Digital Packages Set To Increase In Price

BSkyB and ONdigital are set to raise the prices of their digital packages, with customers taking basic tiers hit the hardest. From January 2001, the price of Sky Digital’s basic package will increase by 23%, or £3, on top of current prices, while ONdigital customers will see a monthly increase of £1 to the “basic plus” package.

Most BSkyB subscribers take the full Sky package and they will see their monthly fee rise by £2, or 6%, to £34. The overall rate of increase will generate around £130-140m of additional revenue for the group, which reports its Q1 results on Friday.

Subscription levels are expected to reach 4.72m, on track to meet its 5m level by the year end. The satellite broadcaster announced subscriptions to its digital service at 3.6m in its latest full-year results (see BSkyB Reports Losses As Digital Subs Reach Record High). Revenues are also expected to be up, as the consolidation of interactive platform Open and Sports Internet take effect. A growth of 38% is forecast, taking revenues to £542m.

ONdigital, meanwhile, is on target to reach one million subscribers by the end of this year (see ONdigital Prepares For Christmas Rush As Subs Reach 896,000). Recent additions to its line-up include the Paramount Comedy channel and kid’s channel Nickleodeon.

BSkyB: 020 7705 3000 ONdigital: 020 7819 8000