Jagran and Amar Ujala. A couple of foreign investors are also in the fray. The potential investors have already put in `non-binding’ bids, sources added. Prabhat Khabar vice-president KK Goenka declined to offer any comments on the proposed deal. But, it is learnt that merchant banker Edelwiess is on the job, to identify the best partner for the newspaper, which requires funds to expand its business and also launch two FM radio stations shortly at Jamshedpur and Ranchi. Recently, Edelweiss had advised Karnataka-based Vijay Times for its deal with The Times of India. Company officials refused to divulge the level of stake that would be offloaded,

Ajay Agarwal after losing out the legal battle over control of Amar Ujala to Atul Maheshwari is busy planning his foray back into the print media. According to the rumour mills going around in the Agra, he is planning to launch a new daily from the city. Subhash Rai's name is being touted as the editor. The city of Taj is already seeing a lot of churning in the print media with the entry of Hindustan. Although it has been unable to make a considerable dent in the fortunes of existing players like Amar Ujala and Dainik Jagran, the heat is being felt. If the rumour mills are true and Ajay Agarwal moves ahead with his plan the city may see a price war couples with cut throat competition.

Rajasthan Patrika leading newspaper of Rajasthan is all set to launch another morning newspaper from Jaipur. Patrika which is engaged in a price war with Dainik Bhaskar is expected to come out with its new product by 15th of this month. Targeted at youth the new product will be aggressively priced at Re.1 and will be called Daily News.

The price war has intensified among the leading newspapers of Rajasthan, Dainik Bhaskar and Rajasthan Patrika in Jaipur. Dainik Bhaskar which is sold for Rs. 1.50 in Jaipur is offering a gift of Rs. 30 on one month subscription that means its daily price comes to around 50 paise per day only. Rajasthan Patrika which is sold for Rs. 1.75 in Jaipur is offering its subscribers Rs. 40 gift that means the daily price of Patrika comes to roughly 40 paise per day. It is said that another daily Mehkta Bharat having its lone edition in Jaipur is being sold for 75 paise.