What Happened to Eenadu?

Eenadu was founded by Ramoji Rao on August 10, 1974, in Visakhapatnam, with the vision of providing reliable news in the Telugu language. It began with a modest print order of 4,000 copies but rapidly expanded its reach, successfully surpassing established rivals like Andhra Prabha by 1978. A pivotal innovation in its growth was the introduction of "district dailies" in 1989, which offered hyper-local news coverage, significantly boosting both readership and advertising revenue. This strategic focus on local content, coupled with aggressive marketing and an extensive distribution network that reached even remote villages, solidified its position as the leading Telugu daily.

The success of Eenadu can be largely attributed to Ramoji Rao's entrepreneurial foresight and deep understanding of the regional market. His emphasis on local content resonated profoundly with readers, while the establishment of a vast network of stringers and distribution agents ensured widespread accessibility. Eenadu was also an early adopter of advanced printing technologies, such as offset printing and photocomposing software, which facilitated the launch of multiple editions in smaller towns. The newspaper's strong editorial stance and unwavering commitment to quality journalism also played a crucial role in earning the trust and respect of its readership. Furthermore, Eenadu exerted significant political influence, notably supporting N.T. Rama Rao and the Telugu Desam Party during the 1980s and 1990s.

Key turning points in Eenadu's history include its founding in Visakhapatnam in 1974, its surpassing of Andhra Prabha in circulation by 1978, and the groundbreaking introduction of "district dailies" in 1989. The mid-1990s saw significant diversification, with the launch of the ETV Network in 1995, marking its entry into television broadcasting, and the establishment of Ramoji Film City in 1996, which gained recognition as the world's largest film studio complex. In 2012, Network18 Group, backed by Reliance Industries, acquired a significant stake in several ETV regional news and entertainment channels, though the Ramoji Group retained ownership of its Telugu-language channels and the Eenadu newspaper. Ramoji Rao stepped down as Chief Editor in 2020.

The profound consequence of Eenadu's success was the formation of the expansive Ramoji Group, a conglomerate with diverse business interests including film production (Ushakiran Movies), financial services (Margadarsi Chit Funds), food products (Priya Foods), and television (ETV Network). It fundamentally transformed Telugu journalism, establishing new benchmarks for local news coverage and distribution. However, like much of the print media industry globally, Eenadu has faced challenges, including a notable decline in circulation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of May 4, 2026, Eenadu continues to be the largest circulated Telugu daily newspaper, with its ePaper actively publishing news across its Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Hyderabad editions. The founder, Ramoji Rao, passed away on June 8, 2024, at the age of 87, marking the end of an era for the media empire he built. Recent Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) reports for January-June 2025 indicate that while Eenadu maintains its overall lead with a circulation of 1,182,236 (across AP, Telangana, and metro editions), its primary rival, Sakshi, has narrowed the circulation gap, reporting 1,009,453 copies. In some specific districts of Andhra Pradesh, Sakshi has even surpassed Eenadu in circulation. The Ramoji Group continues its operations across its various sectors.