HT Media Limited announced the transcript of its conference call for analysts and investors held on January 28, 2026, regarding the un-audited financial results for the quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2025. During the call, management highlighted a stable consolidated revenue of ₹532 crore for Q3 FY26, showing a 7% sequential growth. EBITDA stood at ₹51 crore with a 10% margin, marking a 9% year-on-year improvement. Profit After Tax (PAT) before exceptional items was ₹17 crore, with a 3% margin. The company maintained a robust net cash position of ₹945 crore. The Print segment demonstrated resilience, with operating revenue at ₹395 crore, a 2% year-on-year growth, and operating EBITDA at ₹60 crore, achieving a 15% margin. Advertising revenue for Print English saw a sequential growth of 16% to ₹179 crore. The Radio business reported revenue of ₹34 crore, with operating EBITDA at a loss of ₹5 crore, navigating a challenging market. The Digital segment posted significant year-on-year growth with operating revenue at ₹67 crore (up 30%), though it reported a loss of ₹23 crore with improving margins. Management discussed the impact of AI, seeing it as an enabler for efficiency and content credibility, with potential for regulatory frameworks requiring compensation for content providers. An exceptional item of ₹41.4 crore was booked in Q3 FY26 due to the impact of the new labor code, noted as a one-time adjustment across years rather than a recurring cost. The company expects potential increases in newsprint rates in the coming quarters but has reasonable cover until Q1 of next year. They plan to mitigate any impact through optimizing buying, newsprint mix, and consumption control.
