Sky Broadband Launch
July 18 2006 - 5:00AM
UK Regulatory
RNS Number:3346G
British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC
18 July 2006
18 July 2006
BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING PLC
Free Broadband for Sky Customers
Launch sets new standards in quality, ease and savings
Launching its new broadband internet access service, Sky Broadband, at an event
for analysts and investors this morning the Company disclosed the following:
Operating and Financial outlook
* Pay-TV business on track to achieve 2010 targets
* Clear strategy to build a scale broadband customer base, targeting
revenues from high growth opportunities in online advertising, search
and content and increasing penetration of additional products
* Anticipated investment of #400 million of EBIT to be invested over the next
three years
* Broadband expected to be earnings enhancing in the year to 30 June 2010
independent of any Pay-TV benefits
* Capital expenditure of approximately #250 million in first two years
* Targeting broadband ROCE of 15% for the year ended 2011 including initial cost
of Easynet acquisition
* Progressive dividend policy to be maintained across investment phase
James Murdoch, Chief Executive said:
"Sky Broadband is a compelling product which rewards our 8 million customers
with a quality service offering flexibility and great value. Sky is ideally
equipped to enter the large and growing markets of broadband and telephony and
by pushing the boundaries of the home entertainment market, we will help our
customers realise the full potential from technological convergence. The business
case is clear; we believe our investment will enhance top-line growth, be
earnings enhancing from 2010 and with the benefits of scale, deliver
increasingly attractive returns thereafter whilst offering substantial savings
and compelling value to customers. This is a transformational new initiative for
Sky."
Enquiries:
Analysts/Investors:
Andrew Griffith Tel: 020 7705 3118
Robert Kingston Tel: 020 7705 3726
E-mail: investor-relations@bskyb.com
Press:
Matthew Anderson Tel: 020 7705 3267
Robert Fraser Tel: 020 7705 3036
E-mail: corporate.communications@bskyb.com
BSkyB will announce further details on Sky Broadband at a presentation to UK
analysts and Investors at 9:00 a.m. (BST) today at Vinopolis, Stoney Street,
London SE1 9BU.
A conference call for US analysts and investors will be held at 10:00 a.m. (EST)
today. Details of the call have been sent to US institutions and can be obtained
from Rebecca Lohse at Taylor Rafferty on +1 212 889 4350.
A live webcast of the presentation, including Q&A and presentation materials
will be available from 9:00 a.m. (BST) today on Sky's website, which may be
found at www.sky.com/corporate.
Interviews with James Murdoch and Jeremy Darroch are available in video, audio,
text, vodcast and podcast on www.sky.com/corporate and www.cantos.com.
Please note that BSkyB expects to announce its Preliminary Results via RNS at
7:00 a.m. (BST) on 28 July 2006. A conference call for UK and European analysts
and investors will be held at 9:00 a.m. (BST) and a separate conference call for
US analysts and investors will be held at 10:00 a.m. (EST) on the same date.
Highlights of Consumer Proposition
* Cutting bills for millions of Sky customers vs current broadband providers
* Free broadband with up to 2Mb download speed for Sky TV customers,
whatever TV package they take
* Also offering a choice of other quality products for all needs with download
speeds up to 16Mb
* First company to give a free wireless router to all customers
* First broadband provider to offer 12 months free McAfee Security to all
customers
* First broadband provider to offer the option of professional home installation
across all products for all customers
* Slashing phone bills - Sky Talk offers anytime UK landline calls for just #5 per
month
* State-of-the-art network makes innovation and value possible
* Flexibility - no requirement to take additional telephone packages to enjoy
Sky Broadband
Background
Sky today launched its new broadband internet access service, Sky Broadband,
promising outstanding value, wireless access for all, full McAfee security,
hassle-free installation and a flexible range of high quality products for Sky
TV customers.
