As a regular follower of moneyam I know this bulletin board loves small shares but please consider BSkyB as it will launch a free-to-air service later this year, which will compete with Freeview. For a one off 150 you will be able to gain access to alomst 200 digital channels and have access to pay per view events with no monthly subscription. 27% of the population cannot get Freeview due to weak transmission and with only 43% population with sattelite or cable there is massive growth potential. (Shares June2004)
BSkyB"s recent figures showed subscriber numbers were 19000 down on expectations of 100000 for the last 3 months, but pre tax profits quadrupled. Expenditure of around 450m will be needed in the next 4 years to support growth.
At the current price of 485p on a PE of 16 the shares are sitting near their yearly low, I recently bought 514p and would aprreciate other peoples views, has this recent sell off been overdone ?

stubax,

I see a mini recession soon, and with the high cost of subscribing, SKY will suffer from a drop in viewers and revenue i think.

Freeview is cheaper than 150, so this may also struggle a bit.

Thanks for your comments Aimtrader, I agree that maintaining growth with subscriber numbers is a key issue and if they don"t meet expectations next time, the shares will take another battering. The support level of 455p-460p is one I am watching closely, and will sell if it falls through

I'm short. BSY was the FTSE100's biggest faller on Monday, and Tuesday's fall was almost equally as spectatcular.

Todays early rise to 487 was seen by traders as another opportunity to add to their shorts, and prices quickly came back off.

Expect new lows IMHO.

I think you are probably right Gausie, the price is now under pressure. I usually buy a share in an uptrend, but thought this one looked good after it bounced off its low.

The next week or two will be interesting.

Don"t forget though, people close and change their positions very quickly.

numis morning meeting notes = bsyb (480) BUY target price 709p

With BSY still on the recovery trail and the fact it has taken a breather so far this week it could be a good time to get on board. Many put the target price price above 600p, some as "insur" mentions as high as 709p. With Cricket now also in the bag this should help consolidate new viewers and existing sports subscribers. Christmas Time should also see a nice influx of new customers as viewers generally realise that there is nothing worth watching on terrestial TV any more!! The slot time gesture to Channel 5 of 7.15-8.00 is exactly that... why try and watch cricket when EastEnders or Corrie is on, its not worth the hassle - just watch the live event on SKY!!

BSkyB wins exclusive rights to show all live English cricket 2006-2009
AFX

LONDON (AFX) - British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC has won the rights to show all of England's live domestic and international cricket from 2006, bringing to an end nearly 70 years of Test match overage on terrestrial TV, according to a statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board.
Highlights of each day's play in the Test matches will, however, be screened on Five, which replaces Channel 4 as cricket's main terrestrial broadcaster, the ECB said.
The BBC broadcast its first Test match coverage in 1938 but lost the rights to Channel 4 in 1998.
The BBC has retained the exclusive rights for radio coverage of home Tests and one-day internationals.
'We understand that the decision to place all live cricket coverage on satellite and cable television is an emotive issue for some people,' ECB chairman David Morgan was quoted as saying, according to the BBC.
'We have made an agreement that will offer the highlights package to a peaktime audience.
'Five will broadcast highlights from 7.15-8.00pm, a time which is the most popular slot for TV viewing for children and a time when an average of 21 mln people watch television.'
The ECB released no financial details.
It is understood BSkyB will pay 200 mln stg over four years.

Just had the engineer along to do my Sky Plus installation.

My installation would have meant 25ft (8 Metres) of cabling from my dish (12ft from the ground) on the outside of my house to my TV (13 ft from the pertinent wal) and two thirds of the cable would have been cable clipped to timber. This timber runs along the rear of my house and is inside my 'lean-to' type of conservatory.

He refused to do it since to follow along the existing cable's route with the new cable (two are required) would have meant drilling through wood. The said 'wood' being the tanalised painted roof support for the polycarbonate sheeted conservatory roof. In the vicinity of where I originally thought he would have drilled, well, that is where the last Sky Engineer drilled through the said timber, as also did the BT Engineer, when he passed an ISDN cable through for a second telephone line. These latter were done about two years ago.

