Hindustan Media Ventures Ltd (HMVL) was incorporated on July 9, 1918, initially as The Behar Journals Ltd. The company was formerly known as Searchlight Publishing House Limited before changing its name to Hindustan Media Ventures Limited in November 2008. Headquartered in New Delhi, India, HMVL's equity shares were admitted for trading on the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) and BSE Limited (BSE) effective January 30, 2020.
HMVL is a significant part of the Hindustan Times Group. It publishes the leading Hindi daily newspaper, _Hindustan_. The company is a 74.4% subsidiary of HT Media Limited, which in turn is a 69.5% subsidiary of Hindustan Times Limited (HTL), a KK Birla Group Company. Hindustan Media Ventures Limited is an India-based company engaged in the business of publishing the Hindi daily _Hindustan_ and Hindi Magazines, alongside undertaking commercial printing jobs. The Company operates across two primary segments: Printing & Publishing of Newspaper & Periodicals and Digital.
_Hindustan_ newspaper covers a wide spectrum of news, including politics, business, entertainment, sports, and other topics of interest at global, national, and local levels. It is published across five key regions: Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Delhi-NCR. The company ensures its extensive reach through a combination of owned, franchised, and outsourced printing facilities.
Hindustan Media Ventures Ltd stands as a leading media company in India, renowned for publishing _Hindustan_, the third-largest newspaper in the country. With a readership of nine million, it holds significant popularity in Hindi-speaking regions such as Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. _Hindustan_ is currently printed at 17 locations and distributed via a network of agents and vendors.
The company also manages the website Livehindustan.com, offers magazine services (_Nandan_ and _Kadambini_), and executes customized event solutions.
Key Brands and Offerings:
- LiveHindustan.com: The Hindi news website for the _Hindustan_ newspaper, providing comprehensive online content.
- _Nandan_: A monthly children's magazine featuring a mix of traditional and modern stories, poems, interactive columns, interesting facts, and educational content.
- _Kadambini_: A monthly socio-cultural magazine covering literature, art, culture, health, technology, fashion, and travel.
- HT Media Labs: An innovation hub that includes platforms like OTTplay, Slurrp, MintGenie, and Upublish, catering to diverse user needs from entertainment to personal finance.
As of May 12, 2025, 01:43 PM, the market capitalization of Hindustan Media Ventures Ltd stood at ₹615.16 Cr. The company's financial performance has shown a mixed trend with both positive developments and challenges.
- Quarter Ended December 2024 (Q3 FY2024-25):
- Net Profit: ₹17.99 crore (compared to a net loss of ₹0.82 crore in Q3 FY2023-24).
- Sales: Increased by 7.94% to ₹197.47 crore (compared to ₹182.95 crore in Q3 FY2023-24).
- Quarter Ended September 2024 (Q2 FY2024-25):
- Net Profit: ₹13.87 crore (compared to a net loss of ₹6.33 crore in Q2 FY2023-24).
- Sales: Increased by 4.53% to ₹171.99 crore (compared to ₹164.53 crore in Q2 FY2023-24).
- Quarter Ended March 2025 (Q4 FY2024-25):
- Net Profit: Jumped 322.72% year-on-year to ₹45.40 crore, driven by digital growth.
- The board approved an investment of ₹7.71 crore in VIR Mobility Pvt Ltd.
Overall, the company has demonstrated strong financial performance in recent periods, with notable increases in revenue and profit compared to the previous year.
- Market Capitalization: ₹589.81 Cr (as of May 12, 2025)
- Operating Revenue (TTM): ₹719.69 Cr (Trailing Twelve Months)
- P/E Ratio: 14.52 (as of May 12, 2025)
- P/B Ratio: 2.43 (as of May 12, 2025)
- 52-Week Range: High: ₹109.90, Low: ₹73.20
The company has shown a robust financial performance, with a 12% revenue increase attributed to effective pricing strategies, particularly in the Print segment. Despite challenges in the Hindi advertising market, management is strategically rationalizing unproductive copies to align readership with revenue potential. The digital landscape, especially through platforms like OTTplay, presents significant promise for future growth, supported by a diversified revenue model including subscription packages and technology-focused initiatives.
HMVL has been actively expanding its digital footprint and making strategic investments. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, "HT Noida (Company) Limited," was incorporated on February 11, 2020, and a Limited Liability Partnership, "HT Content Studio LLP," was incorporated on August 21, 2019. During FY 2019-20, the company launched _Hindustan City_, a lifestyle and entertainment supplement in Delhi.
Promoter holding in Hindustan Media Ventures Ltd remained stable at 74.40% as of March 2025, consistent from June 2024. Hindustan Media Ventures Limited is a subsidiary of HT Media Limited. The company maintains a stable ownership structure with strong promoter backing from the Birla Group.
The company is debt-free and possesses a strong balance sheet, enabling it to report stable earnings growth across business cycles. This financial stability positions HMVL well for future growth opportunities, even amidst the evolving traditional print media industry.
Hindustan Media Ventures continues to adapt to the dynamic media landscape by balancing its established print business with emerging digital initiatives. This strategy allows it to maintain its position as a significant player in the Hindi media market while actively exploring new revenue streams through strategic investments and digital platforms.
