Q1 IRS 2019: Dainik Jagran continues to lead Hindi dailies; TOI tops English dailies

The Media Research Users Council (MRUC) released the Indian Readership Survey (IRS) data for Q1 2019 today. The previous data (IRS 2017) was released in January 2018 after a gap of 4 years.

As per Q1 IRS 2019, Dainik Jagran continues to lead among the top 20 dailies in terms of Last 1 month read (Total Readership) as well as Read Yesterday (Average Issue Readership) [12+ years; Urban+Rural]. Dainik Jagran has garnered Total Readership (TR) of 73,673,000 in Q1 IRS 2019, compared to TR of 70,377,000 in IRS 2017. Dainik Jagran’s Average Issue Readership (AIR) stood at 20,258,000 in Q1 IRS 2019, a marginal increase from 20,241,000 in IRS 2017.

Dainik Bhaskar was placed 2^nd with TR of 51,405,000 in Q1 IRS 2019, as against 45,105,000 in IRS 2017. In terms of AIR, Dainik Bhaskar secured 15,395,000, an increase from 13,872,000 in IRS 2017.

Among English dailies, The Times of India retained its numero uno position with a TR of 15,236,000, an increase from 13,045,000 in IRS 2017. The paper was placed 9^th among all publications. The Times of India secured AIR of 5,646,000, an increase from 5,080,000 in IRS 2017. The paper was placed 10^th among all publications in terms of AIR.

Data for Hindustan and Hindustan Times was not reported pending preview.

Top 20 Dailies: All India – Read Yesterday (Average Issue Readership)

Figs in 000s

Publications	IRS 2017	Q1 IRS 2019
Dainik Jagran	20,241	20,258
Dainik Bhaskar	13,872	15,395
Amar Ujala	11,166	10,183
Malayala Manorama (Daily)	9,383	9,758
Rajasthan Patrika	7,586	7,543
Eenadu	7,016	6,727
Daily Thanthi	6,971	6,572
Mathrubhumi	6,355	6,443
Lokmat	5,963	6,085
The Times of India	5,080	5,646
Gujarat Samachar	4,703	4,477
Prabhat Khabar	3,559	3,439
Ananda Bazar Patrika	3,847	3,436
Sandesh	3,554	3,384
Punjab Kesari	3,252	3,323
Daily Sakal	2,946	3,092
Patrika	3,314	3,038
Sakshi	3,348	2,988
Dinamalar	3,135	2,886
Vijay Karnakata	2,554	2,669

Growth in absolute readers on All India basis was 42.5 crore as against 40.7 crore, an increase of 1.8 crore readers. Urban readers grew 0.9 crore to 20.2 crore in Q1 IRS 2019, from 19.3 crore in IRS 2017. Meanwhile, rural readers were reported at 22.3 crore in Q1 IRS 2019, an increase of 0.9 crore over 21.4 crore in IRS 2017.

Top 20 Dailies: All India – Last 1 month read (Total Readership)

Figs in 000s

Publications	IRS 2017	Q1 IRS 2019
Dainik Jagran	70,377	73,673
Dainik Bhaskar	45,105	51,405
Amar Ujala	46,094	47,645
Daily Thanthi	23,149	24,054
Lokmat	18,066	19,691
Rajasthan Patrika	16,326	18,036
Malayala Manorama (Daily)	15,999	17,477
Eenadu	15,848	15,673
The Times of India	13,045	15,236
Prabhat Khabar	13,492	14,102
Mathrubhumi	11,848	12,951
Punjab Kesari	12,232	12,657
Dinakaran	12,083	12,656
Ananda Bazar Patrika	12,763	12,546
Gujarat Samachar	11,784	11,873
Daily Sakal	10,498	11,841
Dinalamar	11,659	11,796
Sandesh	10,352	10,375
Patrika	9,823	9,967
Sakshi	9,341	8,808

Quite a few changes have been made in Q1 IRS 2019. The process of generating electronic C Form is now automated. The C Form is prepared to identify the location and is the starting point to start the survey. The program looks for the same house number/ people with same surname as the selected voter. It copies the name details of all such people – hence, creating the C Form in a familiar format. The contact sheet format for Q1 IRS 2019 has been changed from pen & paper to digital.

More analyses to follow.