Liberty Global sales decline as €4.9bn Dutch unit falters

The owner of UPC in Ireland, Liberty Global, has reported a decline in second-quarter revenue as its Dutch unit Ziggo lost customers, highlighting the difficulties for billionaire John Malone’s European cable company in its hunt for growth.

Liberty said it lost 87,000 subscriptions in the Netherlands in part because of “operational challenges associated with our network” and competition.

Liberty bought Ziggo last year for €4.9bn.