Swisscom’s two IPTV networks, the Italian Fastweb and domestic Bluewin provided light relief against an overall 32% fall in profits.
Fastweb’s mix of broadband internet and IPTV resulted in a 23.1% increase in net revenues to €427 million. Italy’s second largest broadband internet provider ended September with 1,441,000 subscribers, an increase of 43,000 on the quarter, and of 240,000 on the year. There was no breakdown between TV and internet subscribers.
Bluewin increased its subscriber numbers to 95,000, from 80,000 at the end of the June quarter and 52,000 in September 2007. Swisscom has brought down costs at its local IPTV operation and benefited from the discontinuation of the Betty remote control at the end of 2007. Revenues of CHF11 million compared favourably with the CHF5 million at the same point in 2007.
