Chennai, the cultural capital of South India and Tamil Nadu’s bustling metropolis, hosts one of India’s most dynamic and competitive newspaper markets. As a city deeply rooted in Tamil language, literature, and tradition while embracing global business and technology, Chennai’s newspaper landscape reflects this unique blend. Whether you’re a professional seeking reliable news sources, a resident exploring local publications, or an advertiser planning a print media strategy, understanding Chennai’s top newspapers is essential.
This comprehensive guide explores the top 10 newspapers in Chennai, covering circulation figures, readership demographics, content strengths, and advertising opportunities to help you make informed choices.
Understanding Chennai’s Newspaper Market Dynamics
Chennai’s newspaper market stands apart due to several distinctive factors. With a population exceeding 10 million and a literacy rate above 90%, the city represents one of India’s most educated and news-conscious markets. The city’s strong Tamil linguistic identity, combined with a significant English-reading professional class, creates robust demand for both Tamil and English publications.
Print media in Chennai commands exceptional loyalty and trust, with newspapers deeply integrated into daily routines across households, businesses, and institutions. This makes Chennai’s newspaper market both valuable for advertisers and influential in shaping public opinion.
Leading Tamil Newspapers in Chennai
1. Dinakaran – Most Circulated Tamil Daily
Dinakaran dominates Chennai’s Tamil newspaper market with the highest circulation and widest reach across all demographic segments. Published by Sun Network, Dinakaran has established itself as the preferred morning daily for Tamil-reading households.
Circulation & Readership: Over 6 lakh daily copies in Chennai alone, reaching approximately 20-25 lakh readers across Tamil Nadu
Key Strengths:
- Extensive local and state news coverage
- Strong entertainment and cinema sections reflecting Tamil film industry connections
- Comprehensive sports coverage
- Multiple editions covering different Chennai zones
- Competitive pricing and wide distribution network
Advertising Value: Maximum reach for mass-market campaigns; ideal for FMCG brands, cinema promotions, political advertising, retail businesses, and advertisers targeting Tamil-speaking consumers across economic segments.
2. Dinamalar – Trusted Tamil Daily Newspaper
Dinamalar combines journalistic credibility with strong circulation, making it a close competitor to Dinakaran and a preferred choice for serious Tamil readers seeking quality content.
Circulation & Readership: Approximately 5.5 lakh copies daily with highly engaged readership
Key Strengths:
- Balanced and credible news reporting
- Strong editorial and opinion sections
- Excellent coverage of education and employment news
- Popular Sunday magazine with lifestyle content
- Active digital presence with Dinamalar website and app
Advertising Value: High-quality readership with strong brand association; suitable for educational institutions, healthcare providers, real estate developers, and brands seeking credibility among discerning Tamil consumers.
3. Dinakathir (Daily Thanthi) – Pioneer Tamil Newspaper
Daily Thanthi, one of Tamil Nadu’s oldest newspapers, maintains strong circulation and reader loyalty through consistent quality and extensive distribution across the state.
Circulation & Readership: Around 5 lakh daily copies in Chennai with strong penetration in suburban areas
Key Strengths:
- Legacy brand with 75+ years of publishing history
- Comprehensive coverage of Tamil Nadu politics and governance
- Strong district and regional news coverage
- Popular supplements covering health, education, and lifestyle
- Multi-edition strategy covering Chennai metro thoroughly
Advertising Value: Established credibility appeals to traditional advertisers; excellent for government notifications, public sector announcements, legal notices, and brands targeting middle-aged and senior Tamil readers.
4. Maalai Malar – Leading Tamil Evening Daily
Maalai Malar holds unique positioning as Chennai’s most popular evening newspaper, offering updated news for readers who prefer afternoon/evening consumption.
Circulation & Readership: Approximately 3 lakh copies with distinct evening readership pattern
Key Strengths:
- Updated news unavailable in morning editions
- Strong sports coverage with afternoon match updates
- Entertainment news and film industry gossip
- Popular among working professionals who read during commute
- Competitive subscription rates
Advertising Value: Unique timing advantage for time-sensitive advertisements; ideal for evening entertainment promotions, restaurant advertising, retail offers, and brands targeting working professionals during their return commute.
5. Tamil Murasu – Community-Focused Tamil Daily
Published by the SPH Media group, Tamil Murasu serves Chennai’s Tamil readers with focus on community news and people-centric journalism.
Circulation & Readership: Around 1.5 lakh copies with loyal niche readership
Key Strengths:
- Strong focus on community events and social issues
- Excellent coverage of cultural activities and traditions
- Quality journalism with balanced perspectives
- Good coverage of Singapore and international Tamil diaspora news
- Affordable advertising rates
Advertising Value: Cost-effective option for community-focused campaigns; suitable for local businesses, cultural events, social organizations, and advertisers targeting traditional Tamil households.
Top English Newspapers in Chennai
6. The Hindu – Most Influential English Daily
Founded in Chennai in 1878, The Hindu enjoys unmatched prestige and influence among the city’s English-reading elite, professionals, policymakers, and intellectuals.
Circulation & Readership: Over 3.5 lakh daily copies in Chennai, reaching highly educated and affluent readers
Key Strengths:
- Authoritative political and economic analysis
- Exceptional national and international news coverage
- Metro Plus Chennai supplement with excellent arts and culture content
- Strong opinion pages featuring leading thinkers
- Comprehensive sports section
- Trusted classifieds section for employment and real estate
Advertising Value: Premium positioning justified by reader quality; preferred by government advertisers, corporate brands, premium real estate developers, luxury automobiles, higher education institutions, and B2B companies targeting decision-makers.
