Kannada newspapers are read across a large and varied state, from Bengaluru's tech economy to the coast, the Malnad and north Karnataka. The leading dailies publish many district editions, and several are owned by national media groups, so a Kannada plan often reaches both city and small-town readers.
This list ranks the leading Kannada-language dailies. The first five follow the most recent full Indian Readership Survey (IRS 2019 Q4, MRUC), which orders Karnataka's dailies by average issue readership. The other five have no comparable audited figure, so we have ordered them by heritage and footprint. For each paper you will find the basics, what it is known for, and how it fits a PR plan. If you are planning coverage, our Kannada press release distribution page explains how we write for and distribute to these desks.
Key takeaways
- Vijay Karnataka, Vijayavani and Prajavani are close rivals, each with total readership above 7.5 million (IRS 2019 Q4, Karnataka).
- Udayavani leads on the coast from Manipal; Samyukta Karnataka has deep roots in north Karnataka.
- Bengaluru matters, but district editions in Mysuru, Hubballi, Mangaluru and Kalaburagi carry stories the capital desks skip.
- A release written in Kannada by a native writer reads as news; a last-minute translation reads as an advertisement.
The list at a glance
| Newspaper | Founded | Publisher | Based in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Vijay Karnataka | 1999 | Bennett, Coleman & Co (Times Group) | Bengaluru |
| 2. Vijayavani | 2012 | VRL Media | Karnataka |
| 3. Prajavani | 1948 | The Printers (Mysore) | Bengaluru |
| 4. Udayavani | 1970 | Manipal Media Network | Manipal |
| 5. Kannada Prabha | 1967 | Asianet News Network (majority since 2011) | Bengaluru |
| 6. Samyukta Karnataka | 1929 | Loka Shikshana Trust | Hubballi |
| 7. Vishwavani | 2016 (statewide relaunch) | Not verified | Bengaluru |
| 8. Varthabharathi | 2003 | Not verified | Mangaluru |
| 9. Hosa Digantha | 1979 | Not verified | Mangaluru |
| 10. Sanjevani | 1982 | Not verified | Bengaluru |
1. Vijay Karnatakaವಿಜಯ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ
- Founded
- 1999
- Publisher
- Bennett, Coleman & Co (Times Group)
- Based in
- Bengaluru
- Website
- vijaykarnataka.com
Vijay Karnataka was founded by Vijay Sankeshwar through Vijayanand Printers and grew quickly into Karnataka's largest daily. The Times Group acquired it in 2006, and it now publishes editions across the state.
In IRS 2019 Q4 it led Karnataka with an average issue readership of about 2.6 million and total readership of about 8.2 million.
2. Vijayavaniವಿಜಯವಾಣಿ
- Founded
- 1 April 2012
- Publisher
- VRL Media
- Based in
- Karnataka
- Website
- Not listed
Vijayavani was launched in 2012 by VRL Media, whose managing director is Anand Sankeshwar, and reached nine editions within three months. It rose to second place in Karnataka within a few years of launch.
IRS 2019 Q4 placed it second, with an average issue readership of about 2.4 million and total readership of about 7.7 million.
3. Prajavaniಪ್ರಜಾವಾಣಿ
- Founded
- 1948
- Publisher
- The Printers (Mysore)
- Based in
- Bengaluru
- Website
- prajavani.net
Prajavani was founded in Bengaluru in 1948 by K. N. Guruswamy and is published by The Printers (Mysore), which also publishes the Deccan Herald. It is regarded as Karnataka's paper of record, known for its editorial standards and literary pages.
In IRS 2019 Q4 its average issue readership was about 2.1 million, third in Karnataka, with total readership of about 7.6 million.
4. Udayavaniಉದಯವಾಣಿ
- Founded
- 1970
- Publisher
- Manipal Media Network
- Based in
- Manipal
- Website
- udayavani.com
Udayavani was founded in 1970 by T. Mohandas Pai and T. Satish U. Pai and is published by Manipal Media Network. It is the leading paper of coastal Karnataka and also publishes editions in Bengaluru and other cities.
IRS 2019 Q4 recorded an average issue readership of about 1 million and total readership of about 3.6 million, fourth in Karnataka.
5. Kannada Prabhaಕನ್ನಡ ಪ್ರಭ
- Founded
- 4 November 1967
- Publisher
- Asianet News Network (majority since 2011)
- Based in
- Bengaluru
- Website
- kannadaprabha.com
Kannada Prabha was founded in 1967 by Ramnath Goenka of the Indian Express group. Asianet News Network took a majority stake in 2011, linking it with the Suvarna News channel.
