DB Corp ad revenues grew by 1.3% to Rs 12,565 million during 9M FY 2017-18

DB Corp (DBCL), India’s largest print media company and home to flagship newspapers Dainik Bhaskar, Divya Bhaskar, Dainik Divya Marathi and Saurashtra Samachar, on 18 January announced its financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2017. According to the report, during the 9M FY 2017-18, the company’s consolidated advertising revenues grew by 1.3% YOY to Rs 12,565 million as against Rs 12,406 million during 9M last year. Circulation revenue increased by 6.3% YOY to Rs 3,825 million fro

21 Feb 2018 | By Dibyajyoti Sarma

The company’s circulation expansion efforts have been delivering excellent growth, adding almost six lakh copies since the initiation of the expansion drive (from July 2017) — 12% growth on a high base of circulation copies, and on increased cover price. The number of copies sold in July, 50.41 lakh, significantly grew to 54.28 lakh copies in September-end; 54.49 lakh copies in October-end; 55.44 lakh copies in November-end and 56.39 lakh copies in December-end.

Consolidated total revenues grew by 1.4% YOY to Rs 17,778 million, as against Rs 17,528 million during 9M last year. EBITDA during 9M FY 2018 stood at Rs 4,824 million (margins 27%) vis-à-vis Rs 5,418 million (margin 31%).

Sudhir Agarwal, managing director, DB Corp, said, “The focus in the third quarter of this fiscal continued to be on two key initiatives which we started earlier – the product strengthening campaign and the circulation enhancement journey and I’m happy to report that both have successfully complemented each other to deliver results. The outcome has been a steady growth in our circulation.”

The Press In India Report 2016-17 released by Registrar of Newspapers of India (RNI) has maintained Dainik Bhaskar to be the largest circulated multi-edition daily.

Agarwal said, the company’s focus is towards achieving stronger ad sales and with the team’s unwavering efforts, he is confident of reporting stronger performance. “Our internal measures adopted to support the editorial and sales team through initiatives like the DB Knowledge App and more impactful leadership-to-unit connect, are strengthening our internal efficiencies, our agility in decision making and quick turnaround. Through several key new leadership responsibilities, we have also ensured that the best talent resources are available for business growth as well as building internal leadership strengths,” he added.