FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Report of Foreign Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a - 16 or 15d - 16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of October, 2003
01 October, 2003
BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC
(Name of Registrant)
Grant Way, Isleworth, Middlesex, TW7 5OD England
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F
Form 20-F X Form 40-F
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Yes No X
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): Not Applicable
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
EXHIBIT NO.1 Press release of British Sky Broadcasting Group plc
announcing Sky reaches subscriber target released on
01 October, 2003
1 October 2003
press release
BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC
Sky reaches seven million subscriber target early
Five years to the day since Sky digital was launched, BSkyB announces that it
has already achieved its target of seven million direct-to-home ("DTH")
satellite subscribers by the end of calendar year 2003, three months early.
At 30 September 2003, the number of DTH satellite subscribers in the UK and
Ireland was 7,015,000. Since launching its digital service on 1 October 1998,
Sky has migrated the whole of its analogue subscriber base to digital and
doubled the size of its DTH subscriber base.
As previously announced, BSkyB's key operational targets for the medium term
are: to reach eight million DTH subscribers by the end of calendar year 2005;
and to increase average revenue per user ("ARPU") to GBP400 by the same date.
Commenting on this achievement, BSkyB Chief Executive Tony Ball said:
"When we set the seven million target over three years ago it was way ahead of
market expectations. Reaching the milestone three months early is a fantastic
achievement for the company and I congratulate the excellent team that has made
it possible. With more than half of UK households yet to make the switch to
digital, I am highly confident that Sky will achieve its next target of eight
million subscribers by the end of 2005, and generate significant long term
growth thereafter."
Enquiries:
Analysts/Investors:
Neil Chugani Tel: +44 20 7705 3837
Andrew Griffith Tel: +44 20 7705 3118
E-mail: investor-relations@bskyb.com
Press:
Julian Eccles Tel: +44 20 7705 3267
Robert Fraser Tel: +44 20 7705 3036
E-mail: corporate.communications@bskyb.com
New York Stock Exchange:
Annmarie Gioia Tel: +1 212 656 5437
Media Relations
E-mail: agioia@nyse.com
Notes to Editors:
1. Tony Ball announced the achievement of the seven million subscriber target
to an audience of financial investors at the Goldman Sachs Communicopia
XII Conference 2003 taking place at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, New York.
2. To mark the double celebration of the fifth anniversary of Sky digital and
the early attainment of the seven million subscriber target, Sky's Chief
Executive Officer, Tony Ball, and Chief Financial Officer Martin Stewart,
will jointly ring the Opening Bell of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to
open the 1 October 2003 trading session at 9.30 a.m. E.S.T. (2.30 p.m.
B.S.T). Digital photographs of the Opening Bell ceremony will be available
via Associated Press/ New York (+1 212 621 1902), Reuters America
(+1 646 223 6285) and Bloomberg Photo (+1 212 893 3420). A video feed of
the Opening Bell ceremony (starting at 9.25 a.m.) will also be available
via fibre line at Waterfront #1630.
3. BSkyB has been listed on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: BSY LN) and the
New York Stock Exchange (ticker: BSY US) since December 1994.
4. The seven million target was set at the preliminary results presentation to
analysts and press in July 2000. At that time BSkyB had, in total, 4,513,000
DTH subscribers, of which 3,583,000 were digital.
5. About BSkyB
BSkyB is the operator of the leading multichannel television platform in
the UK and Ireland. More than 17 million viewers in seven million
households enjoy an unprecedented choice of movies, news, entertainment and
sports channels and interactive services on Sky digital, the UK and
Ireland's first and most popular digital television platform. BSkyB's
channels are available in a further 5.4 million cable and digital
terrestrial homes.
For more information, visit www.sky.com/corporate.
Appendix 1
The Sky digital timeline 1998 to 2003
1998 - 225,000 subscribers (December 1998)
Sky digital, the UK's first digital TV service, launches on 1st October,
offering 140 channels. More than 100,000 digiboxes are sold in the first 30
days.
1999 - 1.3 million subscribers
Free digiboxes and minidishes help Sky become the fastest growing digital
platform in the world, acquiring 1.2 million subscribers in just 10 months. Sky
pioneers interactive services such as Sky Sports Active.
2000 - 4.1 million subscribers
The first interactive advertising campaigns are screened. Sky is awarded honours
from the Royal Television Society for outstanding services to TV and for
innovations in sports coverage. Sky News Active launches the world's first
interactive TV news service.
2001 - 5.5 million subscribers
Sky reaches 5 million subscribers and switches off its analogue signal - both
ahead of schedule. Sky+, a fully integrated personal video recorder, launches
and Sky buys out its partners' stakes in British Interactive Broadcasting Ltd
and forms Sky Active. Terrestrial broadcasters, including the BBC and Channel
Four, work with Sky to unleash the potential of interactivity on their channels
broadcast on the Sky platform.
2002 - 6.3 million subscribers
Having completed a substantial investment programme, BSkyB starts to generate
positive free cashflow. The Royal Television Society honours Sky with award for
technical innovation.
2003 - Sky hits seven million target three months ahead of schedule
Major promotion launches to boost sales of Sky+ and the extra digibox. BSkyB
makes first profit after tax since its investment in digital.
Appendix 2
The growth of DTH and cable homes since the launch of Sky digital.
As at As at As at As at As at As at
30 June 98 30 June 99 30 June 00 30 June 01 30 June 02 30 Sept 03
DTH analogue homes1 3,547,000 2,707,000 930,000 145,000 - -
DTH digital homes1,2 0 753,000 3,583,000 5,308,000 6,101,000 7,015,000
Total Sky DTH homes1,2 3,547,000 3,460,000 4,513,000 5,453,000 6,101,000 7,015,000
Total UK and Ireland homes3 24,995,000 25,214,000 25,415,000 25,681,000 25,853,000 26,185,000
Total Sky DTH homes as a % of 14% 14% 18% 21% 24% 27%
all UK and Ireland homes
Homes receiving Sky channels 3,352,000 3,778,000 3,735,000 3,486,000 4,091,000 3,857,0004
via Cable operators1
Total homes subscribing to 6,899,000 7,238,000 8,248,000 8,939,000 10,192,000 10,872,000
Sky channels
Total homes subscribing to 28% 29% 32% 35% 39% 42%
Sky channels via DTH or cable
as a % of all UK and Ireland
homes
1. Includes subscribers in Ireland
2. DTH subscribers includes only primary subscriptions to Sky (no additional
units are counted for Sky+ or Extra digibox subscriptions).
3. Total UK homes estimated by BARB/RSMB (latest figures available as at
September 2003). Ireland homes estimated by Nielsen Media Research (latest
figures available as at July 2003).
4. Cable subscribers as at 31 August 2003. Cable subscribers as at 30
September 2003 are not yet available
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC
Date: 01 October, 2003 By: /s/ Dave Gormley
Dave Gormley
Company Secretary