Overview
Rediff.com is an Indian news, information, entertainment and shopping web portal. Operated by Rediff.com India Limited, it was among the earliest large-scale Indian internet companies and remains one of the country's longstanding web brands. The portal aggregates news, opinion, business, sports, movies and lifestyle content alongside email services, message boards and an online retail section.
| Name | Rediff.com |
|---|---|
| Type | News and entertainment website |
| Parent company | Rediff.com India Limited |
| Founder | Ajit Balakrishnan |
| Country | India |
| Headquarters | Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Industry | Internet, online media |
| Website | rediff.com |
Background
Rediff.com was launched in 1996 by Ajit Balakrishnan, who also founded the Mumbai-based advertising agency Rediffusion. The portal began as a general-interest internet destination at a time when broadband was nascent in India and English-language web content addressed primarily to Indian audiences was limited. It grew quickly during the late 1990s dot-com era, adding news, classifieds, free email and discussion forums.
The company offered the Rediffmail webmail service, which became one of the more widely used email products among Indian users in the early 2000s. Rediff Shopping, the portal's e-commerce arm, was among the early Indian online retail platforms.
Listing and corporate history
Rediff.com India Limited completed an initial public offering on the Nasdaq stock exchange in the United States in 2000, becoming one of the first Indian internet companies to list on Nasdaq. The shares were issued as American Depositary Shares. The company has been headquartered in Mumbai, with additional operations in other Indian cities and a presence in the United States targeting the Indian diaspora.
Services
- News and editorial: coverage of India and world news, business, cricket and other sports, politics, and Bollywood, with bylined columns and interviews.
- Rediffmail: free and paid email services, including business email under the Rediffmail Pro brand.
- Rediff Shopping: online marketplace for consumer goods.
- Rediff Money: stock quotes, market data and personal finance information.
- Rediff Q&A and message boards: user-driven discussion sections.
Significance
Rediff.com is regarded as one of the pioneering Indian internet portals, alongside contemporaries such as Indiatimes and Sify. Its early entry into online news, free webmail and e-commerce influenced the format of subsequent Indian portals. Coverage of Indian elections, cricket and cinema has been a defining element of the site's editorial identity, and it has historically served as a major destination for Non-Resident Indian (NRI) audiences.
Leadership
Ajit Balakrishnan has served as chairman and managing director of Rediff.com India Limited since its founding. He is also known for his writings on business and the internet economy, and has held positions in Indian education and policy bodies.
Related topics
References
- Wikidata entity Q140676
- Rediff.com India Limited corporate website