Whether you are an avid fan of the Times of India or are not, you probably know that the magazine is one of the most well known publications in the world. But what is it that makes it so popular among readers? The answer lies in its reputation and history. Considering that, how does it manage to maintain its position?
History
Whether you are a native or a visitor, odds are you have spied at least one of the glossy, tricolored daffodils. But how do you pick out the best amongst the rest? You’ll be hard pressed to answer the question above the door, if you happen to be a pedestrian or a rabid horse racing fanatic. That’s where the eagle scouts come in. They’re the ones you’ll be thanking later on. And if you’re a resident of the Greater Mumbai Area, you’ll be in good company, unless you happen to live in the heart of the financial district.
The Times of India has been a fixture on the newsstands of the nation’s capital for well over a century and a half. The latest incarnation of the magnaphonia, as it’s called, was started in 1851.
Business model
Founded in 1838, The Times of India is one of the largest newspaper groups in the world. It has an annual turnover of more than Rs 10,000 crore. It also publishes Maharashtra Times, Bangalore Mirror and Ahmedabad Mirror.
Its current business model is based on ad revenue. This makes the company extremely profitable. But it is difficult to compete against television and other forms of media in India. In 2018, The Times of India made a profit of INR 681 crore.
The company is in the process of growing its business beyond ads. It launched a subscription service last year. This has helped it increase its subscriber count to more than one million people. In addition, it has partnered with businesses such as Huffington Post, TechRadar and Lifehacker. It is also exploring ways to sell products directly to customers.
In the past, The Times of India was run by a joint stock company called Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. It was acquired by Ramkrishna Dalmia after independence. However, he was caught in legal complications surrounding the acquisition. The Times Group has now taken over the business.
Tagline
Founded in 1838, The Times of India is India’s oldest English-language daily newspaper. In 2017, the publication boasted an impressive average issue readership of over five million people, making it one of the most popular newspapers in the country. The newspaper is a subsidiary of Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd., a company that also publishes the Mumbai Mirror, India’s largest English language daily. The company recently launched a number of new regional editions, including the Chennai and Kolhapur.
The company’s main competition comes from India’s biggest dailies, The Hindu and The Economic Times. But The Times of India has a bit of a competitive edge because of its unique niche. Its coverage of the news is a bit more diverse. Its international coverage accounts for quarter of its editorial space. Aside from the usual suspects, the paper also publishes news pertaining to its diverse industry sectors.
The Times of India is a venerable institution, but that does not mean the company’s publications are stale. In fact, the newspaper is one of the most progressive in the country, as evidenced by its recent introduction of a new Kolkata edition.
Reputation
Despite the newspaper’s prominence in India, its reputation is still tainted. It’s been said that the TOI is biased towards the right-leaning ruling party. The paper’s coverage is also biased, as it skews toward national politics and religion.
The news reported by newspapers in India often coincides with the politics of the government. However, the media’s freedom of speech is relatively limited. This is reflected in the fact that many Indian intellectuals view the Times as untrustworthy and even disreputable.
The TOI started the practice of paid news. This practice was adopted by other major media companies in the country. These practices were also used by the India Today group and the Outlook group.
Aparajita Lath is a 22 year old law student who is being threatened by the Times Publishing House Ltd. This company has threatened her and accused her of defamation. She is currently studying at the National University of Juridical Sciences.
