Mumbai: D.B. Corp Limited, India’s largest print media company and the publisher of flagship newspapers – Dainik Bhaskar, Divya Bhaskar, Divya Marathi and Saurashtra Samachar, announced its financial results for the first quarter ended June 30, 2026, reporting healthy growth in revenue and profitability.
The company’s consolidated total revenue increased to Rs 6,320 million in Q1FY27 from Rs 5,872 million in Q1FY26, registering a growth of 8% year-on-year. EBITDA rose 19% YoY to Rs 1,647 million from Rs 1,384 million, while EBITDA margin improved by 250 basis points to 26.1% from 23.6% during the corresponding period last year.
DB Corp said the quarter witnessed strong and broad-based advertising demand, with healthy traction across key sectors including real estate, jewellery, FMCG and government segments. Total advertising revenue increased 10% YoY to Rs 4,320 million compared with Rs 3,933 million in Q1FY26.
Circulation revenue remained stable at Rs 1,204 million, compared with Rs 1,203 million in the year-ago quarter, reflecting the resilience of the company’s readership base despite seasonal factors. The company noted that newsprint costs witnessed some upward pressure due to broader macroeconomic and geopolitical developments, but continued focus on cost optimisation and operational efficiencies helped protect margins.
Commenting on the performance for Q1FY27, Sudhir Agarwal, Managing Director, DB Corp Ltd said, “We are pleased to report our performance for Q1FY27, which reflects the continued strength and resilience of our core businesses. Our continued focus on disciplined execution and a sharper focus on operational efficiency helped us deliver a healthy improvement in overall profitability during the quarter. On the advertising front, demand remained strong and broad-based, with healthy traction across Real Estate, Jewellery, FMCG and Government sectors, and encouraging momentum across most other categories as well.
While input costs saw some pressure during the quarter on account of broader macroeconomic and geopolitical factors, our teams remained sharply focused on cost optimization, helping us protect margins and operating efficiency even in a challenging environment.
Overall, we head into the rest of FY27 with confidence, backed by consistent execution, a resilient advertising franchise, and a growing digital presence. We remain committed to strengthening our market position and driving sustainable, long-term value for all our stakeholders.”
Digital business continues momentum with ~19 million MAUs
DB Corp said its digital business remained a key growth engine, with Monthly Active Users (MAUs) on the Dainik Bhaskar app reaching approximately 19 million as of May 2026.
The company highlighted that Dainik Bhaskar continues to maintain its position as the No. 1 Hindi and Gujarati news app, strengthening its presence as a leading phygital Indian language media platform.
Over the last six years, the company has focused on building an ad-free digital experience supported by high-quality journalism, superior user experience and technology-led engagement. Investments in content formats, visual storytelling and hyperlocal coverage have helped improve user engagement and retention, DB Corp said.
The company stated that Dainik Bhaskar remains the fastest-growing news app in India based on Comscore trends, being the only news app to have grown consistently over the last five years while maintaining its direct active user base.
Radio business delivers strong growth
DB Corp’s radio business also reported improved performance during the quarter. Total radio revenue stood at Rs 425 million compared with Rs 392 million in Q1FY26, while EBITDA increased to Rs 148 million from Rs 115 million.
The company said its radio brand MY FM continued to strengthen listener engagement through innovative programming initiatives, including cricket-based content featuring Yuvraj Singh and the launch of “The Power Chapter with Raj Shamani”, a podcast-style show featuring conversations around success, growth, money and purpose.
Operational performance highlights
Key consolidated performance indicators for Q1FY27 compared with Q1FY26:
- Total Revenue: Rs 6,320 million vs Rs 5,872 million
- Advertising Revenue: Rs 4,320 million vs Rs 3,933 million
- Circulation Revenue: Rs 1,204 million vs Rs 1,203 million
- EBITDA: Rs 1,647 million vs Rs 1,384 million
- Net Profit: Rs 1,007 million vs Rs 808 million
Print and other business EBITDA stood at Rs 1,499 million compared with Rs 1,270 million, registering 18.1% growth. Radio EBITDA increased 29.2% YoY to Rs 148 million.
Focus on journalism, digital expansion and reader engagement
DB Corp said editorial excellence continues to remain central to its strategy, with the group focusing on impactful journalism across health, environment, elections, social issues and investigative reporting.
During the quarter, Dainik Bhaskar undertook several initiatives including the “Your Health Password” campaign for World Health Day, climate awareness initiatives for World Environment Day, extensive election coverage across five states, and investigative reports covering issues such as CBSE evaluation concerns and cross-border trafficking networks.
The company also continued investments in premium digital journalism, interactive news experiences and hyperlocal political coverage to deepen user engagement.
DB Corp said its investigative newsroom remains a key differentiator, producing original ground reports and investigations aimed at strengthening reader trust.
CSR initiatives and circulation expansion
The company continued its community-focused initiatives through campaigns such as “Save Birds”, which encouraged readers to provide water and grains for birds during summer, and “Ek Ped Ek Zindagi”, aimed at promoting plantation drives across the country.
In circulation, DB Corp continued strengthening reader acquisition through initiatives such as the “Jeeto 16 Crores” campaign, technology-enabled distribution models and digital transformation of circulation operations.
The company said it remains confident about the long-term relevance of print media, supported by its strong editorial franchise, trusted brands and leadership position across key operating markets.
