HT Media Q3 FY26: ₹532 cr revenue, ₹17 cr profit as advertising fuels recovery

Adgully Bureau | 2 hours agoViews: 98

HT Media Limited reported a turnaround in profitability for the third quarter ended December 31, 2025, supported by steady revenues, margin expansion, and improved performance across its Print and Digital businesses.

The media group reported consolidated revenue of ₹532 crore in Q3 FY26, broadly flat on a year-on-year basis and up 7 percent sequentially. EBITDA rose 9 percent year-on-year to ₹51 crore, while EBITDA margins improved to 10 percent from 9 percent in the same quarter last year. The company reported a profit after tax of ₹17 crore, compared to a loss of ₹3 crore in Q3 FY25.

Net cash position remained strong at ₹945 crore as of December 31, 2025.

Print business shows resilience

HT Media’s Print segment continued to demonstrate resilience, with operating revenue rising 2 percent year-on-year to ₹395 crore and 10 percent sequentially. Segment EBITDA jumped 43 percent year-on-year to ₹60 crore, with margins expanding to 15 percent.

The English Print business saw sequential growth in advertising revenue, aided by improved demand across commercial categories, while circulation revenues rose both annually and sequentially. Advertising revenue in the English segment stood at ₹179 crore in Q3 FY26, while circulation revenue was ₹14 crore.

The Hindi Print business witnessed marginal pressure, with advertising revenue declining 4 percent year-on-year to ₹123 crore, largely due to the shift in festive days compared to the base period. Circulation revenue remained stable at ₹38 crore.

Digital gains momentum

The Digital segment delivered a strong performance during the quarter, with operating revenue rising 30 percent year-on-year to ₹67 crore and 9 percent sequentially. Losses narrowed, with operating EBITDA improving to a loss of ₹23 crore from ₹26 crore a year ago, and margins improving to -35 percent from -50 percent.

The company said key digital properties, including OTTplay, contributed to revenue growth and margin improvement.

Radio remains under pressure

The Radio business continued to face a challenging operating environment. Operating revenue declined 34 percent year-on-year to ₹34 crore, primarily due to a high base effect from event-led revenues in the corresponding quarter last year. Segment EBITDA loss widened to ₹5 crore, with margins remaining under pressure.

Commenting on the results, Shobhana Bhartia, Chairperson and Editorial Director, HT Media Ltd. and Hindustan Media Ventures Ltd., said the quarter reflected “consistent operational progress” marked by stable topline performance and steady improvement in profitability.

She noted that the company remains focused on leveraging the strength of its Print brands, recalibrating its Radio operations, and scaling its digital-first platforms while maintaining a clear path to profitability.

HT Media stated that it will continue to prioritise cost discipline, strengthen its core businesses, and invest selectively in digital growth to sustain momentum in the coming quarters.