Sky has already changed the way more than 8 million homes - or nearly one in
three families - watch television with innovations such as digital TV,
interactive TV, Sky+, HDTV and movie downloads. Now its move into broadband will
reward Sky TV customers and add to pressure on established internet providers by
cutting some household bills by nearly #300 a year* whilst offering a range of
state-of-the-art products and flexible services.
With three different broadband products, Sky Broadband Base, Mid and Max, the
launch sets a new industry standard with no compromise on quality or value. The
products range from a free service offering download speeds of up to 2Mb to an
awesome connection of up to 16Mb for just #10 a month.
All three products are available to any Sky digital customer covered by Sky's
expanding broadband network. They offer substantial savings for millions of Sky
customers when compared to equivalent alternative products, with most
customers able to save hundreds of pounds a year.
New customers can join Sky digital for as little as #15 per month
(minimum 12 months) and sign up for Sky Broadband at the same time. This means
that many broadband users who don't yet have Sky TV could switch to Sky and
start enjoying a great choice of entertainment while still saving money overall.
The launch of Sky Broadband has been made possible by Sky's state-of-the-art
network, which already covers 28% of households including London, Birmingham,
Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow. The network is rolling out fast across the
UK and is expected to pass more homes than the entire cable industry by early
next year, reaching 70% of all UK households by the end of 2007.
Sky Broadband Base is free to Sky digital customers covered by the Sky Broadband
network. With downloads speeds of up to 2Mb and 2GB monthly usage, Base suits
people who use the internet mainly to surf and email. Sky Broadband Mid costs
only #5 a month, and offers download speeds of to up 8Mb and 40GB of usage.
Mid is well suited for downloading, uploading, and sending photos. Sky Broadband
Max costs only #10 a month and has enormous download speeds of up to 16Mb,
unlimited*** downloads and free professional home installation. This top product
is ideally suited to those frequently downloading video content such as movies or
TV dramas or to online gaming enthusiasts who want ultimate online power
at an amazing price.
Advance registration for Sky Broadband begins at noon today, with sales due
to begin in early August. To check availability and register for Sky
Broadband, customers can visit www.sky.com/broadband, where a simple to use
registration website helps customers in our network areas to choose the
product that suits their needs, and allows a quick and simple availability
check. Availability check and registration is also available on television
via Sky Active and by telephone on 08702 402900.
Sky digital customers who are not covered by Sky's broadband network can enjoy
Sky Broadband Connect, which features all of the benefits of Sky Broadband Mid
for a #17 monthly subscription. As the Sky network rolls out across the UK,
newly covered Sky Connect customers will be offered the Base, Mid or Max
products as their area gets connected.
Uniquely, all Sky Broadband products come with a free wireless router, the Sky
Broadband Box, enabling different household members to simultaneously connect to
the internet from a computer in any room in their home. For peace of mind, PC
users can also get a year's free subscription to the UK's most popular household
security product, McAfee Internet Security Suite, worth #49.98. Mac users will
get 12 months free McAfee Virex worth #29.99.
For ease and convenience, Sky can professionally install Sky Broadband in
customers' homes, a service that is available to all and provided free of charge
with the Max product. For those who choose to install Sky Broadband themselves,
a straight-forward, plug in and play installation CD and accompanying Set Up
Guide will have most people up and running in less than 10 minutes**.
Customers can choose @sky.com email addresses and will benefit from the
exclusive Sky Broadband personalised portal, featuring a personal address book,
search, photo management and access to Sky's new on-line entertainment services
such as recommendations, Sky+ Remote Record and more than a thousand movies and
sports clips.
Relaunched today, Sky Talk is a new telephony product for Sky customers that
offers unlimited UK(1) landline to landline phone calls, day and night, weekdays
and weekends, for only #5 a month (plus line rental). Sky Talk is available to
all Sky digital customers and there is no requirement to sign up for Sky
Broadband in order to take Sky Talk.
Sky will invest around #400m at the operating profit level over the next three
years to develop its broadband business. The launch is being backed by a
multi-million pound advertising and marketing campaign featuring the strapline
'uploads, downloads, save loads'. Launching today, the campaign includes TV,
print, online and radio ads as well as special building wraps.
