British satellite broadcaster BSkyB announced a 25-percent rise in interim profits, boosted by a strong increase in new subscribers.
The group, run by James Murdoch, son of media tycoon and BSkyB chairman Rupert Murdoch, signed up more new subscribers in the second quarter than analysts had expected following an aggressive advertising and promotional campaign in the run-up to Christmas.
Profit before tax, interest payments and goodwill items rose 25 percent to 354 million pounds (510 million euros, 667 million dollars) in the six months to December 31 compared with the same period a year earlier, BSkyB said Wednesday.
Total group revenue meanwhile rose 10 percent to 1.945 billion pounds in the first six months of BSkyB's financial year, while net profit climbed 18 percent to 154 million pounds.
Meanwhile in the three months to the end of December, BSkyB added 192,000 new direct-to-home subscribers, taking its customer base in Britain and Ireland to 7.6 million.
Analysts' consensus forecast had been for a rise of 150,000 new subscribers, although some had predicted as many as 180,000.
"The business delivered a strong set of financial results in the first half year with good sales and profit growth," chief executive James Murdoch said in a statement accompanying the results.
He added that the company remained "on track" to hit its goal of eight million direct-to-home subscribers by the end of 2005.
Last summer, the chief executive set a target of 10 million subscribers by 2010, and said he was willing to sacrifice short-term profits for long-term customer growth.
The company said that the total number of households taking its Sky Plus service, which allows customers to pause live television and record one satellite programme while viewing another, rose by 168,000 in the second quarter to 642,000.
BSkyB's almost 8.0 million current customers must spend about 50 pounds per month to watch exclusive British viewings of films and live sport, including football matches in the English Premiership and Champions League.
