BSkyB today announced its financial results for the year ended 30th June 1999. Central to the results has been the performance of BSkyB in the digital television market, in particular, the early penetration of digital television hardware and the number of digital subscribers already on board.
BSkyB had digital sales of 1.21 million by the end of July. Of these, 515,000 (43%) were new customers. This is on a par with the first six-months of its financial year which showed that, of the 275,000 digital subscribers signed up by the end of last December, only 120,000 were new Sky subscribers (43.6%) (see Newsline). BSkyB notes, however that 55% of sales in July were to new customers.
Since its free set-top box (STB) offer was announced (see Newsline) BSkyB has shifted 600,000 units. This represents a threefold increase in monthly demand. The vast baulk of Sky’s digital customers (98%) buy into the Family Basic package.
Profit before tax and exceptionals for the year just ended stood at £73 million (1997/1998 – £271m), reflecting, say BSkyB, “reduced operating profits and a £39 million increase in the operating losses of BiB”. After exceptional charges (£461m) the company recorded a loss, before tax, of £388 million.
Details of BSkyB’s subscriber numbers, digital sales and subscribers by quarter, and digital sales and subscribers to end of July are set out in the tables below.
| Digital Television Subscriber Numbers |
| Type/Area |
As at 30.06.98 |
As at 31.03.99 |
As at 30.06.99 |
| DTH |
3,547,000 |
3,445,000 |
3,460,000 |
| Cable |
2,796,000 |
3,140,000 |
3,189,000 |
| ONdigital |
– |
110,000 |
204,000 |
| Eire |
556,000 |
583,000 |
589,000 |
| TOTAL |
6,899,000 |
7,278,000 |
7,442,000 |
source: British Sky Broadcasting Ltd (1999)
| Digital sales and subscribers by Quarter |
| |
3m to 31.12.98 |
3m to 31.03.99 |
3m to 30.06.99 |
| Sales |
|
|
|
| Total |
279,000 |
185,000 |
476,000 |
| New |
82,000 |
95,000 |
189,000 |
| Subscribers |
|
|
|
| Total |
225,000 |
203,000 |
325,000 |
| New |
70,000 |
95,000 |
116,000 |
source: British Sky Broadcasting Ltd (1999)
| Digital sales and subscribers to end of July |
| |
12m to 30.06.99 |
12m to July 1999 |
To 31.07.99 |
| Sales |
|
|
|
| Total |
940,000 |
271,000 |
1,211,000 |
| New |
366,000 |
149,000 |
515,000 |
| Subscribers |
|
|
|
| Total |
753,000 |
258,000 |
1,011,000 |
| New |
281,000 |
127,000 |
408,000 |
source: British Sky Broadcasting Ltd (1999)
British Sky Broadcasting Ltd: 0171 705 3000
