Sky posts 10% increase in total revenues

BSkyB has reported a 10% year on year rise in total revenues to £2.9 billion for the second half of 2009.

The pay-TV broadcaster said the growth in Sky HD services contributed towards its solid performance.  Sky+HD added 482,000 users in Q4 2009, which is more than double to amount compared to the same period in 2008.

In total, 2.08 million households now use Sky+HD services, which helped Sky increase its customer base by 172,000 to 9.7 million during the six-month period to the end of the year, according to reports.

Sky’s operating profit was up 4% year on year between July and December 2009 to £401 million, while adjusted earnings were up 8% year on year to £567 million.

The company’s chief executive Jeremy Darroch said the “standout performance” came from high definition services and as a result, Sky plans to sell HD-enabled boxes as standard from today onwards.

Customers who subscribe to HD channels will also receive Sky+HD for free, according to Darroch.

BSkyB said that 18% of its customers now get TV, broadband and telephone services from the broadcaster, although net additions of the services were down in both Q3 and Q4 last year (by 38% and 6.5% respectively).

Following today’s results, Sky’s interim dividend to shareholders is up 5% to 7.875 pence per share.