HT Media launches HT for Gurgaon

With the Gurgaon Special edition, the English daily aims to tap the hyper local ad market better.

In February 2012, HT Media had introduced a hyper local offering for the readers of Noida and Greater Noida (HT for Noida). Taking it one step further the English publication has recently launched HT for Gurgaon to fortify its presence in the NCR.

HT for Gurgaon will focus on Gurgaon-specific issues which appeal to the people of the city. The newspaper will cover stories ranging from city, community, business, health, science, sports, lifestyle and entertainment. The Gurgaon special edition will carry a few pages more than the Delhi edition of Hindustan Times.

Talking about the new initiative, Shantanu Bhanja, business head and vice-president, marketing, HT Media, says, "It's one composite newspaper, custom-created for the reader of Gurgaon. At the same time, considering the consumer need of a market like Gurgaon, with its high level of growth in real estate and other such categories, we have launched some add-on special supplements in Gurgaon which are over and above the specialised edition."

The edition will target local advertisers as well as national players who intend to communicate with the well-heeled audience of Gurgaon.

About the ad revenue expectations from the Gurgaon special, Bhanja, without divulging the statistics, says that the company is benchmarking the Gurgaon Special ad revenue with some of its other leading editions like Chandigarh, which cater to strong local markets.

For the record, HT Media was launched in 1924. It publishes Hindustan Times (English newspaper) and Hindustan (Hindi newspaper through a subsidiary Hindustan Media Ventures Limited), and a national business newspaper, Mint. The company in a consulting partnership with Virgin Radio has launched an FM radio channel - Fever 104. Internet businesses of HT Media, incorporated under Firefly e-ventures, operate portals such as Hindustantimes.com, Livemint.com, Shine.com, Desimartini.com and www.HTCampus.com.