DB Corp’s Q2 advertising revenue stands at Rs 411 crore

D.B. Corp, the publisher of Dainik Bhaskar and other regional newspapers, reported a 6.4% year-on-year decline in consolidated advertising revenue for Q2 FY27, attributing the drop to a shift in the Navratri festive season from the September quarter last year to the December quarter this year. The company said advertising revenue and EBITDA recorded positive single-digit growth on a like-for-like basis after adjusting for the calendar difference.

Advertising revenue stood at ₹411 crore in the quarter ended September 30, compared with ₹439 crore in the corresponding period last year. The company expects advertising income deferred due to the change in the festive calendar to contribute to Q3 FY27, supporting its performance in the second half of the financial year.

However, higher input costs and a decline in quarterly profitability remained concerns. Newsprint expenses rose 14% during the quarter, while EBITDA and net profit registered double-digit declines.

For the first half of FY27, D.B. Corp’s advertising revenue increased to ₹843 crore from ₹832 crore in the year-ago period, indicating growth despite the uneven distribution of festive-season advertising between quarters. Consolidated total income for Q2 fell 3.2% year on year to ₹614 crore from ₹635 crore. EBITDA declined 21.5% to ₹124 crore from ₹158 crore, while net profit dropped to ₹69 crore from ₹93 crore.

Circulation revenue also declined, coming in at ₹116 crore against ₹121 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. The company said circulation remained largely stable, supported by established reader relationships and its presence across regional markets. For the first half of FY27, consolidated revenue grew to ₹1,246 crore from ₹1,222 crore a year earlier. EBITDA stood at ₹289 crore, compared with ₹297 crore, while net profit was ₹169 crore against ₹174 crore in the corresponding period.

Rising input costs added to the pressure on operating performance. D.B. Corp said newsprint costs increased 14% in Q2, primarily due to geopolitical uncertainty and related cost pressures. The company said it was working to contain the impact through cost optimisation, operational efficiencies and inventory management.

Managing director Sudhir Agarwal said the company’s reader relationships, trusted brands and long-standing advertiser partnerships continued to underpin its performance. He added that the festive season was expected to support advertising momentum and broader consumption across key markets.

Alongside its print operations, the company highlighted the expansion of its digital news platforms. According to Comscore data cited by D.B. Corp, the combined monthly active users of the Dainik Bhaskar and Divya Bhaskar apps reached nearly 18 million in August 2026, up almost ninefold from 2 million in January 2020.

The group said its news apps had recorded more than 100 million downloads to date. Its digital strategy focuses on an ad-free app experience, high-quality content, improved visual formats, hyperlocal coverage and audience retention.

D.B. Corp also pointed to editorial initiatives built around original reporting, data-led journalism and special features to strengthen reader engagement.

The company said it would continue to focus on advertiser relationships, audience engagement and cost management as it navigates changing market conditions. While the festive calendar is expected to provide support in Q3, the extent to which that translates into improved profitability will remain important, given the pressure from newsprint costs.