Hindustan Media Ventures Limited (NSE:HMVL) filed the transcript of its Q1 FY2026-27 earnings conference call with BSE and NSE on 12 August 2026, pursuant to Regulation 30 of the SEBI Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements Regulations, 2015. The call was originally held on 5 August 2026.
Key Highlights
- Consolidated total revenue for Q1 FY27 grew 15% year-on-year to Rs 497 crore, with EBITDA rising nearly three times to Rs 90 crore and an EBITDA margin expansion of 12 percentage points.
- Profit after tax improved to Rs 47 crore in Q1 FY27, representing a PAT margin of 9%, while the consolidated net cash position stood at Rs 922 crore.
- Print segment operating revenue rose 16% year-on-year to Rs 376 crore, with advertising revenue up 15% to Rs 295 crore; the digital segment reported a 28% decline in operating revenue.
- Management confirmed that the preferential issue approved by the board is applicable to HT Media Limited and Digicontent Limited only, not to HMVL, which already carries a net cash surplus.
About the Company
Hindustan Media Ventures Limited (NSE:HMVL), listed on the National Stock Exchange, is part of the HT Media Group and publishes the Hindi-language daily Hindustan, one of India's largest-circulation Hindi newspapers. The company is registered under CIN L21090BR1918PLC000013, with its registered office in Patna, Bihar, and corporate office in New Delhi. Its business spans print publishing, circulation, and related media services across Hindi-speaking markets in India.
Announcement in Detail
The conference call transcript, signed by Company Secretary Nikhil Sethi and filed on 12 August 2026, covered the un-audited financial results for the quarter ended 30 June 2026. Group CFO Piyush Gupta and Deputy CFO Anna Abraham, who also serves as CFO of HMVL and Head of Investor Relations for the HT Media Group, led the presentation. Hindi Print advertising revenue reached Rs 139 crore year-on-year, while English Print advertising revenue grew 12% to Rs 156 crore. Circulation revenue for English Print rose 14% to Rs 13 crore, whereas Hindi Print circulation remained flat.
During the Q&A portion, management addressed a shareholder query regarding the preferential issue. Piyush Gupta clarified that the Rs 922 crore net cash balance resides within HMVL, whereas HT Media Limited and Digicontent Limited carry net debt positions. The preferential issue pricing followed the SEBI-mandated VWAP formula, using the higher of the 10-day or 90-day volume-weighted average price, without any additional premium. Management stated that 30% to 50% of existing debt is intended to be retired using the proceeds, which the filing indicates would improve earnings per share accretion and interest coverage metrics over time.
Impact on Investors
Investors will note that the preferential issue referenced in the transcript relates to HT Media Limited and Digicontent Limited, not to HMVL directly. Shareholders of HMVL will observe that the Rs 922 crore net cash position sits at the consolidated HT Media level, with the surplus concentrated inside HMVL, while the parent and its digital subsidiary carry net debt. The filing shows that a participant raised concerns about dilution to existing public shareholders at an issue price of approximately Rs 24 per share against a book value of around Rs 70 per share.
The disclosed terms indicate that the preferential issue was priced strictly in accordance with the SEBI formula. Management's stated intention to retire 30% to 50% of existing group debt using issue proceeds is a factor shareholders across the HT Media Group structure will need to assess alongside the dilution mechanics. The digital segment's 28% operating revenue decline and the Radio segment's negative EBITDA of Rs 3 crore are additional disclosures that the transcript records for investor consideration.
Sector / Market Context
India's print media sector continues to face dual pressures from elevated newsprint prices and currency-related import costs, points explicitly flagged in the Chairperson's message included in the transcript. The Registrar of Newspapers for India and industry bodies such as the Indian Newspaper Society have documented newsprint cost volatility as a sector-wide challenge, making cost discipline and revenue diversification across print, radio, and digital channels an ongoing structural priority for Indian media publishers.