Sky growth highest in five years

[Ahmad_F]

Sky growth highest in five years

By Julian Clover

July 30, 2009 08.28 UK



BSkyB added an additional 124,000 customers in the quarter ending June 30, 2009 taking subscriber numbers to 9.442 million. Announcing its 12-month results the satcaster said the annual number of net additions of 462,000 was the highest in five years. The statistics underline the oft-stated premise that during a recession, families look to the sofa, and a cheaper form of entertainment.

Added value services such as HD and Sky+ also continue to perform; Sky+ HD has added 534,000 households since January 2009, taking the total to 1.313 million. The regular Sky+ personal video recorder now stands at 5.5 million and represents 58% of the installed base.

“This is the year where high definition TV moved centre-stage. We have seen a very strong response from customers to the new lower price of the Sky+HD box, with the total number of HD customers more than doubling to 1.3 million during the year,” said Sky CEO Jeremy Darroch.

Revenues increased by 7% to £5,323 million, taking ARPU to a new high of £464. Operating profit was up 4% to £780 million.

 

[Dobe7777]

Customer growth, HD takeup drive Sky profits

Customer growth, HD takeup drive Sky profits


Thursday, July 30 2009,

By James Welsh


Strong demand for Sky HD and the pay TV operator's fastest rate of net customer additions for five years have contributed to a 4% rise in profits, it was announced this morning.

Sky's full year results for the twelve months to June 30 showed revenue up 7% to £5.32m; average revenues per user at a new high of £464; and adjusted operating profit up 4% to £780m.

Sky now has 9.442m customers, with annual net customer additions of 462,000 - the highest number in five years. Sky HD, which the company said drove annualised incremental revenue of over £100m, added 534,000 customers net over the year, taking it to a subscriber base of 1.313m.

16% of Sky customers now take TV, broadband and telephony bundles, up from 11% at the end of June 2008.

Sky chief executive Jeremy Darroch said: "2009 has been an excellent year of growth. In a tough economic environment, customers are turning to Sky for quality and value in home entertainment and communications. New customers are joining us at the fastest rate for five years and existing customers are taking more products from Sky than ever before.

"This is the year where high definition TV moved centre-stage. We have seen a very strong response from customers to the new lower price of the Sky+HD box, with the total number of HD customers more than doubling to 1.3 million during the year. The rapid growth of HD has helped take Sky+ to new heights, with more than half of our customers now choosing to control their viewing with Sky+."