BSkyB On Track To Hit Subscriber Target

BSkyB has said that it is “confident” of reaching its target of 7 million subscribers by 2003 and has dismissed claims that digital TV is a failing medium.

Speaking at ISBA’s Annual Advertising Conference yesterday, BSkyB’s chief operating officer, Richard Freudenstein, claimed that the satellite operator, which currently has 5.7 million digital subscribers (see

Freudenstein told delegates that digital TV would dominate the media landscape over the next five years, providing unique opportunities for advertisers. He said: “Multichannel TV has already overtaken ITV1 to provide the largest male 16-34 audience and Zentih predicts that pay-TV’s share of ad revenue will increase by 60% over the next few years.”

He dismissed claims that the uptake of digital TV was floundering and said: “The best audiences are migrating fastest. 61% of 16-34 year olds currently have multichannel TV as do 50% of ABC1 adults. More than 100 brands have already run interactive campaigns on Sky and with continued growth expected, digital TV will become an increasingly compelling medium for advertisers and consumers alike.”

He added: “Digital TV creates a dialogue that gives consumers greater control over what they watch and how they watch it. It is not about simply pushing more programmes on unresponsive viewers.”

BSkyB recently signed a new five-year carriage deal allowing it to continue broadcasting the 13 television channels owned by Flextech and UKTV. The agreement ensures that the combined Flextech and UKTV portfolio of channels will be available on Sky until the end of 2006 (see BSkyB Signs New Five-Year Carriage Deal).

BSkyB: 020 7705 3000 www.sky.com

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