Oneindia

Oneindia is a leading Indian multilingual digital media platform and online news portal that provides comprehensive coverage of breaking news, current affairs, politics, sports, business, entertainment, and lifestyle topics in English and ten regional Indian languages.^[1][2] Founded in 2006 by BG Mahesh and headquartered in Bengaluru, it operates under One.in Digitech Media Pvt. Ltd., delivering content through text, video, images, and podcasts to a vast audience across India and globally.^[1][3][4] The platform, originally launched as a vernacular-focused news site, has pioneered accessible journalism in regional languages, earning recognition as India's number one vernacular language portal for its unbiased reporting and real-time updates.^[1] By 2025, Oneindia ranks among the top three digital publishers in India according to Comscore, with over 99 million unique monthly visitors as of September 2025, and has been noted for its rapid growth, placing second among Indian websites in global fastest-growing lists earlier that year.^[5][6] It also extends its reach through specialized sections like coupons and classifieds, partnering with entities such as the Global Savings Group to enhance user engagement.^[1][3] Oneindia's commitment to diverse, on-ground reporting has solidified its role in the digital media landscape, with a focus on empowering regional audiences while maintaining high standards of journalistic integrity.^[1][4]

History

Founding

Oneindia was established in January 2006 by B.G. Mahesh, operating under Greynium Information Technologies Pvt Ltd.^[7][8] The company was headquartered in Bengaluru, India, and began as a frugal operation leveraging open-source technologies for its content management system to support early development.^[7][8] The initial aim was to build a multi-lingual news platform that connected users through content in local Indian languages, starting with English to reach a broad audience and planning expansions into regional languages like Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu to serve non-English speaking internet users, particularly NRIs and those seeking Indic content.^[1][8] This vision addressed the underrepresentation of vernacular digital media at the time, when funding for such initiatives was limited and interest in Indic languages online was nascent.^[8] The launch occurred during a period of significant internet growth in India, with the online population expanding from around 33 million active users in early 2006 to 37 million by September, driven by increasing home access and broadband adoption.^[9][10] Oneindia focused on news aggregation from diverse sources alongside original reporting to provide timely updates on current events, sports, and lifestyle topics, catering to the emerging digital news consumption habits in the country.^[1][11]

Expansion and Milestones

Following its founding in 2006, Oneindia rapidly expanded its linguistic offerings to cater to India's diverse non-English speaking population. The platform initially focused on English and four South Indian languages—Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam—which had roots in its predecessor network but were integrated under the Oneindia banner. By 2007, it added Hindi as its fifth language portal, marking a significant step toward broader national reach.^[12] This expansion continued, incorporating Bengali and Gujarati in subsequent years, and by 2016, Oneindia supported six to eight languages in total, enabling localized news delivery across major Indian regions.^[1] In 2010, Greynium was acquired by Netcore Solutions, enabling further investment in platform development and multilingual expansion.^[13] Key milestones in the mid-2000s and 2010s highlighted Oneindia's adaptation to mobile and multimedia trends. In 2007, the platform launched WAP versions for its English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam portals, making content accessible on early mobile devices.^[14] This was followed by full mobile content rollout in 2010 across five languages, supporting over 1,000 GPRS-enabled handsets, and the official Android app in 2012, which provided breaking news and updates compatible with Android 2.2 and later versions.^[15][16] In the mid-2010s, Oneindia integrated video content and live updates, enhancing user engagement with real-time coverage of events in politics, sports, and entertainment; by 2020, video formats accounted for a growing share of interactions.^[2] The platform evolved from a basic news site into a comprehensive digital portal by 2020, incorporating dedicated sections on politics, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle to address varied user interests.^[1] This growth was underscored by metrics such as 150 million monthly unique users and 3 billion page views by October 2022.^[1] As of 2025, Oneindia has further enhanced digital tools for user engagement, including personalized news feeds tailored to individual preferences across its 11 languages—now encompassing Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, and others—while achieving over 200 million monthly unique users and ranking among the top 10 fastest-growing websites globally.^[17][18][19]

Company Structure

Ownership and Leadership

Oneindia is operated by Greynium Information Technologies Pvt Ltd, a private entity founded in 2006 as an internet applications development company focused on multilingual content platforms.^[20] Greynium remains privately held with no public listings or major divestitures reported as of 2025, though it has undergone significant ownership transitions. In 2010, NetCore Solutions Pvt Ltd acquired a majority stake in Greynium, integrating it into its portfolio of digital media and technology assets.^[21] This was followed by seed-stage funding, including an undisclosed minority investment from VerSe Innovation (parent of Dailyhunt) in 2016, which strengthened Greynium's position in vernacular content distribution.^[22] Greynium operates as part of the VerSe Innovation Group. As of 2023, it has a promoter holding of 90% and public holding of approximately 10%.^[23] BG Mahesh founded Greynium and served as its Managing Director, providing strategic direction for Oneindia's growth into a leading multilingual news platform until his departure in 2019 after 13 years.^[24] Current leadership is headed by Ravanan N, who has been Executive Director and CEO of Oneindia since at least 2024, overseeing content strategy and revenue operations with over 20 years of experience in media sales and digital publishing; he also holds an Executive Director role at Dailyhunt, emphasizing synergies in vernacular media ecosystems.^[25] The board includes key figures such as Virendra Kumar Gupta, CEO of VerSe Innovation, who joined in 2016 to guide expansion in local language markets, and independent directors like Sankranthi Nagaraju, contributing to governance and innovation oversight.^[20] This structure supports Greynium's vision of scaling multilingual digital services without public equity involvement.^[26]

