Who’s winning India’s digital news race? Comscore India annual report reveals

New Delhi: The Indian digital news landscape witnessed a seismic shift in 2024, with major players such as ABP Network, Aaj Tak, Jagran New Media, HT Media Group, Times Network, The Times of India, Network18, Zee Media, and India Today Group solidifying their dominance in an increasingly competitive market. 

According to Comscore’s “India Year in Review 2024” report, these media giants achieved remarkable digital reach, reflecting the evolving consumption patterns of Indian audiences.

Leaderboard

Among the top players in the news genre, Times Internet was leading with a reach of 264.7 million users across desktop and mobile in December 2024, followed by Network18 at No. 2 with a total reach of 213.7 million.

Zee Digital stood at No. 3 with a total reach of 157.3 million, followed by HT Digital Streams (125.3 million) and Dailyhunt (123.9 million).

Social Media Toppers:

Aaj Tak was a leading media brand on social media with a reach of 84.4 million, about twice more than the nearest player.

ABP News stood second with a total reach of 38.3 million.

News24 was ahead of many large news networks with a total social media reach of 27.1 million. 

With a reach of 25.1 million social media users, Zee News stood at No. 4 in December 2024.

The fifth spot was held by a regional language publisher, Asianet News, with a total reach of 16.3 million.

When it comes to incremental social audiences, ABP Network emerged as a frontrunner, boasting a total digital audience of 136.2 million in January 2025, with a staggering 86% incremental reach from social media platforms. 

Jagran New Media, the digital arm of the Dainik Jagran Group, recorded 82.1 million unique visitors, with a 20% incremental audience from social media.

HT Media Group, the publisher of Hindustan Times and Livemint, reported a total digital audience of 134.3 million, with mobile consumption being a key driver of engagement.

The Times Network, which includes major properties like Times Now and ET Now, saw a surge in digital news consumption in 2024. With a focus on video-based content, real-time updates, and AI-driven recommendations, it has remained a top player in the digital news landscape.

News consumption trend

The India Year in Review 2024 report highlighted that news consumption on digital platforms is shifting towards mobile and app-based experiences. 

More than 70% of Indian news audiences accessed content through mobile devices, indicating a clear preference for on-the-go news updates.

Regional news consumption saw a sharp rise, with vernacular platforms experiencing a surge in unique visitors. This shift underscores the growing demand for news in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and other regional languages, enabling publishers to expand their reach beyond metro cities.

Social Media: A critical driver for news engagement

The report underscores how social media has redefined news distribution in India. Publishers such as ABP, Aaj Tak, and Jagran benefited from the power of platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) to expand their reach beyond traditional website visitors.

The role of short-form video content and live streaming emerged as pivotal trends, with Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts driving record engagement.

Live news updates and breaking news coverage on YouTube Live, Facebook Live, and Twitter Spaces also saw an increase in viewership. 

AI-driven content curation and algorithm-based recommendations played a significant role in personalising news feeds, keeping users engaged for longer periods.

News publishers’ monetisation strategies

As the digital news landscape evolves, Indian publishers are exploring new monetisation avenues, including:

Subscription models: Premium content access through paywalls and memberships.

Branded content and influencer partnerships: Collaborations with content creators to expand audience reach.

Programmatic advertising: AI-driven ad placements optimizing revenue streams.

With declining revenues from traditional advertising, these strategies have become essential for sustaining digital journalism in the long run.

The future of digital news in India

With 2025 expected to bring more technological advancements, AI-driven news distribution, and immersive storytelling, the competition in the digital news ecosystem will only intensify. 

As audiences increasingly shift towards mobile-first and personalised content consumption, India’s leading news publishers are expected to double down on innovation to maintain their market leadership.

Furthermore, the impact of elections, global events, and artificial intelligence on digital journalism will shape the trajectory of the news industry. The rise of AI-generated news summaries and automated news anchors is also expected to revolutionise how content is delivered to audiences.

Click here to view the full report.