BSkyB reaches three million HD customers

UK satellite pay-TV operator BSkyB has reached three million high-definition subscribers, four years after its initial launch. This comes as the satellite broadcaster launches female-skewing channel Living to its HD service.

Living, part of the Living TV Group that it acquired earlier this summer, will launch on the service today with its series including Britain’s Next Top Model and Grey’s Anatomy, This brings the total number of HD channels to its HD package to 50 including channels from the BBC, ITV and its Sky Sports channels. It is expected to launch Eden HD as well as three further HD channels from ITV to its service later this year.

Sophie Turner Laing, managing director, entertainment, news and broadcast operations, said: “Sky recognised the potential of HD early and we are delighted it has grown into something which our customers utterly love and now demand as standard. Adding Living HD to our great range of high-quality HD channels only adds to the choice that more than three million homes enjoy.”

Separately, BSkyB has completed to sale of Easynet Global Services to LDC, a private-equity investor. LDC has paid Sky £100m (€120m) for the business-to-business telecommunications operation, which it now owns outright.