Chennai has many print, television and radio networks that dominate its mass media market.
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Newspaper publishing started in Chennai with the launch of a weekly, The Madras Courier, in 1785.[1] It was followed by the weeklies The Madras Gazzette and The Government Gazzette in 1795. The Spectator, founded in 1836, was the first English newspaper in Chennai to be owned by an Indian and became the city's first daily newspaper in 1853.[2] The first Tamil newspaper, Swadesamitran, was launched in 1899.[1]
Chennai has six major print media groups that publish about eight major newspapers and magazines. The major English dailies are The Times of India, The Hindu, The New Indian Express and The Deccan Chronicle evening dailies, The Trinity Mirror and The News Today. As of 2004, The Hindu was the city's most read English newspaper, with a daily circulation of 267,349 copies.[3] The major business dailies published from the city are The Economic Times, The Hindu Business Line, Business Standard, and The Financial Express. The major Tamil dailies include the Dina Thanthi, Dinakaran, Dina Mani, Dina Malar, Tamizh Ossai, Tamil Murasu,[theekkathir] Makkal Kural and Malai Malar. Neighbourhood newspapers such as The Annanagar Times and The Adyar Times cater to particular localities. Magazines published from Chennai include Ananda Vikatan, Kumudam, Kalki, Kungumam, Swathi (Telugu magazine), Frontline and Sportstarand thaimman.[4]
Doordarshan runs three terrestrial television channels DD CHENNAI (DD-1), DD NEWS (DD-2) & DD Podhigai and one satellite television channel, Podhigai TV, from its Chennai centre, which was set up in 1974. Private Tamil satellite television networks like Sun TV, Raj TV, Star Vijay, Jaya TV, Makkal TV and Kalaignar TV thamizhan TV broadcast out of Chennai. The Sun Network, a Rs. 4,395 crore public firm, is based in the city and is the country's second-largest broadcasting company, in terms of viewership share.[5][6] Some of its TV shows have generated the highest television rating points in the country. In addition to owning 19 TV channels in all major South Indian languages, the group owns FM radio stations in over eleven cities and some Tamil magazines and newspapers.[6][7][8] SCV is the major cable TV service providers. Direct-to-home (DTH) is available via DD Direct Plus, Dish TV, Tata Sky, Sun Direct DTH, BIG TV, Airtel Digital TV and Videocon d2h. Chennai is the first city in India to have implemented the Conditional Access System for cable television.[9]
Radio broadcasting started from the radio station at the Rippon Buildings complex, founded in 1930 and was then shifted to All India Radio in 1938.[1] The city has two AM and ten FM radio stations, operated by Anna University, All India Radio and private broadcasters. The FM radio stations
| No. | Radio Station name | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | All India Radio Chennai (AIR Chennai) Akashvani Chennai 720 kHz | 783 kHz, 1017 kHz, 4920 kHz, 7160 kHz 101.4 MHz, 102.3 MHz |
| 2. | Anna FM (Anna University, Chennai) 720 kHz | 90.4 MHz |
| 3. | Loyola FM (Loyola College, Chennai) 720 kHz | 90.8 MHz |
| 4. | Radio City 720 kHz | 91.1 MHz |
| 5. | M.O.P. FM (Mop Vaishnav College, Chennai) 720 kHz | 91.2 MHz |
| 6. | Aahaa FM | 91.9 MHz |
| 7. | Big 92.7 FM (Big 92.7, Chennai) 720 kHz | 92.7 MHz |
| 8. | Suryan FM (Suryan FM, SunTV Network) 720 kHz | 93.5 MHz |
| 9. | Radio One FM | 94.3 MHz |
| 10. | Radio Mirchi | 98.3 MHz |
| 11. | Rainbow FM | 101.4 MHz |
| 12. | Gold FM | 102.3 MHz |
| 13. | Gyan Vani FM | 104.2 MHz |
| 14. | Chennai Live 104.8 FM, Muthoot Group | 104.8 MHz |
| 15. | Hello FM, Malar Publications | 106.4 MHz |
The Tamil Film Industry, based in Kodambakkam area of Chennai is the second most popular branch of Indian cinema.[10][11] The word Kollywood is a portmanteau of Kodambakkam and Hollywood. The AVM Studios located in this area is the oldest surviving studio in India.[12]