German cable operator Tele Columbus is still losing TV customers in the wake of regulatory changes, but TV revenues have stabilised.
In the first quarter of 2025, the company reported a 3.6% quarter-on-quarter revenue increase to €104.9 million, with TV sales holding steady at €28.9 million, down only slightly from €29.1 million in the previous quarter.
The company’s TV customer base continues to decline, down by 14,000 in the first quarter, marking a 39.5% year-on-year decline to approximately 1.1 million customers. The customer loss is based on a regulatory change, effective since 1 July 2024, which removed the ability for landlords to bundle cable TV charges with tenants’ monthly rent.
While TV remains a challenge, Tele Columbus’s broadband and telephony segments continue to drive growth. The company reported a 10.6% year-on-year increase in broadband customers, with more than 80% of new subscribers opting for high-speed tariffs of 250Mbps or higher.
Normalised EBITDA fell 18.3% to €39.1 million, but reported EBITDA rose 1.1% year-on-year to €32.5 million, helped by lower one-off expenses. Capital expenditure declined by 12.9% to €35.9 million, with a continued focus on expanding the fibre network. The company has now residential units connected via FTTH
The company continues to see high fibre optic expansion potential. In the 199,000 residential units connected via FTTH, a total of 86.000 user contracts for internet and telephony were concluded as of the first quarter of 2025, which corresponds to a penetration rate of 44% (coax: 28%).
Tele Columbus reports a high level of competitive intensity in the market, which poses an additional challenge to revenue development and places high demands on agility and efficiency in the wake of rising costs, according to the company, adding that it is responding to the market conditions by consistently implementing its strategic priorities and focusing on operational excellence.
