Sky’s profits rise

BSkyB unveiled a jump in profits yesterday as customers signed up to an increasingly wide range of products with the broadcaster.

The group reported an 8 per cent rise in operating profits to £647 million in the six months to 31 December after it gained 80,000 additional customers.

Price rises and new services such as internet TV and Sky Go, which allows users to watch television on their mobile phones and tablets, helped average revenues per user to grow by £24 year-on-year, to £568.

Chief executive Jeremy Darroch said investment in content and technology had persuaded customers to “stay loyal” and spend more with Sky.

The firm increased its interim dividend by 20 per cent to 11p.