Canal Digital loses subs but grows ARPU

Telenor-owned Nordic pay TV operator Canal Digital lost a further 11,000 DTH customers in the first quarter in what Telenor described as a competitive market.

Canal Digital had 954,000 DTH customers at the end of March, down from 986,000 a year ago, having lost subscribers in all four Nordic territories. However ARPU grew to NOK345 (€45), up from NOK332 a year earlier. Revenues were NOK1.1 billion, flat year-on-year, but EBITDA rose to NOK162million from NOK85 million.

Sister company Telenor Satellite Broadcasting saw revenue grow 5% to NOK250 million, driven by data and occasional use sales in non-Nordic markets, while EBITDA grew 10% to NOK178 million.

Telenor-owned conditional access provider Conax saw year-on-year revenue growth of 9% to NOK139 million, thanks to strong sales in Asia and the Americas. EBITDA was NOK60 million, up 25%.