HT Media Q4 loss at Rs 9.66 cr, revenue up 3.46 pc to Rs 511 cr

New Delhi, May 29 (PTI) HT Media Ltd on Friday reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 9.66 crore during the March quarter of FY26 on a year-on-year basis, on account of exceptional items as impairment of loss and provision on accounts of the new labour code.

The company had posted a net profit of Rs 51.36 crore in the January-March quarter of the previous fiscal year, according to a regulatory filing from HT Media.

HT Media’s revenue from operations was up 3.46 per cent to Rs 511.04 crore in the March quarter of FY26. It was Rs 493.93 crore in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.

HT Media had exceptional items totalling Rs 74.39 crore in the March quarter.

This includes an impairment of Rs 33.06 crore towards radio business assets

and Rs 6.32 crore towards digital business assets, along with a loss of Rs 40.54 crore due to the statutory impact of the new labour codes.

It reported a profit before exceptional items and tax of Rs 93.28 crore, up 9.9 per cent. This was at Rs 84.87 crore in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.

HT Media’s revenue from ‘printing & publishing of newspapers and periodicals’ was up 14.67 per cent to 427.32 crore.

“Our print business performed well, both for the quarter and the full year. Advertising-led revenue growth, across our English and Hindi mastheads, translated into higher profitability,” said HT Media Chairperson Shobhana Bhartia.

However, she also said in the near term, though, rising newsprint costs, amplified by a weakening rupee and the prevailing global environment of supply chain disruptions, trade policy uncertainty and geopolitical volatility, remains a concern that the company is managing with cost discipline.

HT Media’s revenue from ‘radio broadcast and entertainment’ was down 48.03 per cent to Rs 42.60 crore.

“Business was impacted by a high base from prior year’s event-led revenue, and was compounded by larger industry-wide issues,” she said.

As part of the ongoing streamlining of our radio business, HT Media has surrendered non-viable licences, sharpening the network footprint and improving business profitability, Bhartia added.

Its revenue from ‘digital’ was marginally down at Rs 38.54 crore.

“In digital, our results reflect a deliberate and value-accretive reset. The discontinuation of ‘OTTplay’ business is in line with our focus on profitable growth,” she said.

Total expenses of HT Media were at Rs 464.28 crore, down 3.92 per cent in the fourth quarter of FY26.

However, its total income, which includes other income, was down 1.85 per cent to Rs 557.56 crore in Q4/FY26.

For the entire FY26, HT Media’s net loss was at Rs 49.07 crore. Its total consolidated revenue was at 1,971.36 crore, marginally up 0.39 per cent for the financial year ended on March 31, 2026.

Meanwhile, in a separate filing, HT Media said its board in a meeting held on Friday approved investment of up to Rs 5 crore by subscribing to the equity shares of Mosaic Media Ventures, a wholly owned subsidiary of the company.

Share of HT Media Ltd on Friday settled at Rs 22.80 on the BSE, up 2.93 per cent from the previous close. PTI KRH TRB