Digital boost for Sky

Satellite broadcaster British Sky Broadcasting has seen a surge in digital subscriber numbers since the start of the year, it said today.

A record 252,000 signed up in the three months to the end of March, taking BSkyB’s total number of DTH - direct-to-home - subscribers to 5.4 million.

The subscriber number excludes those viewers receiving Sky channels in their homes through cable.

The rise helped BSkyB’s revenues from its DTH subscriber base increase by £270m to £1.1bn for the first nine months of the year.

Average revenue per subscriber is also on the up, the broadcaster said, from £282 over the first half of the year to £289 in the first nine months.

BSkyB’s chief executive Tony Ball said the results showed the broadcaster was continuing to ‘‘make real progress’’ both operationally and financially.

Operating profit for the first nine months of the year rose to £69.6m, compared with £51.1m in the same period last year.

Pre-tax losses for the nine months widened, however, to £176.4 million before one-off costs from £89.9m. Pre-tax losses in the third quarter alone were £105.1m.

BSkyB said the heavier losses were down to operating losses in its joint venture with German media group Kirch - KirchPayTV.

The broadcaster was also facing increased costs due to the initial outlay in set-top boxes and satellite dishes, which it recovers in the first year.

BSkyB is also exposed to losses at its British Interactive Broadcasting (BiB) arm, which operates under the Open digital service.

BSkyB today increased its stake in BiB to 80.1%.