Riyadh - Mubasher: MBC Group generated 14.58% year-on-year (YoY) lower net profits attributable to the shareholder at SAR 198 million in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, compared to SAR 231.80 million.
The revenues fell by 22.85% to SAR 1.57 billion in Q1-26 from SAR 2.04 billion as of 31 March 2025, according to the interim financial results.
MBC attributed the decline to a decrease in the broadcasting and other commercial activities segment’s revenues amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions and the conclusion of certain broadcasting and technical services contracts.
On the other hand, MBC Shahid’s revenues increased by SAR 69 million in Q1-26, driven by the increase in subscriber revenues.
The earnings per share (EPS) retreated to SAR 0.6 in the first three months (3M) of 2026 from SAR 0.70 a year earlier.
Quarterly, the company turned profitable in Q1-26 against net losses of SAR 20.03 million in Q4-25, while the revenues increased by 1.77% from SAR 1.54 billion.
CEO of MBC Group, Mike Sneesby, commented: “During Q1-26, our performance reflected the resilience of MBC’s diversified operating model amid a more volatile external environment.”
“Profitability remained healthy, underpinned by disciplined cost management, strong Ramadan performance, and continued growth in MBC SHAHID, where net profit increased significantly YoY,” Sneesby noted.
He added: “We maintain close visibility on our government project pipeline to support planning and mitigate downside risk. We are also leveraging flexible production models, localization, and remote execution capabilities to ensure continuity of delivery across markets while prioritizing high-impact content to maximize audience engagement.”
In the 12-month period that ended on 31 December 2025, the group’s net profits attributable to the owners declined by 4.36% YoY to SAR 382.52 million from SAR 399.96 million.
