Double-digit growth in advertising and circulation revenue has contributed to a 46 per cent increase in earnings for DB Corp, which publishes Hindi flagship newspaper Dainik Bhaskar.

Figures for the second quarter of 2016 show a 21 per cent increase in advertising to INR 4136 million ($81.9 million) over the same period of 2015, with circulation increasing 15 per cent. The company says its 15 per cent CAGR circulation growth for the last five years - the highest among its listed peer group - demonstrates the strength of its product, content strategy and editorial philosophy.

EBIDTA grew by 46 per cent at INR1853 million, with PAT increasing by 62 per cent.

DB Corp owns what is claimed to be the country's largest website (the Hindi www.dainikbhaskar.com) as well as the largest website in Gujarati. Revenue from digital business grew by 22 per cent to INR123 million. It has just launched a new real estate portal, homeonline.com following a year of investment, and has seen English-language website Post Pickle - aimed at youth and women's audiences - grow to almost a million visitors.

A 17.25 per cent increase in print advertising contributed to an increase in print EBIDTA of 57.64 per cent.

Managing director Sudhir Agarwal says the "stellar performance" this quarter shows how effective growth strategies have been: "Over the past few quarters, we undertook several key initiatives to propel the company on a growth trajectory, which have started delivering results.

"We have been confidently implementing our yield strategy which has gained acceptance among advertisers... and are happy to report the success of these determined efforts this quarter."

ABC audit figures place Dainik Bhaskar as India's largest-circulation national daily, and it has been ranked fourth largest in the world by WAN-Ifra. DB Corp's flagship newspapers also include Divya Bhaskar, Dainik Divya Marathi and Saurashtra Samachar.