Nine Entertainment posts higher FY26 earnings and boosts digital focus

The Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC) share price is in focus today after the company announced FY26 revenue growth of 3% to $2.19 billion and a 17% lift in group EBITDA to $379 million.

What did Nine Entertainment report?

• Revenue: $2.19 billion, up 3% on a continuing business basis
• EBITDA: $379 million, up 17% from FY25
• Net profit after tax (NPAT): $142.4 million, up 7%
• NPATA: $147.2 million, up 11%
• EPSA: 9.3 cents per share, up 11%
• Final dividend: 3.0 cents per share, unfranked, payable 22 October 2026

What else do investors need to know?

Nine has reshaped its portfolio this year, selling its stakes in Domain, Nine Radio, NBN, Darwin, Pedestrian, and Future Women, while acquiring QMS Outdoor. This strategy shifts the focus toward growth areas like streaming, outdoor and digital publishing, with these assets expected to drive over 60% of revenue and 70% of EBITDA in FY27.

Digital subscription revenues grew 12%, underpinned by strength in mastheads and Stan. The QMS Outdoor acquisition contributed a strong $55 million in EBITDA for its first three months with the group. Nine also broadened content licensing deals for AI applications, including an agreement with Microsoft.

What did Nine Entertainment management say?

Commenting on the results, Nine Entertainment’s CEO, Matt Stanton, said:

For the year to June 2026, we are pleased to report profit growth for Nine, and within this, for Streaming & Broadcast, Mastheads and Outdoor. Over the past 12 months, we have made material changes to our business portfolio, focusing on growth and digital assets whilst reducing our exposure to structurally challenged and smaller assets. These transactions add to our operational scale and create a higher growth and more resilient Nine, better positioned to create long term sustainable value for our shareholders.

What’s next for Nine Entertainment?

Looking ahead to FY27, Nine expects further revenue and earnings growth. Integration of QMS is expected to deliver cost synergies and double-digit EBITDA growth from Outdoor. Subscription businesses Stan and Digital Publishing, along with content licensing for AI, are set to remain key growth drivers.

Nine anticipates continuing digital subscription growth in publishing and more licensing revenue, while maintaining cost discipline. The group also expects future dividends to remain in the 60–80% payout range, though upcoming dividends are likely to be unfranked.

Nine Entertainment share price snapshot

The Nine Entertainment share price has been among the worst performers on the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) over the past 12 months with a decline of around 42%.

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