News Corp reports total segment EBITDA of USD1.63 billion (AUD2.31 billion) for the year ended 30 June, a 15% increase compared with the previous year. Management credits the performance to a strong June quarter, when revenue rises 11% to USD2.34 billion and delivers the company’s most profitable quarter on record.
Core operations do the heavy lifting, with Digital Real Estate Services, Dow Jones and Book Publishing driving a 31% lift in fourth-quarter total segment EBITDA to USD423 million. Free cash flow climbs 42% over the year to USD811 million by 30 June.
Tension is growing between the media group and major artificial intelligence platforms over the use of its journalism and data. Company leadership uses the results announcement to condemn AI firms it says have taken News Corp content without paying for it or seeking proper licensing.
The argument centres on the idea that AI tools depend heavily on high-quality reporting, books and data feeds to function reliably. News Corp positions its newsrooms, authors and brands as essential infrastructure for any credible AI ecosystem rather than just another content supplier.
Executives argue that, without professionally produced material, AI systems risk flooding users with low-grade, misleading information instead of trusted reporting and analysis. The company’s stronger balance sheet and cash generation give it more leverage as it pushes for commercial deals and tighter rules around how its material is scraped and used in training models.
