South Indian Newspaper Advertising Rates 2026: The Hindu, Eenadu, Daily Thanthi & More
The South Indian Newspaper Landscape
South India presents a unique advertising opportunity: four distinct language markets, each dominated by powerhouse regional dailies that enjoy deeper reader loyalty than national English papers. With a combined readership exceeding 8 crore daily readers, South Indian newspapers offer advertisers access to India's most educated, urbanized, and consumption-driven markets.
Unlike North India where 2-3 Hindi papers dominate, each Southern state has its own newspaper ecosystem. This guide breaks down rates and reach for every major paper across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, and Karnataka.
Tamil Nadu Newspapers: Rates & Reach
Tamil Nadu has one of India's most competitive newspaper markets with multiple strong dailies.
| Newspaper | Readers (Lakh) | Editions | Display (Rs/sq cm) | Classified (Rs/line) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Thanthi | 140 | 16 | 100 - 600 | 30 - 120 |
| Dinamalar | 80 | 14 | 80 - 450 | 25 - 100 |
| Dinakaran | 52 | 10 | 70 - 380 | 22 - 85 |
| Dinamani | 35 | 8 | 80 - 400 | 25 - 90 |
| The Hindu (Tamil) | 12 | 4 | 120 - 550 | 40 - 130 |
Best combination for Tamil Nadu: Daily Thanthi (mass reach) + Dinamalar (rural penetration) covers 85%+ of Tamil newspaper readership at the most cost-effective CPM.
Daily Thanthi: City-Wise Display Rates
| City | B&W (Rs/sq cm) | Color (Rs/sq cm) | Min Spend (Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai | 250 - 400 | 400 - 600 | 15,000 |
| Madurai | 120 - 220 | 200 - 350 | 8,000 |
| Coimbatore | 150 - 260 | 240 - 400 | 10,000 |
| Trichy | 100 - 180 | 170 - 280 | 6,000 |
| Salem | 80 - 150 | 140 - 250 | 5,000 |
| All Tamil Nadu | Package | Package | 50,000 |
Telugu Newspapers: Andhra Pradesh & Telangana
The Telugu newspaper market is dominated by Eenadu with massive reach across both states.
| Newspaper | Readers (Lakh) | Editions | Display (Rs/sq cm) | Classified (Rs/line) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eenadu | 120 | 23 | 100 - 700 | 30 - 130 |
| Sakshi | 78 | 15 | 80 - 500 | 25 - 100 |
| Andhra Jyothy | 45 | 12 | 70 - 400 | 22 - 85 |
| Deccan Chronicle | 20 | 3 | 200 - 800 | 60 - 180 |
| Vaartha | 15 | 8 | 50 - 280 | 18 - 70 |
Eenadu & Sakshi: City-Wise Rates
| City | Eenadu Display (Rs/sq cm) | Sakshi Display (Rs/sq cm) | Eenadu Classified (Rs/line) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyderabad | 300 - 700 | 250 - 500 | 60 - 130 |
| Vijayawada | 180 - 450 | 150 - 350 | 40 - 100 |
| Visakhapatnam | 160 - 400 | 130 - 320 | 35 - 90 |
| Tirupati | 120 - 300 | 100 - 250 | 30 - 75 |
| Warangal | 100 - 250 | 80 - 200 | 25 - 65 |
Kerala Newspapers: Malayalam Dailies
Kerala has India's highest literacy rate (96%) and newspaper penetration rate, making it a premium advertising market.
| Newspaper | Readers (Lakh) | Editions | Display (Rs/sq cm) | Classified (Rs/line) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malayala Manorama | 97 | 14 | 150 - 800 | 40 - 150 |
| Mathrubhumi | 62 | 12 | 120 - 650 | 35 - 130 |
| Madhyamam | 18 | 6 | 60 - 300 | 20 - 70 |
| Kerala Kaumudi | 12 | 5 | 50 - 250 | 18 - 60 |
Malayala Manorama: City-Wise Rates
| City | Display (Rs/sq cm) | Color Premium | Classified (Rs/line) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kochi (HQ) | 300 - 800 | +40% | 60 - 150 |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 250 - 650 | +40% | 50 - 130 |
| Kozhikode | 200 - 520 | +35% | 40 - 110 |
| Thrissur | 180 - 480 | +35% | 35 - 100 |
| Gulf Edition | 250 - 700 | +45% | 55 - 140 |
Unique to Kerala: Malayala Manorama and Mathrubhumi both publish Gulf editions reaching 20+ lakh Malayalam-speaking NRIs in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait — ideal for real estate and gold jewellery advertising.