Appendix
Sky Broadband Packages
BASE MID MAX Connect
Speed Up to 2Mb Up to 8Mb Up to 16Mb Up to 8Mb
Monthly Usage 2GB 40GB Unlimited*** 40GB
Monthly subscription Free #5 #10 #17
Connection**** #40 #20 Free #40
Wireless router Free Free Free Free
Full McAfee Security (12 Months) Free Free Free Free
Professional home installation #50 #50 Free #50
Sky Talk #5 #5 #5 #5
(Monthly fee for unlimited
UK(1)landline calls. BT line
rental required)
Comparative savings on equivalent products over a year*****:
Get Base and save Get Mid and save Get Max and save
#139 v Orange Starter #135 v Orange Plus #191 v BT Total BB3
#143 v BT Total BB1 #171 v BT Total BB2 #215 v Orange Max
#157 v AOL Silver #194 v AOL Gold #299 v NTL 10Mb
* Pure broadband cost comparison: NTL 10Mb with unlimited downloads is #34.99
per month vs. Sky Broadband Max (up to 16 Mb, unlimited*** downloads) at #10 per
month.
** 10 minute installation compares to 30-50 minutes for other services Sky has
tested
*** Subject to Fair Usage Policy
**** BT collects #40 for every customer connected on Sky Broadband Connect, and
an average of #36 for customers connected on Base, Mid and Max products.
*****Savings apply to existing Sky TV customers choosing a standalone broadband
product, and assume that the customer is not in the minimum term of a broadband
contract.
Terms and Conditions
Sky Broadband: Minimum subscription to chosen Sky Broadband Product 12 months.
You must be a UK active residential Sky TV subscriber throughout your Sky
Broadband subscription. Availability and speeds subject to location, a
compatible line, equipment and survey.
(1)Sky Talk: UK calls do not include calls to the Channel Islands, non-geographic
and premium rate numbers. 'Unlimited'/'anytime' calls last up to an hour after
which 0.8p per minute rates apply or you can hang up and redial as often as you
like. Only available to Sky TV customers. Not available to BT Light Users or if
outgoing calls are barred.
Information applies to UK residential customers. Further terms apply.
Forward-looking statements
This document contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of
the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect
to the Group's financial condition, results of operations and business, and
management's strategy, plans and objectives for the Group. These statements
include, without limitation, those that express forecasts, expectations and
projections with regard to the potential for growth of free-to-air and pay-TV,
fixed line telephony, broadband growth and bandwidth requirements, advertising
growth, DTH subscriber growth and Multiroom and Sky+ penetration, revenue,
earnings, profitability and margin growth, cash flow generation, return on
capital employed, operating costs, marketing expenditure and customer management
costs, capital expenditure programmes and proposals for returning capital to
shareholders.
These statements (and all other forward-looking statements contained in
this document) are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks,
uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the Group's control,
are difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from
those expressed or implied or forecast in the forward-looking statements. These
factors include, but are not limited to, the fact that the Group operates in a
highly competitive environment, the effects of government regulation upon the
Group's activities, its reliance on technology, which is subject to risk, change
and development, its ability to continue to obtain exclusive rights to movies,
sports events and other programming content, risks inherent in the implementation
of large-scale capital expenditure projects, the Group's ability to continue to
communicate and market its services effectively, and the risks associated with
the Group's operation of digital television transmission in the UK and Ireland.
Information on some risks and uncertainties are described in the "Risk Factors"
section of Sky's Interim Report on form 6-K for the period ended 31 December 2005.
Copies of the Annual Report on Form 20-F are available on request from British
Sky Broadcasting Group plc, Grant Way, Isleworth TW7 5QD. All forward-looking
statements in this document are based on information known to the Group on the
date hereof. The Group undertakes no obligation publicly to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
PRLGUUQPMUPQPWM
Sky (LSE:SKY)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Sky (LSE:SKY)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024
