BT TV added 106,000 new households in the half year to 30 September 2015, marking a new record for the group.
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The group posted revenue of 4.38 billion pounds ($6.7 billion) for the quarter, in which it added a record 106,000 TV customers. “Its contribution has been better than we expected, helping drive a 7% increase in BT Consumer revenue”.
However, its business divisions have performed less well, with BT Global Services suffering ongoing declines in the United Kingdom (though a stronger performance was seen in continental Europe) and BT Business underlying revenue remaining flat.
Adjusted profit before tax was £1,400 million, up 5%.
Tony Chanmugam, BT’s finance director, has previously warned that profits would take a hit in the second quarter as a result of the billions it has spent securing football rights.
This, says BT includes its Champions League and Europa League coverage, warning that Ofcom’s guidance does not provide enough flexibility over how its recovers its sports costs.
On Wednesday, BT’s takeover of mobile phone operator EE was given provisional clearance by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
“This is our best ever quarter reflecting the improvements we have made to our TV offering including the launch of BT Sport Europe and our new AMC TV channel”, said Patterson.
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BT said that its TV customer base now stands at 1.3 million and that, including its BT Sport and AMC channels, it now offers 182 channels. Fibre net additions were up 21 per cent, which brings the number of homes and businesses connected to five million.
