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<font color="#FF0000"><b><font color="#FF00033">NRS 2005</font></b></font>: India Today on top spot; Kungumum registers 600% growth
The difference in readership between number one India Today and number two Saras Salil is very close at 1.44 lakhs
A growth rate of 81 per cent has helped India Today (Hindi) become the largest read magazine in India. But Sun Network’s Kungumam is the one which has truly blazed its way into the top 10.
In the last National Readership Survey in 2003, India Today (Hindi) had the second best figures at 59 lakhs, with Saras Salil leading at 93.85 lakhs (urban and rural combined). This time, Saras Salil had to settle for number two, at 105.54 lakhs, as India Today took a marginal lead with 106.98 lakh readers.
India Today (English) has regained the third spot it held in NRS 2002. During NRS 2003, it had slipped 23 per cent to 41.94 lakhs. This year, however, the magazine has sprung back with a 49.11 per cent growth to a readership of 62.54 lakhs.
Coming out of thin air, directly at number four, is Sun network’s Tamil magazine Kungumam. It was at the 40th position in NRS 2002 and shred half its readership to go to the 81st spot with a readership figure of 7.65 lakhs in NRS 2003. But a staggering 628 per cent growth and 55.71 lakh readers has catapulted it amid the highly read.
Kumudam was in the 7th place in NRS 2002. Next year, it slipped to number 15 with 28.87 readers. It registered a 61.44 per cent growth to march into the 5th position.
Sarita, on the other hand, has shown steady growth. From the 18th position (NRS 2002), it climbed up to number 11 (NRS 2003) and is now at rank 6 with 41.82 lakh readers.
Grihashobha too is steadily moving but downwards. After slipping from rank 2 in NRS 2002 to rank 4 in NRS 2003, thanks to a 10 per cent fall, it has slipped further by losing 24 per cent more readers, and is at number 7 with 41.07 readers.
Swati SVP had fallen from number 11 in 2002 to number 19 in 2003, but has managed to storm into the top 10 at rank 8, with 39.53 lakh readers.
Meri Saheli is losing its ‘friends’ in the top 10. It slips to number 9 from rank 6 in NRS 2003. More than the ranks, it has shed 34 per cent of its readers. As per NRS 2005, the readership of Meri Saheli stands at 27.97 lakhs.
Ananda Vikatan has just managing to squeeze into the top league from rank 31; it grew by 62 per cent.
The top 10 magazines in urban and rural markets combines are: India Today (Hindi) 106.98 lakhs, Saras Salil 105.54 lakhs, India Today (English) 62.54 lakhs, Kunkumam 55.71 lakhs, Kumudam 46.64 lakhs, Sarita 41.82 lakhs, Grihashobha 41.07 lakhs, Swati SVP 39.53 lakhs, Meri Saheli 27.97 lakhs, Ananda Vikatan 27.41 lakhs. These rankings exclude Malayalam magazines.
The urban-only market shows a similar scene, with a few unexpected surprises. India Today (Hindi) and India Today (English) move a place upwards and are now the largest and second largest read magazines in urban India. Underdog Kungumam is at the third spot with 33.30 lakh readers, up from rank 69 and 5.91 lakh readers.
Grihashobha (Hindi) slipped from number 1 (NRS 2003 at 43.19 lakhs) to number 4 (NRS 2005 at 26.99 lakhs), losing 60 per cent of their readers. Outlook managed to get in at rank 9 from rank 20, with a 33 per cent growth and a readership of 17.32 lakhs.
The top 10 magazines in urban centres are: India Today (Hindi) 51.71 lakhs, India Today (English) 47.79 lakhs, Kungumam 33.30 lakhs, Grihashobha (Hindi) 26.99 lakhs, Kumudam 26.70 lakhs, Saras Salil (Hindi) 21.42 lakhs, Sarita 19.57 lakhs, Meri Saheli 18.86 lakhs, Outlook 17.32 lakhs, Ananda Vikatan 16.81 lakhs.
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