Operations and Infrastructure

Oneindia is headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, with its primary office at 2, 1st Main Cross, 2nd Floor, 1st Block, Koramangala, Jakkasandra Extension, Bengaluru - 560 034.^[27] Additional facilities, such as those in Jayanagar, support operations for regional language teams and specialized content production.^[28] The company employs approximately 300 full-time journalists, editors, and media professionals, forming a core team dedicated to multilingual news delivery.^[1] This staff composition emphasizes editorial expertise across English and eight Indian languages, with key roles including language-specific editors like Pankaj Mishra for English and Madhuri Adnal as Deputy Editor, overseen by Editor-in-Chief AK Khan.^[29][30] A dedicated technical team, led by CTO Tony Thomas, handles development and innovation to support the platform's digital ecosystem.^[31] Oneindia's technical infrastructure relies on the AI-powered WISE publishing platform, which automates content creation, SEO optimization, and workflow management while integrating with existing content management systems (CMS) and AdTech tools.^[32] Designed for high-traffic delivery, the system powers web, mobile apps, and WAP access, handling substantial user loads through scalable servers and social media API integrations for real-time distribution and audience engagement.^[1] In terms of operational scale, Oneindia generates continuous news updates across its portals, enabling partnerships for content syndication with regional publishers via the WISE SaaS platform, which supports localization in up to 133 languages.^[33] Notable collaborations include those with leading regional media houses announced in 2025 and a long-term alliance with Global Savings Group for integrated services like coupons.oneindia.com since 2014.^[32][1] As a digital media publisher, Oneindia adheres to India's Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, including 2025 amendments on content moderation and synthetic media labeling.

Content and Services

Languages and Coverage Areas

Oneindia provides news content in English alongside eight Indian vernacular languages: Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Gujarati, and Odia, enabling access to localized information for diverse linguistic communities across India.^[1] This multilingual approach caters primarily to non-English speaking users, with dedicated portals for each language offering tailored content that reflects regional nuances and cultural contexts.^[1] The platform's coverage encompasses a broad spectrum of thematic areas, including national and international news with a strong emphasis on Indian politics and elections, business and economy, sports—particularly cricket as a national passion—and entertainment featuring Bollywood films alongside regional cinema highlights.^[34] Additional categories include lifestyle topics such as health, fashion, and relationships; travel and tourism; and technology/gadgets, ensuring comprehensive daily updates relevant to urban and rural audiences alike.^[35] Content is regionally focused, with South Indian states receiving specialized attention through Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, and Telugu sections that prioritize local events, while Hindi and other vernacular editions address pan-Indian and state-specific issues like those in West Bengal, Gujarat, and Odisha.^[1] Updates occur continuously throughout the day, delivering real-time breaking news alerts alongside in-depth analytical articles, with non-English sections emphasizing local relevance to foster greater engagement among regional users.^[1] This structure supports Oneindia's goal of bridging linguistic divides by providing timely, contextually appropriate information on core topics without delving into interactive user tools.^[34]