7. The New Indian Express – Popular English Daily
The New Indian Express combines comprehensive news coverage with reader-friendly presentation, making it Chennai’s second-largest English newspaper by circulation.
Circulation & Readership: Approximately 2 lakh daily copies with broad demographic appeal
Key Strengths:
- Extensive Chennai city news coverage
- Good mix of national and international news
- Popular supplements including Edex (education), Indulge (lifestyle)
- Strong digital presence complementing print edition
- Competitive advertising rates compared to The Hindu
Advertising Value: Good reach at moderate rates; suitable for educational institutions, healthcare providers, real estate projects, automotive brands, and advertisers seeking balance between reach and cost.
8. Deccan Chronicle – Regional English Newspaper
Deccan Chronicle serves Chennai with strong focus on South Indian news, sports, and entertainment, appealing to readers seeking regional perspective.
Circulation & Readership: Around 80,000 copies with dedicated reader base
Key Strengths:
- Excellent cricket and sports coverage
- Strong South Indian cinema and entertainment sections
- Good coverage of regional politics and issues
- Sunday Chronicle magazine popular among weekend readers
- Focus on hyperlocal Chennai news
Advertising Value: Niche but engaged readership; good for sports-related advertising, entertainment promotions, local businesses, and brands targeting sports enthusiasts and youth demographics.
Business and Financial Newspapers
9. The Economic Times – Premier Business Daily
India’s largest business newspaper, The Economic Times commands Chennai’s business community attention with comprehensive coverage of markets, economy, and corporate news.
Circulation & Readership: Over 1.2 lakh copies in Chennai reaching high-income professionals and business owners
Key Strengths:
- Comprehensive business and financial markets coverage
- Strong coverage of automotive sector (relevant for Chennai’s auto hub status)
- Technology and startup ecosystem reporting
- Personal finance and investment guidance
- Executive jobs and career sections
- Industry-specific supplements
Advertising Value: Premium pricing for affluent readership; perfect for B2B companies, financial services, luxury brands, premium real estate, automotive sector, recruitment for senior positions, and corporate communications.
10. Business Line – Quality Financial Journalism
Published by The Hindu Group, Business Line offers analytical depth and quality business reporting for Chennai’s serious business readers and investors.
Circulation & Readership: Approximately 50,000 copies with highly qualified professional readership
Key Strengths:
- In-depth market analysis and economic commentary
- Strong coverage of manufacturing sector
- Commodities and agricultural markets reporting
- Portfolio and smart investor sections
- Corporate governance and policy analysis
Advertising Value: Niche but influential readership; ideal for institutional advertising, financial products, B2B services, corporate announcements, and brands targeting business decision-makers.
Choosing the Right Newspaper in Chennai
For Tamil Readers: Language Newspaper Selection
Mass Appeal: Dinakaran and Dinamalar offer widest reach across all economic and social segments, making them ideal for general news consumption and mass-market advertising.
Quality Journalism: Dinakathir (Daily Thanthi) provides balanced reporting with legacy credibility, appealing to educated Tamil readers seeking substantive content.
Evening Updates: Maalai Malar serves readers who prefer afternoon news consumption with updated information unavailable in morning editions.
Community Focus: Tamil Murasu caters to readers interested in community news, cultural preservation, and people-centric journalism.
For English Readers: Publication Preferences
- Comprehensive Coverage: The Hindu remains the gold standard for readers seeking authoritative journalism, in-depth analysis, and quality editorial content.
- Balanced Approach: The New Indian Express provides good news coverage with reader-friendly presentation at competitive subscription rates.
- Regional Perspective: Deccan Chronicle appeals to readers wanting South Indian focus and extensive sports coverage.
- Business Intelligence: The Economic Times and Business Line serve professionals needing business news, market updates, and financial analysis.
For Advertisers: Strategic Newspaper Selection
- Target Audience Language: Tamil newspapers reach 70% of Chennai’s population, while English newspapers target the affluent, educated 20-25% segment. Bilingual campaigns maximize coverage.
- Demographic Targeting: The Hindu and Economic Times readers have household incomes above ₹12 lakh annually, while mass-circulation Tamil dailies cover all income segments.
- Geographic Coverage: All major newspapers offer zonal editions allowing advertisers to target specific Chennai localities cost-effectively.
- Campaign Objectives: Brand building suits The Hindu or Dinamalar, tactical promotions work in Dinakaran or New Indian Express, while recruitment advertising thrives in The Hindu and Economic Times.
Newspaper Readership Demographics in Chennai
Understanding Chennai’s newspaper readership patterns helps optimize advertising strategies:
Age Distribution: Tamil dailies attract readers across all age groups (25-70+), while English newspapers skew younger among professionals (28-55). Business newspapers primarily reach 35-60 age group.
Education Levels: English newspapers predominantly reach graduates and postgraduates, while Tamil newspapers serve all education levels from high school onwards.
Professional Profiles: IT professionals prefer The Hindu and Economic Times, business owners read Economic Times and Dinamalar, manufacturing professionals follow Business Line, while general employees consume mainstream Tamil and English dailies.
Income Segments:
- Premium segment (₹15 lakh+ household income): The Hindu, Economic Times, Business Line
- Upper middle class (₹8-15 lakh): New Indian Express, Dinamalar, Dinakathir
- Middle class (₹4-8 lakh): Dinakaran, Maalai Malar, Deccan Chronicle
- Mass market (all income levels): Dinakaran, Dinamalar
