Russia’s Comstar-UTS ended Q3 with 128,000 subscribers to its pay-TV services in Moscow, or 13% fewer than in the corresponding period last year.
Although pay-TV ARPR was down by 1% in US dollars year-on-year, it rose by 27% in rouble terms to R594 (€13.8).
The number broadband internet subscribers stood at 812,000 (+2%), and while US dollar ARPU was 12% down year-on-year, it was 14% up in rouble terms.
Comstar-UTS has been consolidating its regional assets, and as of the end of September had 1.959 million pay-TV subscribers outside Moscow, compared to only 150,000 a year earlier.
Commenting on the results, the company’s president and CEO Sergey Pridantsev said it was both eyeing up possible acquisitions and considering a number of selective green field sites.