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BSkyB buoyed by high definition sales boost

BSkyB has revealed a significant rise in half-year profits, buoyed by a growing number of high definition (HD) customers.

The satellite TV group announced on Thursday it had secured 482,000 new Sky+HD customers in the last quarter of 2009, with an overall rise of 30 per cent in half-year profits.

Revenue for the half-year was also up by ten per cent, to £2.9 billion.

Jeremy Darroch, chief executive of the firm, said: "It has been another good quarter in what remains a tough environment, with more customers joining Sky and strong demand across our entire product range.

"The standout performance came in high definition TV with almost half a million customers choosing Sky+HD for our best home entertainment service."

Last week BSkyB was told by the court of appeal it must reduce its 17.9 per cent stake in ITV to below 7.5 per cent. The satellite broadcaster, part of Sky, lost its appeal after challenging a ruling by the Competition Commission (CC) that its stake was not in the public interest.

Sky bought the stake in ITV in 2006 for £940 million, but the move was opposed by the CC in 2007, who said the stake was against the public interest.