Chennai: Sun TV Network reported a modest increase in revenue for the third quarter of FY26, but profitability came under pressure as operating expenses and depreciation outpaced income growth.
For the quarter ended December 31, 2025, the broadcaster’s total income rose 3.1% year-on-year to ₹999 crore, compared with ₹969 crore in the same period last fiscal. However, rising costs dented margins, leading to an 11% decline in net profit to ₹324 crore from ₹364 crore a year ago.
Advertising revenue, a key growth driver for the network, fell sharply during the quarter. Ad income stood at ₹291.94 crore, down from ₹332.17 crore in the corresponding quarter of FY25, reflecting continued pressure in the television advertising market.
Operating performance mirrored the margin strain. EBITDA for the December quarter declined 5.2% year-on-year to ₹409.79 crore, compared with ₹432.14 crore last year, indicating weaker operating leverage despite higher topline numbers.
The cost side showed a steeper rise than revenue. Total expenses during the quarter increased 11.4% to ₹558 crore, up from ₹501 crore in Q3 FY25. On a year-to-date basis, expenses grew even faster, rising 25.4% to ₹2,264 crore in the first nine months of FY26, compared with ₹1,806 crore in the same period last year.
While depreciation and amortisation remained flat at ₹113 crore for the December quarter, the cumulative impact over nine months was significant. For the nine-month period ended December 31, 2025, depreciation and amortisation expenses surged 47.8% to ₹625 crore from ₹423 crore in the previous fiscal, adding further pressure on reported profitability.
For the nine-month period, Sun TV Network’s revenue rose a healthy 10.8% to ₹3,918 crore, compared with ₹3,536 crore in the corresponding period of FY25. Despite this growth, profit for the period declined 9.3% to ₹1,208 crore from ₹1,332 crore last year, underscoring the impact of a higher cost base.
