BSkyB in revenue boost as viewer numbers rise

Published on Wednesday 31 January 2007 12:03

SATELLITE broadcaster BSkyB today revealed its revenues had risen ten per cent to £2.2 billion over the six months to the end of December.

The company said its customer base had hit around 8.44 million - moving closer to its target of ten million subscribers by the end of 2010.

BSkyB said it had added 183,000 net TV subscribers in the second quarter, below the average forecast of 190,000.

The group also said it had connected 259,000 customers to its broadband service, launched last July, by the end of January.

But BSkyB saw its profits drop to 356m, from 390m, although that was ahead of analysts' forecasts for 293m.

James Murdoch, chief executive, said: "In the last six months we have achieved a number of important milestones in building our business for the future.

"Sales of new Sky boxes were the highest for six years, Sky+ broke through the two million barrier and Sky HD almost doubled in size after a strong Christmas sales period."

And quashing speculation that he was poised to leave the firm, Mr Murdoch added: "I have no plans to go anywhere right now. The reports of last week were false."