Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings Limited (ASX:NEC): FY26 Dividends and Digital Media Earnings

Aditi Sarkar

14 October 2026 03:50 PM AEDT

Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings Limited (ASX:NEC): FY26 Dividends and Digital Media Earnings

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Highlights

Nine reported FY26 continuing-business revenue of A$2,189.0 million.
Continuing-business EBITDA before specific items reached A$378.8 million.
Stan recorded A$569.0 million in FY26 revenue and A$80.6 million in EBITDA.
The company announced a 3.0-cent unfranked final dividend payable on 22 October 2026.
Changes to its media portfolio included the acquisition of outdoor advertising company QMS Media.

Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings Limited (ASX:NEC) operates an Australian media business spanning television broadcasting, streaming through Stan and 9Now, publishing and outdoor advertising. Its FY26 financial disclosures reflect a reshaped portfolio, with changes to operating businesses, new outdoor advertising assets and an updated approach to shareholder distributions.

FY26 Revenue and Operating Earnings

For the year ended 30 June 2026, Nine Entertainment (ASX:NEC) reported A$2,189.0 million in revenue from its continuing business. EBITDA before specific items was A$378.8 million, while EBITA before specific items reached A$235.3 million. The company reported net profit after tax before specific items of A$142.4 million on the same basis.

Nine Entertainment (ASX:NEC) distinguished its continuing-business figures from pro forma results and statutory earnings, reflecting acquisitions and disposals during FY26. On a pro forma basis, incorporating a full year of QMS Media, revenue was A$2,407.0 million and EBITDA was A$516.0 million. Statutory net profit was A$511 million, which included discontinued-business gains and specific-item charges. These reporting bases should not be treated as interchangeable.

Streaming, Publishing and Advertising Activities

Stan generated A$569.0 million of FY26 revenue and A$80.6 million of EBITDA before specific items. By comparison, the Total TV business recorded A$1,026.8 million in revenue and A$133.5 million in EBITDA on a continuing-business basis. Nine Entertainment (ASX:NEC) also reported A$517.5 million in publishing revenue and A$149.9 million in publishing EBITDA.

The completion of the QMS Media acquisition on 31 March 2026 added a digital outdoor advertising business to the group. Outdoor advertising contributed A$77.4 million in reported FY26 revenue and A$54.5 million in EBITDA on the continuing-business basis used in the results announcement. Nine Entertainment (ASX:NEC) identified streaming, outdoor advertising and digital publishing as important parts of its operating mix following the portfolio changes.

FY26 Dividend and Franking Position

Nine Entertainment (ASX:NEC) announced an intended final dividend of 3.0 cents per share, unfranked and payable on 22 October 2026. Together with its interim dividend, the stated FY26 full-year ordinary dividend amounted to 7.5 cents per share. The final amount was not yet a paid dividend as at 14 October 2026, so it should not be included in a trailing cash-paid distribution figure.

The company stated that the FY26 full-year dividend represented an approximate 80% payout ratio using its earnings-per-share measure before acquisition-related amortisation and specific items. It also indicated that future ordinary distributions were expected to be set with reference to 60–80% of adjusted net profit after tax. Nine Entertainment (ASX:NEC) said tax and transaction-related changes had affected franking credits and expected FY27 and FY28 interim and final dividends to be unfranked.

Factors Affecting Cash Generation

Advertising conditions, programming commitments and the costs of securing sports content remain relevant to the group’s cash flows. The business also faces costs associated with integrating QMS Media and operating its streaming, television and publishing platforms. Cash available for distributions depends on earnings, tax payments, debt servicing and investment requirements rather than accounting profit alone.

Key Insights

Nine Entertainment (ASX:NEC) entered FY27 with a portfolio that combines subscription streaming, television advertising, digital publishing and outdoor media. Its FY26 results show distinct earnings contributions across those activities, while the announced final dividend and franking outlook underline the importance of distinguishing reported earnings, cash payments and tax treatment when assessing shareholder distributions.

FAQs

Q:What is Nine Entertainment’s ASX ticker?

A:Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings Limited trades under ASX:NEC.

Q:How much revenue did Nine report for FY26?

A:The company reported A$2,189.0 million of continuing-business revenue.

Q:What was the FY26 final dividend?

A:The company announced an unfranked final dividend of 3.0 cents per share, payable on 22 October 2026.

Q:Did the FY26 figures include QMS Media?

A:Continuing-business results included three months of QMS Media, while pro forma figures assumed a full year.

Q:What affected the company’s dividend franking outlook?

A:The company cited transaction-related tax effects and changes to its available franking credits.

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