Q3, IRS 2012: Rajasthan Patrika gains most in placid quarter

Dainik Jagran and Dainik Bhaskar follow with the largest absolute gain in average issue readership.

All the Hindi publications in the top 10 list of the latest quarter of Indian Readership Survey (IRS Q3, 2012) have registered a growth this time, except for Amar Ujala, which has registered a de-growth in average issue readership (AIR).

Among the top 10 publications, Dainik Jagran continues to be the No. 1 publication of the country, with an AIR of 1.65 crore - an increase of 45,000 readers since Q2, 2012. The Hindi daily is also the second biggest gainer among the top 10 publications of the country.

The No. 2 position is also taken by a Hindi publication, Dainik Bhaskar, with an AIR of 1.45 crore - 1983 readers less than the Dainik Jagran. The Hindi newspaper has also registered a growth of 43,000 in AIR, making it the third biggest gainer in the list.

At No. 3 is last quarter's biggest gainer, Hindustan, with an AIR of 1.2 crore. While the Hindi daily had registered an increase of 48,000 readers last quarter, this time it has added 37,000 AIR.

The Malayalam newspaper, Malayala Manorama, stands at No. 4 spot with an AIR of 97 lakh, an increase of 42,000 readers since the last quarter. Incidentally, the daily had recorded the sharpest fall among the top 10 publications last quarter - a decrease of 1,65,000 readers.

Amar Ujala is at No. 5, with an AIR of 85 lakh - a fall of 72,000 readers this time. The daily had also registered de-growth of 85,000 readers last time.

The Times of India takes the No. 6 position, with an AIR of 76 lakh this quarter. The English daily has maintained its position in the top 10 list. However, unlike last quarter, where it had registered a marginal decline of 9,000 readers, this time the publication has added 10,000 readers, putting it at a no loss, no gain position.

The only Tamil daily to feature in the top 10 publications, Daily Thanthi takes up the No. 7 spot. The daily has an AIR of 74 lakh this quarter. Though the daily has lost readers in this quarter, it has moved up one rank.

Pushed down by the Daily Thanthi, Lokmat is at No. 8, with an AIR of 74 lakh - 14,000 readers more than the Daily Thanthi. While the daily had recorded a growth of 22,000 in AIR, the Marathi publication is the biggest loser this time - a fall of 98,000 in AIR.

The No. 9 position is taken by Rajasthan Patrika with an AIR of 68 lakh. The Hindi publication is also the biggest gainer this quarter, a gain of 62,000 readers. However, in the last quarter, the daily had lost 51,000 readers.

Mathrubhumi is at No. 10 with an AIR of 64 lakh, registering a decline of 78,000 readers this time. The daily continues its losing spree and is the second biggest loser in this quarter. The Malayalam publication had lost more than a lakh readers in the last quarter.

(Total readership includes any reader who has read any of the last six issues; whereas average issue readership includes only readers who have read the last issue.)