Is this battered ASX media stock turning the page after bold move?

This battered ASX media stock may finally be turning the page. After months of asset sales, cost cuts, and strategic resets, Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC) sparked fresh optimism on Friday and Monday.

The media group’s shares posted their strongest jump in months. It followed a decisive portfolio shake-up built around a major acquisition and a clean break from legacy assets.

The ASX media stock gained another 6.55% on Monday to finish the day at $1.22. Nine Entertainment is still 29% down over the last 6 months, though, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which is up 1.33% over the same period.

Slowing advertising, capital concerns

The ASX media stock has been under heavy pressure for much of the past year, sliding around 30% from mid-2025 levels. Slowing TV advertising, structural shifts in media consumption, and capital management concerns have weighed on sentiment of the Nine Entertainment share.

Despite cost discipline and occasional earnings resilience, Nine’s share price remained anchored well below its highs, reflecting deep caution toward traditional broadcasters.

That caution cracked when the ASX media stock unveiled plans to acquire QMS Media for roughly $850 million while exiting radio and reshaping its regional television footprint. QMS is expected to generate about $105 million in EBITDA in calendar year 2026, which would be a double-digit increase over the previous year, Nine said.

The merger should also deliver about $20 million in annual cost savings by FY29, according to the board of Nine Entertainment.

The market responded swiftly, pushing the stock sharply higher as investors reassessed the company’s direction.

Clear shift outdoor advertising

The QMS deal signals a clear pivot away from legacy broadcasting toward a broader, digitally driven advertising platform. Outdoor advertising — one of the faster-growing segments of the ad market — adds scale and diversification to Nine’s existing TV, streaming, and publishing assets.

Nine Entertainment thinks the takeover strengthens its “sofa-to-street” reach. Management of the ASX media stock expects digital-led businesses to generate more than 60% of revenue by FY27, underscoring the urgency of the transformation.

Exit radio, digital focus

Risks remain. Higher leverage, integration challenges, and pressure on dividend franking credits temper enthusiasm, while free-to-air advertising continues to face long-term headwinds. Still, the exit from radio and renewed focus on scalable digital assets highlight how aggressively Nine is repositioning itself.

For long-suffering shareholders, the recent rally offered something rare. It could be evidence that the ASX media share’s multi-year reset may finally be translating into market confidence, even if the hard work is far from over.

Most brokers continue to rate the media stock a buy following its sharp decline in the past 6 months. The average 12-month price target sits at $1.27, suggesting potential upside of 4%.

Nine was valued at $1.93 billion at the close of trade on Monday.

The post Is this battered ASX media stock turning the page after bold move? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Nine Entertainment. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.