BSkyB breaks 10 million barrier ahead of schedule

UK pay TV operator BSkyB has achieved its long-term target of 10 million TV customers.

Sky said it was now the choice of 36% of UK and Irish households for TV services. The company originally set the target of achieving 10 million customers by the end of 2010 in August 2004, and it has gained an additional 2.6 million subscribers since that date.

About a third of Sky’s customers now take HDTV services, while close to a quarter take broadband and fixed-line phone services in addition to TV.

“To be the choice of 10 million families is a big achievement for the whole team at Sky.  It’s the result of a constant appetite for change and years of hard work behind the scenes to give our customers a great entertainment experience.  But perhaps an even bigger achievement is the transformation of our business, which means we now have more ways to grow than ever,” said Jeremy Darroch, Sky’s CEO.  “Sky has always been a forward-looking company and we will push on from here by continuing to invest in content and innovation. That’s the best way to satisfy existing customers and create new reasons for people to join in and take more from us.”