The expansion of the Canal Digital product portfolio helped increase first quarter sales at the Nordic pay-TV platform from NOK1,396m (€174.94m) to NOK1,477m (€185.09m). However, higher content and hardware cost contributed to a near halving of profits within the Canal Digital Group to NOK61m.
DTH subscribers fell by 18,000 to 1,124,000 million on March 31, 2008. This was compensated in part by an increase of cable TV subscribers of 10,000 to 710,000 and cable TV internet access of 40,000 to 140,000.
Total operating profit within the Telenor Broadcast Division fell from NOK223 to NOK210, though EBITDA climbed slightly from NOK375m to NOK386m. The cost of the new Thor 5 satellite, successfully launched in February, was included in first quarter capital expenditure.
The transmission and encryption division, including Norkring and Conax, benefitted from the introduction of DTT in Norway. Operating profit climbed from NOK127m to NOK206m.
