Subscription revenues at up-for-sale satcaster Digital+ increased by 0.8% in the final quarter of 2008 as overall subscriber numbers fell. The Prisa-owned business has flatlined in recent months with the installed base now below December 2006 levels.
Increased ARPU of €44.5 per month, up from €41.7 in the last quarter, helped take fourth quarter subscription revenues to a record €1,141.0 million. As of December 31, 2008 the total number of subscribers was 2,035,000, a fall of 26,000 on the quarter, and 30,000 on the year. EBIT increased by 34.6% to €237.83 million.
In January, talks over the €2.5 billion sale of the business halted after prospective owners Telefonica and Vivendi refused to move beyond €2 billion.