DB Corp Limited (DBCL), home to flagship newspapers Dainik Bhaskar, Divya Bhaskar, Divya Marathi and Saurashtra Samachar, has announced its financial results for the June 30, 2024 quarter.
In Q1FY25, Dainik Bhaskar delivered another strong performance, marking the 12th consecutive quarter of broad-based growth. The company said that advertising revenue surged by 8.4% to Rs 4277 million (Rs 427.7 crore) on a high base of quarter 1 of last year, underpinned by robust market alignment.
In Q1 FY2024 advertising revenue was Rs. 3,946 million (Rs 395.6 crore). Circulation revenue stands at Rs 1192 million (Rs 119.2 crore) as against Rs 1,199 million (Rs 119.9 crore ) in Q1 FY2024. Total revenue grew by 7.4% to Rs 6163 million (Rs 616.3 crore) as against Rs 5,736 million (Rs 573.6 crore) in Q1 FY2024.
EBITDA margins expanded by 700 bps to 31% and stand at Rs 1909 million (Rs 190.9 crore) with growth of 40% YOY, on account of soft newsprint prices & reflecting efficient cost management. Profit after tax saw a substantial 50% YoY growth to Rs 1179 million (Rs 117.9 crore), showcasing sustained profitability.
Additionally, its radio business led industry growth with a 6.2% increase in advertising revenue again on a high base of quarter 1 of last year and 300 bps rise in EBIDTA margin to 34% at Rs 132 million. “This performance underscores our commitment to stakeholder value, reinforced by a consistent interim dividend of Rs 7 per share, demonstrating our financial strength and strategic focus on growth,” the company said.
Print media retains its pivotal role in the media landscape, continuing to wield significant impact and effectiveness, the company said. “With Dainik Bhaskar’s robust brand equity cementing its position as India’s top newspaper group, we have established a positive cycle of growth. This not only supports our advertisers’ success but also fuels our own thriving progress alongside them.” Indian language newspapers are increasingly preferred across diverse sectors, with notable growth seen in auto, education, real estate, jewelry, health, response and government advertisements, it said.
“Newsprint prices continued to be soft in Q1 FY2025. Our average cost for newsprint has reduced to Rs 46,900 PMT in Q1 FY2025 resulting in a newsprint cost reduction of 20.9% YoY. On the circulation front, we have been proactive in both re-engaging with our loyal readers and expanding our reader base through targeted initiatives.”
Commenting on the performance for Q1 FY2025, Sudhir Agarwal, managing director, DB Corp, said, “As we enter Fiscal 2025, Dainik Bhaskar has demonstrated resilience and strength. Our first quarter results are particularly impressive considering the dip in Govt billing due to the election code of conduct. We are maintaining our growth trajectory across our Print, Radio, and Digital platforms, underscoring the robustness of our omnichannel strategy and the underlying demand for our media offerings. Our Digital platform with currently 18 million MAUs is a powerful pillar of growth. The editorial excellence, continued broad-based support from advertisers and the strong economic growth of our key markets provide us a strong platform. As India’s economic landscape continues to evolve post-elections, we’re well-positioned to capitalize on new opportunities, further cement our market leadership, and deliver enhanced value to our stakeholders.”
