PALINI R. SWAMY writes from Bangalore: Close on the heels of its "success" in Bombay with Mumbai Mirror, there are rumours that Bennett, Coleman & Co is planning to launch Bangalore Mirror to counter the threat posed by the launch of India's No. 1 afternoon tabloid, Mid-Day, in Bangalore next month.
Mumbai Mirror was launched as a stand-alone "compact" paper last year to take on the tabloid Mid-Day, shortly before the launch of DNA and Hindustan Times in the metropolis. But the tepid reaction to the paper—for which bossman Samir Jain himself went out to journalism schools to recruit potential journalists—saw ToI do a quick about-turn.
Instead of shutting it down, Mumbai Mirror was issued free with the Times of India. The National Readership Survey says ToI has tasted some success with the strategy, as price-conscious readers are getting two papers—one a "serious" broadsheet, the other a peppy compact—for the price of one, preventing them from shifting to DNA or HT.
With the Bangalore market hotting up, Mid-Day is slated for launch next month and Deccan Chronicle has already earmarked Rs 25 crore for a Bangalore edition, ToI is reportedly planning to launch Bangalore Mirror, to keep local retailers and classified advertisers (the staple of tabloids worldwide) from turning towards Mid-Day.
Whether Bangalore Mirror will be issued free with ToI is uncertain at the moment, indeed unlikely since the broadsheet ToI in Bangalore is a tabloid in all but size, but its possible entry makes a messy media market even messier.
Great ##$%^^ thats all we need another tabloid from the TOI group to add to their regular tabloids “The Times of India” and “The Economic Times”
How about making matters even worse… How about Vijay mallya starting Bangalore’s own English news channel???
Theres a thought… Kingfisher News :-)
I have an objection to a point made, It is stated that one is a serious paper and the readers are getting with it a peppy comment.I think both TOI and its supplements are religiously peppy everything but news.
Kingfisher news sounds great! I mean we could have the late night news done by Mallya’s favourite Yana Gupta… he he
another supplement to add to the news of Bollywood gossip , Fashion designers and high soceity ‘PARTY’s’ ,Rock/Jazz shows.
there is nothing on local news ,culture (esp Kannada..I dont care others) .
Mr. Mallya can call it UB news !!!!!!!!!!!! If it is Kingfisher, watch Kingfisher, fly Kingfisher and drink Kingfisher…………..will be the slogan……….!!!!!!!
When did the TOI”-let” become a “serious” newspaper? It can’t even qualify to be an English paper anymore with so many Hindi words in the headlines and articles. I even saw a headline once that was completely in Hindi!
Today (June 8th, 2007) TOI-let announced that they are launching the Bangalore Mirror, which the editor (of BM) claims that tabloids are “rare” in Bangalore his paper plans to target employees “of top IT companies” and that the BM will have no “gyaan or fluff”! Amazing! I wonder if they are equating the two words? And are they implying that employees of top IT companies have IQ 80 and prefer a scandal-sheet to a real newspaper?
Now Bangalore has something to flush down the TOI-let!
Dear respected brothers and sisters of Bharat,
Let me make one thing clear. I’ve been working in the field of journalism for nearly a decade (I’m not that old, just reached 29 a couple of days ago, on World Environment day). I did a brief stint with the ‘Times of India’ when I was in Bangalore. They used to pay well, and quite promptly. But after getting my stories published in my favourite newspaper ‘Deccan Herald’ I realised I was a big fool to get trapped in Bennett, Coleman’s commercial policies.
One thing to remember: there’s nothing ‘new’ in a newspaper. I understand you need to keep abreast with current affairs, social and cultural events and the latest cricket score. You need to look into specific sections of the media, and not get lured by ‘attractive’ schemes that the big media giants often play. Knowledge has never been associated to a rat race!
Personally, I visit the BBC text-only version website for my daily ‘news’ refreshment and also the Deccan Herald online to keep me updated with happenings in my city.
And bear in mind, whatever news or information you need, will come to you at the right time in right measure.
Have a day, filled with wisdom, minus all that endless information.
Vinay J
Manchester, UK
E: vinay_j11@yahoo.com
Hi,
I wish Bangalore Mirror carried a daily, or a weekly tutorial on Kannada – atleast the basics, for example, conversing with auto drivers, government office staff, bus conductors, which will be of immense benefit to new Bangaloreans like me. I never get a chance to learn Kannada thanks to almost everyone I know knowing English and Hindi.
Soumitri ..Lets Start now .
I took the auto sometime back and the driver was laughing by himself. Asked him ‘yaake yen aiythu’, he said,’saar customerige yellige hogbeku antha keludhre ‘Kannad baralla’ andhru. Ashtu kannada kaliyakaaguththe andhre Jayanagarge hogabeku anodhu kalibahudhalla.’
While I am happy with Soumitri’s question (and he is right, the government has to set up Kannada learning centres where ANYONE can go and learn along the lines of Max Mueller Bhavan etc.), the thing is non-karnataka people are trying to learn kannada because of auto drivers, government staff (and I am sure that means lower level staff), bus conductors etc. So next time you start bad mouthing local auto drivers (or KRV :)), think about it – who is really helping in the spread of kannada?
Oops – sorry for deviating completely from the post. Down down TOI. Or Mirror. Or Midday. Or whoever :)
Hi,
Your Mid Day paper is very interesting,it would be good if u start dating services
Bangalore Mirror is Turning out to be a Good Newspaper and the TOI GROUP IS DISTRIBUTING IT FOR FREE
Bangalore Mirror is affordable .
I am a student journalist. Please advise all the tabloids available in bangalore.
Thanks & Regards / Em De Em
Bangalore mirror is started only to provoke anti-kannada culture in Bangalore. Day is not far when it will be kicked out..