Rediff.com

{{Infobox website

| name =

| logo = Rediff.com logo.svg

| screenshot =

| caption =

| company_type = Public

| website_type = Web portal

| language = English

| foundation = {{start date and age|1996|01|df=yes}}

| company_name = Rediff.com India Limited

| location = Mumbai, India

| key_people = Vishal Mehta (Chairman & MD){{cite web |title=Infibeam founder Vishal Mehta becomes Rediff's new Chairman and Managing Director |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/internet/story/infibeam-founder-vishal-mehta-becomes-rediffs-new-chairman-and-managing-director-448785-2024-10-04 |website=Business Today |language=en |date=4 October 2024}}

| industry = Internet

| revenue = {{INR}}36 crores (FY23-24){{cite web |title=Rediff.com Appoints Vishal Mehta as Chairman and MD Following Infibeam Acquisition |url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/en-in/news-and-trends/rediffcom-appoints-vishal-mehta-as-chairman-and-md/480705 |website=Entrepreneur |language=en |date=3 October 2024}}

| owner = Infibeam Avenues Limited (since October 2024){{cite web |last1=Singh |first1=Navdeep |title=Infibeam Avenues acquires majority stake in Rediff.com, shares jump over 8% |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/infibeam-avenues-acquires-majority-stake-in-rediff-com-shares-jump-over-8/articleshow/112221154.cms |website=The Economic Times |date=2 August 2024}}

| operating_income =

| net_income = {{INR}}80 lakh (2021)

| num_employees = 316 (Dec 2009)

| url = {{URL|https://rediff.com}}

| commercial = Yes

| registration = Optional

| launch_date = {{start date and age|1997|02|08|p=yes}}

| current_status = Active

}}

Rediff.com, stylized as rediff.com, is an Indian news, information, entertainment, and shopping website. Founded by Ajit Balakrishnan in 1996, it was the first Indian website to become a mainstream news media organization.{{cite news |url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/rediff.com-reports-q1-results-india-revenue-up-42/339965/ |title=Rediff.Com reports Q1 results: India revenue up 42% |work=The Financial Express |date=2 July 2008 |access-date=16 July 2010 |archive-date=12 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012112940/http://www.financialexpress.com/news/rediff.com-reports-q1-results-india-revenue-up-42/339965 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Chopra |first=Rohit |date=2019-12-15 |title=How Rediff On The NeT first created a template for the Hindu Right online in the 1990s |url=https://theprint.in/pageturner/excerpt/rediff-on-the-net-first-created-template-for-hindu-right-online-in-1990s/335455/ |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}} It is headquartered in Mumbai with offices in Bangalore, New Delhi, and New York City.{{Cite web |last=www.ETHRWorld.com |title=Rediff.com appoints Vishal Mehta as Chairman and Managing Director - ETHRWorld |url=https://hr.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/rediff-com-appoints-vishal-mehta-as-chairman-and-managing-director/113857450 |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=ETHRWorld.com |language=en |archive-date=7 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207030857/https://hr.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/rediff-com-appoints-vishal-mehta-as-chairman-and-managing-director/113857450 |url-status=live }}

{{As of|2009}}, it had more than 300 employees.{{cite web |url=http://investor.rediff.com/faq.asp |title=Investor FAQs |work=Rediff.com |access-date=16 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723125017/http://investor.rediff.com/faq.asp |archive-date=23 July 2010 |url-status=dead}} At the time of its founding, internet access had only been available in India for five months with a mere 18,000 users, leaving Rediff.com as one of the earliest Indian web portals and email providers.{{Cite web |date=13 August 2020 |title=For Rediff boss, early success meant ignoring sceptics, self-learning tools |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/for-rediff-boss-early-success-meant-ignoring-sceptics-self-learning-tools/story-GKXgHtRAtKiaX1PedQUTxL.html |access-date=23 July 2021 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en |archive-date=23 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723082105/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/for-rediff-boss-early-success-meant-ignoring-sceptics-self-learning-tools/story-GKXgHtRAtKiaX1PedQUTxL.html |url-status=live }}

History

The Rediff.com domain was registered in India in 1996.{{cite web |title=India completes 20 years of commercial internet |url=http://www.indiadigitalreview.com/news/india-completes-15-years-of-commercial-internet |website=India Digital Review |access-date=15 March 2014 |archive-date=17 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417193547/http://www.indiadigitalreview.com/news/india-completes-15-years-of-commercial-internet |url-status=live }} Early products included the email service Rediffmail{{cite web |author=Anubhuti |url=http://www.medianewsline.com/news/122/ARTICLE/6876/2010-10-28.html |title=Rediff records 15 percent growth in registered user base |website=Media Newsline |date=2 October 2010 |access-date=12 December 2010 |archive-date=12 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112071640/http://www.medianewsline.com/news/122/ARTICLE/6876/2010-10-28.html |url-status=live }} and Rediff Shopping, an online marketplace selling electronics and peripherals.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

