Champions League ensures record performance for BT TV

BT TV added 106,000 new households in the half year to 30 September 2015, marking a new record for the group.

Bolstered by the arrival of the Champions League at the end of the last quarter, chief executive Gavin Patterson said that the contribution from BT Sport Europe had been “better than expected” and had helped drive a 7% increase in BT Consumer revenue.

BT won the rights to Uefa matches, which include the Champions League, from Sky in 2013 after forking out £897 million – a cost which the group said is reflected in the -1% decline in core earnings.

Despite this, overall revenue across the group was up 2% to £4.38 billion, beating analyst forecasts of £4.3 billion.

BT’s fibre broadband also performed well over the quarter, with net additions up 21%, while its mobile customer base surpassed the 200,000 mark.

BT is to acquire EE’s entire mobile customer base in due course.