BSkyB subscriber numbers swell

Satellite broadcaster BSkyB’s subscriber base has swelled to more than six million after a further year of progress, it said today.

The group signed up a net 214,000 customers in the three months to the end of June to take its number of direct-to-home subscribers to 6.1 million.

Chief executive Tony Ball said the broadcaster was on track to hit 7 million by the end of next year as well as reaching its revenue targets.

Shares in the broadcaster surged by almost 5% in London as investors also welcomed a strong jump in operating profits and a reduction in BSkyB’s debt.

Operating profits rose 20% to £192m (€306m) in the 12 months to June 30 before one-off costs while net debt fell by £165m (€263m) to £1.53bn (€2.44bn).

Mr Ball said the group was also generating positive free cashflow while its churn rate, the average number of subscribers leaving, was stable at 10.5%.

"We will continue to focus on profitable growth in the coming year," he added.