BSkyB edges closer to ten million

UK satellite pay-TV operator BSkyB is expected to move closer to hitting its target of 10 million subscribers by the end of the year when it reports its first quarter figures later this week.

The company currently has 9.86 million subscribers and investment bank Numis has forecast that the News Corp-backed operator added 53,000 in the three months to September. BSkyB has been the subject of a full takeover attempt from Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, although the move has received opposition from a number of rival media businesses and is currently in the process of clearing regulatory hurdles.