In 2001, Rediff.com was alleged to be in violation of the Securities Act of 1933 for filing a materially false prospectus in relation to an IPO of its American depositary shares.{{cite press release |url=http://globenewswire.com/news-release/2001/05/25/281272/17393/en/Cauley-Geller-Bowman-Coates-LLP-Announces-Class-Action-Lawsuit-Against-Rediff-com-India-Ltd-Seeking-Damages-on-Behalf-of-Purchasers-of-Rediff-American-Depository-Shares-REDF.html |title=Cauley Geller Bowman & Coates, LLP Announces Class Action Lawsuit Against Rediff.com India Ltd. Seeking Damages on Behalf of Purchasers of Rediff American Depository Shares – REDF |website=GlobeNewswire |date=25 May 2001 |access-date=17 July 2013 |archive-date=24 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624040030/http://globenewswire.com/news-release/2001/05/25/281272/17393/en/Cauley-Geller-Bowman-Coates-LLP-Announces-Class-Action-Lawsuit-Against-Rediff-com-India-Ltd-Seeking-Damages-on-Behalf-of-Purchasers-of-Rediff-American-Depository-Shares-REDF.html |url-status=live }} The case was resolved by settlement in 2009.{{cite web |url=http://securities.stanford.edu/filings-case.html?id=101787 |title=Case Summary Rediff.com India Ltd. Securities Litigation |publisher=Stanford Law School |access-date=8 November 2018 |archive-date=16 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116094645/http://securities.stanford.edu/filings-case.html?id=101787 |url-status=live }}

In April 2001, Rediff.com acquired the India Abroad newspaper.{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/apr/10mrraju.htm |title=Pioneering publisher Gopal Raju passes away |date=1 April 2008 |work=India Abroad |access-date=4 May 2008 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303211940/http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/apr/10mrraju.htm |url-status=live }}

In 2007, Rediff iShare, a multimedia platform, was released.{{cite news |url=http://www.livemint.com/Industry/LmTno8d9USWKV5ddqJW2sM/Now-share-videos-music-on-Rediffs-iShare.html |title=Now share videos, music on Rediff's iShare |last=Mehra |first=Priyanka |work=Mint |date=1 July 2007 |access-date=17 November 2014 |archive-date=8 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108184555/https://www.livemint.com/Industry/LmTno8d9USWKV5ddqJW2sM/Now-share-videos-music-on-Rediffs-iShare.html |url-status=live }} In 2010, Rediffmail NG was launched, an email service for mobile platforms.{{cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/10/21/stories/2010102151751800.htm |title=Mobile email service from Rediff.com |date=2 October 2010 |access-date=25 June 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028223147/http://www.hindu.com/2010/10/21/stories/2010102151751800.htm |work=The Hindu |archive-date=28 October 2010}} In 2012, Rediff launched its Android App for Rediff News.{{Cite web |date=2012-09-18 |title=Rediff News app for Android OS launched |url=https://www.firstpost.com/tech/news-analysis/rediff-news-app-for-android-os-launched-3608531.html |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=Tech2 |language=en |archive-date=17 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117025622/https://www.firstpost.com/tech/news-analysis/rediff-news-app-for-android-os-launched-3608531.html |url-status=live }}

In April 2016, the company decided to delist from NASDAQ, citing the high cost of reporting requirements, given its financial condition.{{Cite web |last=Chathurvedula |first=Sadhana |date=2016-04-28 |title=Rediff.com delists its shares on Nasdaq |url=https://www.livemint.com/Companies/33CajWXzptGO7L7ZuB3Y2M/Rediffcom-delists-its-shares-on-Nasdaq.html |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=mint |language=en |archive-date=2 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302132601/https://www.livemint.com/Companies/33CajWXzptGO7L7ZuB3Y2M/Rediffcom-delists-its-shares-on-Nasdaq.html |url-status=live }}

Infibeam Avenues Limited’s era

In 2024, Rediff.com became a subsidiary of Infibeam Avenues, which acquired a 54.1 per cent stake in Rediff.com India Ltd.{{cite web |title=Infibeam Avenues acquires 54.1% stake in Rediff.com for ₹50 crore |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/infibeam-avenues-acquires-541-stake-in-rediffcom-for-25-crore/article68477073.ece |website=BusinessLine |language=en |date=2 August 2024 |access-date=8 October 2024 |archive-date=8 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008110306/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/infibeam-avenues-acquires-541-stake-in-rediffcom-for-25-crore/article68477073.ece |url-status=live }} Infibeam founder Vishal Mehta became Rediff’s new Chairman and Managing Director, succeeding Ajit Balakrishnan, who had led the company since its founding in 1996.