Key Features and Platforms

Oneindia's primary digital platform is its main website at oneindia.com, which serves as a centralized portal for news and information, featuring categorized sections for politics, sports, entertainment, business, and lifestyle with real-time updates throughout the day.^[1] The site employs a multilingual structure through dedicated subdomains for regional languages, such as hindi.oneindia.com for Hindi content, tamil.oneindia.com for Tamil, and similar portals for Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Gujarati, and Odia, enabling users to access localized news interfaces seamlessly.^[1] This subdomain approach supports navigation in users' preferred languages while maintaining a unified backend for content delivery.^[36] Complementing the website, Oneindia offers dedicated mobile applications for Android and iOS devices, initially introduced in the mid-2010s for vernacular language access and evolving into full-featured apps by 2022.^[37][38] These apps provide push notifications for breaking news alerts and personalized updates on selected topics or personalities, ensuring timely engagement without constant manual checking.^[39][40] Key functionalities include offline usability for reading saved articles, low data consumption for efficient loading, and easy sharing options to social platforms, all within a user-friendly interface that allows customization of the news feed based on individual interests.^[39][41] Beyond web and mobile, Oneindia extends its reach through additional platforms like its official YouTube channel, Oneindia News, which delivers video content including live streams, expert interviews, political debates, news analysis, and sports highlights to engage visual audiences.^[1][42] Social media integration is prominent, with regular live broadcasts on Facebook and Instagram for interactive sessions, alongside sharing tools embedded in articles and apps to facilitate user-generated distribution across networks like Twitter (now X).^[1] Oneindia also offers email newsletters in English and multiple Indian languages, providing curated daily headlines, breaking alerts, and topic-specific digests directly to subscribers' inboxes.^[43] Unique user tools enhance the platform's interactivity, including an advanced search functionality across the website and apps that allows querying by keywords, dates, or categories for precise content retrieval.^[34] Personalized dashboards, available primarily in the mobile apps, enable users to tailor homepages with preferred news streams, saved preferences, and recommendation algorithms based on reading history.^[38][41] As of 2025, multimedia elements have expanded to include podcasts on current affairs and entertainment, accessible via the website and apps, alongside live streaming capabilities for events like elections and sports matches, fostering a richer, multi-format news experience.^[1]

Impact and Reception

Audience Reach and Influence

Oneindia's primary audience comprises Indian users aged 18-45, particularly urban and semi-urban individuals seeking timely news in multiple languages. According to SimilarWeb analytics for October 2025, the platform's visitors are predominantly male, with the 25-34 age group forming the largest demographic segment.^[44] The site's multilingual offerings in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam drive strong regional penetration, especially in South India, where localized content resonates with non-English speakers in states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala. This focus on vernacular languages has helped Oneindia connect with diverse linguistic communities across the country.^[2] In terms of reach, Oneindia attracts substantial traffic, with Comscore reporting over 99 million unique visitors in September 2025, securing its position as the third-ranked digital publisher in India. In October 2025, SEMrush data indicated approximately 29.63 million visits, reflecting a slight decline of 0.23% from the previous month. Key traffic sources include organic search engines, which account for a significant portion of visits (approximately 13.63 million monthly from SEMrush data for September), alongside direct access and social media referrals, amplifying its visibility during peak news cycles.^[5][45] Oneindia exerts considerable influence in the Indian media landscape by disseminating real-time news during critical events, such as national elections and major sports tournaments, thereby shaping public discourse on politics, governance, and cricket. Its extensive coverage of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, for example, reached millions with in-depth analysis and updates, fostering informed discussions among users.^[46] To broaden its distribution, Oneindia has forged strategic partnerships with regional media outlets and technology providers. Notable collaborations in 2025 include integrations with publishers like ANM News, Tupaki News, and Times Kerala via its WISE AI-powered content platform, enabling wider vernacular content dissemination and enhanced audience engagement across digital ecosystems.^[47]

Criticisms and Challenges

Oneindia has faced allegations of political bias, particularly in its coverage of national politics. Media bias evaluators have rated the portal as left-center biased as of January 2025 due to story selection that favors liberal causes and includes criticism of right-wing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, such as articles highlighting his silence during political crises.^[48] This perception extends to its regional editions, which operate in languages like Tamil, where content is seen by some as critical of central government policies, though specific instances remain debated among observers.^[48] The portal's factual reporting has been assessed as mixed, stemming from inconsistent sourcing practices and at least one documented failed fact check in 2018, which has contributed to broader credibility concerns.^[48] Independent ratings also describe its reliability as limited, with a somewhat left-leaning policy orientation that amplifies perceptions of partisan leanings in India's polarized media landscape.^[49] Employee reviews on platforms like AmbitionBox highlight significant workplace challenges as of 2025, with an overall rating of 3.2 out of 5 based on over 40 responses.^[50] Common complaints include poor work-life balance, rated at 3.1 out of 5, lack of appraisals and benefits, and a toxic work culture where employees report being treated poorly.^[51] For instance, reviewers have described long hours without support, contributing to high turnover and dissatisfaction in a high-pressure digital news environment.^[52] Oneindia operates in a highly competitive Indian digital media sector dominated by larger players like the Times of India and NDTV, which boast greater resources and audience share, posing ongoing challenges to its market position.^[53] Additionally, the portal must navigate evolving digital regulations in India, including the Information Technology Rules aimed at curbing fake news and misinformation, which have intensified scrutiny on all online news platforms amid rising concerns over disinformation.^[54] These rules, updated in recent years, require greater accountability for content moderation, straining smaller operators like Oneindia in compliance efforts.^[55] In response to bias allegations, Oneindia has not issued prominent official statements directly addressing these claims, though its editorial practices continue to emphasize multilingual, regionally focused reporting as a counter to uniformity in national media.^[1] Regarding workplace issues, the company has made no publicly documented reforms based on employee feedback as of late 2025, leaving persistent concerns unaddressed in available records.