Sky’s connected TV strategy has resulted in more than half of its installed base hooking up their Sky+HD receivers.
The third financial quarter to March 31, 2014 saw the addition of 74,000 net new TV customers and 108,000 net new HD customers. There were also an additional 284,000 Sky Go Extra customers, the upgrade that allows content to both be downloaded and viewed on additional devices.
Usage of On Demand has tripled over the last 12 months, buoyed by the addition of TV boxed sets from popular series such as The Sopranos and 24. In March, Game of Thrones Series 1-3 became our most downloaded box set ever.
Weekly downloads in the third quarter were three times higher than a year ago – the average viewer downloads three pieces of content per week – while on demand viewing now accounts for 5% of viewing in Sky homes.
The latest means to watch Sky content will be via the PlayStation4. Owners of the gaming device will be able to watch NOW TV from the summer with, significantly, Sky Go being added later in the year.
“Our investment in connected TV services is delivering results. Almost 50% of Sky homes are now connected and this is transforming their viewing experience: connected customers are watching more TV, they’re more loyal and they’re more likely to recommend Sky,” said Sky CEO Jeremy Darroch.
There are now 10.6 million Sky TV customers in the UK and Ireland. However, while revenues increased by 6.6% the additional investment in connected TV and the cost of Premier League rights dented profits.
£5,666 million in revenues in the nine months to March 31, 2014 delivered £910 million from £994 million in 2013.
