** Shares of Australian media giant Nine Entertainment Co NEC.AX rise 5.2% to A$1.715

** NEC among top gainer in the ASX200 benchmark index .AXJO

** NEC shares hovering near their 11-month highs it clocked on February 21 after its 60%-owned entity Domain Holdings DHG.AX received a $1.7 billion buy-out offer

** NEC reports 1H25 NPAT of A$112.2 million ($71.12 million), down 25% from last year but ahead of Visible Alpha consensus A$88.8 million

** Interim dividend of 3.5 Australian cents per share is ahead of consensus expectation of 3 cents apiece

** Says there expects to be further restructuring into 2H25 and FY26

** Forecasts costs efficiencies through to FY27-end of more than A$100 million, of which A$10-20 million will be realised in FY25

** Says Nine's Total TV ad revenue in March quarter expected to be up in high-single digits

** NEC up 38.5% this year, including the day's move

($1 = 1.5775 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Sameer Manekar in Bengaluru)

((Sameer.Manekar@thomsonreuters.com;))