In IRS 2019 Q4 its average issue readership was about 0.56 million and total readership about 2.4 million, fifth in Karnataka.
6. Samyukta Karnatakaಸಂಯುಕ್ತ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ
- Founded
- 1929
- Publisher
- Loka Shikshana Trust
- Based in
- Hubballi
- Website
- samyuktakarnataka.in
Samyukta Karnataka began in Belagavi in 1929 and is published by the Loka Shikshana Trust, set up by the freedom fighter R. R. Diwakar. Now based in Hubballi, it is one of the oldest Kannada dailies and a heritage paper of north Karnataka.
No IRS figure is available for Samyukta Karnataka.
7. Vishwavaniವಿಶ್ವವಾಣಿ
- Founded
- 2016 (statewide relaunch)
- Publisher
- Not verified
- Based in
- Bengaluru
- Website
- Not listed
Vishwavani was relaunched as a statewide daily in 2016 under the editor Vishweshwar Bhat, a former editor of Vijay Karnataka and Kannada Prabha. It is known for opinion-led front pages and columns.
No IRS figure is available for Vishwavani.
8. Varthabharathiವಾರ್ತಾಭಾರತಿ
- Founded
- 29 August 2003
- Publisher
- Not verified
- Based in
- Mangaluru
- Website
- varthabharati.in
Varthabharathi was launched in 2003 under the editor Abdussalam Puthige and is published from Mangaluru, with a Bengaluru edition. It describes itself as a paper for the people, with a focus on social issues and community news.
No IRS figure is available for Varthabharathi.
9. Hosa Diganthaಹೊಸ ದಿಗಂತ
- Founded
- 1979
- Publisher
- Not verified
- Based in
- Mangaluru
- Website
- Not listed
Hosa Digantha began in Mangaluru in 1979 and publishes editions in other parts of Karnataka. It covers state news alongside culture and community affairs.
No IRS figure is available for Hosa Digantha.
10. Sanjevaniಸಂಜೆವಾಣಿ
- Founded
- 10 December 1982
- Publisher
- Not verified
- Based in
- Bengaluru
- Website
- sanjevani.com
Sanjevani is a Bengaluru evening daily, launched in 1982. It carries the day's city news to readers the same evening.
No IRS figure is available for Sanjevani.
How we ranked these newspapers
The Indian Readership Survey is the industry standard for readership. The last full round, IRS 2019 Q4 (published by MRUC in 2020), lists five Kannada dailies for Karnataka, ordered by average issue readership: Vijay Karnataka, Vijayavani, Prajavani, Udayavani and Kannada Prabha. Those are our first five.
Samyukta Karnataka, Vishwavani, Varthabharathi, Hosa Digantha and Sanjevani have no comparable audited figure, so we have ordered them by heritage and footprint. Other papers worth knowing include Praja Pragathi in Tumakuru and the Mysuru-based Sudharma, India's only Sanskrit daily. We have not used circulation figures, because published numbers are not consistently audited.
How to get coverage in Kannada newspapers
Three things decide whether a Kannada desk runs a story. The first is local relevance: a district, an industry or a community in Karnataka that benefits. The second is language: a release written in Kannada by a native writer reads as news, while a translation reads as an advertisement. The third is geography: Bengaluru, Old Mysore, the coast and north Karnataka each have papers and editions their readers turn to first.
For fixed-date announcements, Kannada press release distribution and clearly labelled sponsored formats are dependable. Editorial coverage cannot be bought or guaranteed; we pursue it only. For campaigns across several states, see our regional PR distribution options.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the most-read Kannada newspaper?
Vijay Karnataka. In IRS 2019 Q4 it recorded an average issue readership of about 2.6 million in Karnataka, ahead of Vijayavani at about 2.4 million and Prajavani at about 2.1 million.
Which is the oldest Kannada newspaper on this list?
Samyukta Karnataka, which began in Belagavi in 1929. Prajavani dates from 1948.
Which Kannada newspaper is best for coastal Karnataka?
Udayavani, published from Manipal, is the leading paper on the coast. Varthabharathi and Hosa Digantha are also published from Mangaluru.
Can I get my press release published in Prajavani?
Editorial coverage is decided by the paper's journalists and cannot be guaranteed. Press release distribution and sponsored formats are available for fixed-date announcements. For editorial coverage, media relations builds the story and takes it to the right desk.
Should a press release for Kannada media be written in Kannada?
Yes. A release written in Kannada by a native writer is far more likely to be used than an English release or a machine translation.
