Media group lifts profit, maintains streaming focus

Australia's largest locally owned media group has lifted its annual earnings as it continues to focus on its streaming and broadcast assets, including Stan, 9Now and digital publishing.

Nine Entertainment, which also owns 9 Network and major mastheads such as The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and the Australian Financial Review, said those divisions were expected to contribute more than 60 per cent of its revenue in the new financial year.

The group made a 2025/26 bottom line net profit of $510.6 million, on a consolidated basis, up from $133.3 million in the previous year ended June 30.

Underlying earnings - before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation - jumped 17 per cent to $378.8 million, on a three per cent lift in group revenue to $2.2 billion.

"We will continue to invest in premium content and focus on opportunities to maximise the reach and commercialisation of that content, whilst continuing to explore technology initiatives that help to expedite growth opportunities," chief executive Matt Stanton said.

Mr Stanton said the group was still eyeing cost cuts and expected to exceed its target to take out $160 million heading toward June 2027.

"We will continue to refocus our cost base, removing costs where appropriate whilst continuing to invest in our growth businesses," he added.

In 2025/26, underlying earnings for the publishing arm fell 3.9 per cent to $149.9 million but the streaming and broadcast arm generated a 1.8 per cent increase to $214.1 million.

Nine's total television earnings came to $133.5 million, a fall of 18.5 per cent, while Stan made $80.6 million, reflecting a big gain of 20.3 per cent.

Nine declared a final dividend of three cents, taking the total for the year to 7.5 cents.