Sky subscriber numbers soar to 8.1 million

[lincsat]

Sky signed up a better-than-expected 215,000 new customers to its digital TV service during the last quarter of 2005 to hit a total of 8.1m subscribers, according to new figures announced on Wednesday February 1st.

Analysts had predicted an average 177,000 would join the pay-TV service. James Murdoch, chief executive of Sky, said the company is positioned to sustain the growth: "The business is moving forward on all fronts. In the last quarter, more customers joined Sky than at any time in the last three years, and we've seen record growth in Sky+ and multi-room households. Now nearly one in three families chooses Sky," he said. Profit before tax rose to £390m, representing a 14% increase from 2004. Also, Sky+ added over 250,000 subscribers in the three months ending December 31 to reach 1.3m subscribers.

Sky is now aiming to reach 10m subscribers by 2010, with 25% penetration of Sky+ and 30% multi-room penetration.