HT Media Limited and its promoter Shamit Bhartia have confirmed that no encumbrance was created on the equity shares of the company during the financial year ended March 31, 2026. The disclosures were submitted to the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange to comply with SEBI regulations regarding shareholding for FY26. These filings ensure transparency regarding the status of charges or liens on the company's shares.

The declarations were made in accordance with Regulation 31(4) of the SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations 2011. This regulation mandates the annual disclosure of any encumbrance on shareholdings by the company and its promoters.

Shamit Bhartia submitted his personal declaration on April 08, 2026, confirming he had not created any encumbrance, directly or indirectly, on the equity shares of HT Media Limited during the specified period. Separately, the company's communication addressed to the Audit Committee was dated April 06, 2026, and signed by Virendra Kumar Charoria, Director & Company Secretary, on behalf of The Hindustan Times Limited.

HT Media reported its audited financial results for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2026, showcasing a 44% year-on-year increase in consolidated profit after tax (PAT) to ₹153 crore for FY26. The company achieved an EBITDA margin of 15% for the full year, up from 14% in the previous year, while total revenue remained stable at ₹1,971 crore. For the quarter ended March 31, 2026, PAT stood at ₹96 crore, a 15% increase from ₹83 crore in Q4 FY25, with an EBITDA margin of 23%.

Consolidated Performance

The Board of Directors approved the audited financial results during a meeting held on May 29, 2026. The statutory auditors, S.R. Batliboi & Co. LLP, issued an unmodified opinion on the results. The financial performance reflects a margin expansion on a year-on-year basis for both the quarter and the full year, supported by a robust cash position which stood at ₹1,001 crore as of March 31, 2026.

Business Unit Performance

The Print segment remained the primary revenue driver, contributing ₹1,500 crore for the year, an 8% increase. The segment reported an operating EBITDA of ₹208 crore, a significant rise from ₹114 crore in FY25, with margins expanding to 14%. Advertising revenue grew 8% to ₹1,148 crore, while circulation revenue was steady at ₹208 crore. The Radio business faced challenges, with operating revenue declining 32% to ₹140 crore and operating EBITDA turning negative at ₹(22) crore. The Digital segment revenue held steady at ₹155 crore for the year.

Strategic Updates

During the earnings call, management highlighted that the Print business performance was led by yield improvement in advertising revenues. The company has decided to discontinue its OTTplay business as part of a strategic reset to focus on profitable growth. Additionally, HT Media has surrendered six loss-making radio licenses to streamline its Radio business footprint. The Board approved an investment of up to ₹5 crore by subscribing to the equity shares of Mosaic Media Ventures Private Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary. Commercial papers outstanding as of March 31, 2026, were ₹1,000 crore.