BSkyB hits subscriber targets early

BSkyB hits subscriber targets early

BSkyB hits subscriber targets early

Satellite broadcast giant BSkyB has announced that it has surpassed subscription targets three months early.

The firm said that it had achieved its target of signing up seven million viewers by the end of the year and revealed its subscriber base hit 7,015,000 on September 30th.

Outgoing BSkyB chief executive Tony Ball described it as a ‘fantastic achievement’ and congratulated an “excellent team” on making it possible.

Mr Ball is stepping down from the post after four years in the job. He successor is expected to be chief shareholder Rupert Murdoch’s son James, head of Asian satellite broadcaster Star TV.

The company is now aiming to increase its total subscriber base to eight million by the end of 2005 and has set a target of boosting average revenue per user to £400, up from £366 in June this year.

BSkyB is currently celebrating five years since its popular digital TV service was launched. The service has proved a hit for the company, boosted by an exclusive deal to screen Premiership football matches.