482,000 net additions, more than double the same period in 2008, have taken the number of households receiving Sky’s high definition service to 2,082,000. The service received another boost with plans to sell the HD box as standard.
The figures combined with net additions of 172,000 to deliver total revenues of £2.9 billion, and an operating profit of £401 million, in the second quarter to December 31, 2009. The satcaster now boasts 9,708,000 subscribing households.
“This year, we intend to build on our success by bringing our leading HD box technology to even more customers,” said Sky chief executive Jeremy Darroch. “From today, we will start selling HD-enabled boxes as standard and customers will receive the box for free when they subscribe to our HD pack of channels. These are important steps which will allow us to grow more efficiently and further accelerate the pace of innovation for customers. “
When standard definition Sky+ boxes of 71,000 are included, the total number of new households with the PVR product reached 6,455,000; Multiroom put on 102,000 households to 1,999,000. Broadband climbed 101,000 to 2,404,000, while telephony added 130 to reach 2,112,000.