Karnataka Newspapers: Kannada Dailies
| Newspaper | Readers (Lakh) | Editions | Display (Rs/sq cm) | Classified (Rs/line) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vijay Karnataka | 42 | 8 | 120 - 600 | 35 - 120 |
| Prajavani | 38 | 8 | 100 - 520 | 30 - 110 |
| Kannada Prabha | 18 | 4 | 80 - 380 | 25 - 85 |
| Udayavani | 15 | 5 | 70 - 340 | 22 - 80 |
| Deccan Herald | 12 | 3 | 180 - 700 | 50 - 150 |
The Hindu: India's Premium English Daily in South India
| Edition | Display (Rs/sq cm) | Classified (Rs/line) | Readership (Lakh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai | 500 - 1,800 | 400 - 800 | 14 |
| Bangalore | 400 - 1,200 | 350 - 700 | 8 |
| Hyderabad | 350 - 1,000 | 300 - 600 | 6 |
| Coimbatore | 250 - 700 | 200 - 450 | 4 |
| Delhi | 450 - 1,500 | 380 - 750 | 5 |
| All India | Package | Package | 49 |
State-Wise: Best Paper Combination for Maximum Reach
| State | Mass Reach Combo | Premium Combo | Budget Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | Daily Thanthi + Dinamalar | The Hindu + Daily Thanthi | Dinamalar alone |
| AP + Telangana | Eenadu + Sakshi | Eenadu + Deccan Chronicle | Andhra Jyothy |
| Kerala | Manorama + Mathrubhumi | Manorama + Gulf Edition | Mathrubhumi alone |
| Karnataka | Vijay Karnataka + Prajavani | Deccan Herald + Vijay K. | Prajavani alone |
Book South Indian Newspaper Ads with Shubindia
Shubindia Ad Works has direct partnerships with all major South Indian newspaper groups. Our team handles multilingual campaigns across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada papers — from creative translation to placement and publication proof. Get your free multi-language media plan today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most read newspaper in South India?
Daily Thanthi is the most read South Indian newspaper with 1.4 crore readers in Tamil Nadu. It's followed by Eenadu (1.2 crore readers in AP/Telangana), Malayala Manorama (97 lakh in Kerala), The Hindu (49 lakh pan-India, strongest in Chennai), and Vijay Karnataka (42 lakh in Karnataka). Each state has a clear dominant paper.
How much does advertising in The Hindu cost?
The Hindu display ads cost ₹350-1,800/sq cm depending on the edition. Chennai (headquarters) charges ₹500-1,800/sq cm, Bangalore ₹400-1,200, Hyderabad ₹350-1,000, and Delhi/Mumbai ₹450-1,500. Classified text ads start from ₹400-800 per line. The Hindu targets educated, affluent readers making it ideal for education, real estate, and premium brands.
Which Tamil newspaper is best for advertising?
Daily Thanthi has the highest reach (1.4 crore readers, 16 editions) and lowest CPM in Tamil Nadu. Dinamalar is #2 with 80 lakh readers and strong rural penetration. Dinakaran and Dinamani serve niche segments. For Chennai city specifically, The Hindu reaches the premium English-reading segment while Daily Thanthi covers the mass Tamil audience.
What are the cheapest newspaper ad rates in South India?
Regional district editions of Daily Thanthi, Eenadu, and Dinamalar offer the most affordable rates starting from ₹50-100/sq cm for display ads and ₹20-50/line for classifieds. Kerala's Mathrubhumi district editions start from ₹80/sq cm. These district papers offer hyperlocal targeting at 60-80% less than metro edition rates.
Can I advertise in multiple South Indian languages simultaneously?
Yes. Through agencies like Shubindia Ad Works, you can run simultaneous campaigns across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada papers. Common multi-language packages include: The Hindu + Daily Thanthi (English + Tamil), Eenadu + Deccan Chronicle (Telugu + English), and Vijay Karnataka + Deccan Herald (Kannada + English) at combined discounts of 15-25%.
For latest newspaper advertising rates, contact our specialized Newspaper Advertising Desk: Call +919850219850 or WhatsApp our Newspaper Desk.
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