Broadcaster and publisher of the Sydney Morning Herald, Nine Entertainment reported “continued audience strength” across all its key platforms.

Revenue of $1.3 billion and a net profit after tax of $213 million included a post-tax specific item expense of $12 million.

“We are really pleased with how Nine closed calendar 2021, with strong audience and revenue performance across all businesses, both subscription and advertising, underpinning 15 per cent growth in EBITDA for the December half and surpassing the guidance we gave back in November,” chief executive Mike Sneesby said.

The company reported a record revenue year for combined FTA and BVOD television – including revenue growth of 11 per cent – with 2.5 million active Stan subscribers, and 39 per cent ($27 million) growth in first half publishing EBITDA driven by subscription and licensing (including the Google and Facebook agreements).

Sneesby says momentum remains “clearly positive”, with results delivered by increasingly diversified, and increasingly digital revenue streams.

Nine’s publishing division – which includes metro media business, as well as nine.com.au, Pedestrian Group and Drive – reported revenue of $300 million and a combined EBITDA of $95 million, up 39 per cent on the first half of FY21. Digital now accounts for more than 60 per cent of publishing revenue.

Print advertising grew by 15 per cent, with travel and commercial real estate bouncing back strongly, “the former however, remaining well below pre-COVID levels”.

Publishing costs increased by seven per cent with “around one-third related to post-COVID rebalances”.

Nine says it will pay an interim dividend of 7.0 cents per share, fully franked, and intends to maintain a payout ratio of c.60-80 per cent through the cycle.