Bangalore-based publisher of the Deccan Herald, The Printers (Mysore) has signed up to use ppi Media's Content-X editorial system.

One of India's top ten English-language newspapers, the Deccan Herald is a stablemate of Prajavani, a daily published in the Kannada language - spoken by around 40 million people in India - and one of the oldest newspapers in that language.

The German-developed Content-X software and associated workflow systems are already in use in Asia at the Bangkok Post, as well by large media companies in Germany and the US.

Features include distinct multichannel functionality and its support of production in multiple languages including English and Indian languages such as Kannada. The system stores content in a media-neutral format so that it can be played out in digital and print, covering the full range of publishing channels.

Project implementation started this month.

ppi Media chief operating officer Dr Hauke Berndt is "particularly pleased" with the cooperation: "India and its numerous different vernacular languages and non-Roman scripts pose a special challenge to any editorial system and we are more than equal to meet these challenges."

Prajavani has a ABC daily circulation of 527,300 copies and is printed in seven locations, with 32 zonal split editions across Karnataka. The Deccan Herald has a daily circulation of 286,540 copies, largely focused in Bangalore city.

The Printers Mysore also publishes Kannada magazines including weekly lifestyle title Sudha and Mayura, a monthly literary review, which will also be produced using the system.

Joint managing director K.N. Tilak Kumar says he is confident the system will enable them to maintain focus on core journalistic competencies.