BSkyB Reports Record Financials Over 12 Months; Will Launch Services In Ireland

Revenues at Britain’s leading satcaster, BSkyB, were up 4.5% to £6.79B for the year ended June 30, 2012. Operating profit jumped a record 14% to £1.22B at the company which is 39% controlled by News Corp. Sky now has 10.6M subscribers in the UK, having added 312,000 in the past year. The biggest growth is in triple-play with 3.4M now turning to Sky, a 21% increase on the previous year. Sky also recently launched internet TV service NOW TV and its free-to-air catch up service, Sky Anytime, will launch in the fall on the on-demand players of rival networks. In reporting the results, chief exec Jeremy Darroch talked up the recent Tour de France win of Bradley Wiggins. “We are proud to have played our part in the wonderful achievement of Team Sky and Bradley Wiggins, who created sporting history this week by becoming the first British winner of the Tour de France… We all hope that success at the Tour de France will add fuel to Britain’s cycling boom and inspire a whole new generation to get on their bikes.” The company also announced it would expand telephone and broadband services to the Republic of Ireland later this year.