"We can only drill through brick. We are NOT ALLOWED to drill through wood."

I am in shock.

:-(((

God help those want Sky and who live in Timber framed homes, mobile homes, etc.

Also, those on here who want Sky to their 'Shed at the bottom of the garden' or in their 'Tree house' - well, let's say a prayer for these thwarted potential Sky customers too.

Actually, 'shock' is not the word for what I am in. This has absolutely f#cked up my brain. I want the installation. Sky surely want to sell it to me. The work is an utter doddle to do. Indeed, there were other ways of doing it, which were more involved and difficult. These were not discussed at all. Neither was any additional costs that might be incurred when 'going around the wood' and doing it another way. Neither were any 'protocol rules' shown to me.

Apparently, 'not drilling through wood' is either a Health and Safety problem or an Insurance problem. No one in Sky Customer Services seems to know which.

Aaaaargh!!!! I want to go and commit a serious road rage. Actually, no I don't. I'm not that bad yet! But I can empathise with those who are fed up with our society's poxy, stupid problems and just snap when their hair-trigger ends up being activated by some ridiculous illogical circumstance!!

As I spoke to female staff at Sky (two), I asked, "And, as a lady, which would you prefer to drill through? Wood or house bricks?"

"Well, obviously 'Wood', Sir."

Hey Murdoch!!!!!!!!! I hope you are reading this shite!!!

And if you are, the massive pictures of Bart and Homer Simpson on the side of your Sky vans remind me

No 1. Of the fact: It is not good to watch too much TV.

and

No 2. Of the joke:

Q. "What do you call the little box on the Sky satellite dish?"

A. "A council house."

..........

Anyhow, this whole experience has mushed up my brain.

Should be some good stuff on over Christmas as well!!!!!!!:)))

On the move north again this morning, is there some news out there???

Good results today and a good close,might see 600p tomorrow.any views?

Talk of good subscriber growth at BSkyB filled the weekend press, but the numbers came in even better than expected today and the shares rose 3.5p to 575p. In the quarter to December 31st, the satellite broadcaster added 192,000 new customers, taking its customer base in the UK and Ireland to 7.609 million it said. A consensus view stood at 150,000. Total revenues in the period increases by 10% to 1.945 billion pounds, with net profit up 18% to 154 million pounds. Merrill Lynch reiterated its "buy" stance on the shares following the figures.

was a buy note out yesterday with price target of 670p huge volume yesterday so can see 600p soon not sure why the weakness today ??

Drive's you up the wall, this one !

Gordon, was there a timescale for when the target price will be reached ?
This spring/later this year ? next yr?

They wouldnt be buying back their own shares if they didnt think they were too cheap DYOR


RNS Number:1540I British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC 02 February 2005

2 February 2005


BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC - REPURCHASE OF SHARES


British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC ("BSkyB") announces that it has today purchased for cancellation 8,000,000 ordinary shares of BSkyB at a price of 572.9156p per share.

Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number of shares in issue will be 1,910,979,653.


ENDS



This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

looks like getting abv 600p might be painfull

not far away now 600p could be broken today

out 595 yesterday not moving quickly enough for me

just for you holders i have telewest it is rubbish. i will not have it for much longer.

keep shorting

just bought in when do they go ex div please.

closed my short today

who are they going to buy.

who are they going to buy.

one tel

how much will news corp pay to buy this out

looking at pxc.

Daniel Stewart cut its price target for shares in BSkyB (BSY) to 402p from 490p and reiterated its 'sell' recommendation in anticipation of the broadcaster's full year results, due on 31 July. "There are concerns that reduced activity in the housing market has resulted in reduced demand broadband takeup (as described by Carphone Warehouse), and we do not see Sky as immune from this trend," it commented. "Similarly, concerns that BT Group will (following Ofcom's Consultation) raise unbundled broadband access prices should affect BSkyB as others." It added that the shares look expensive on a rating of around 16 for 2008 and that, with a presence in roughly one third of UK homes, it finds it difficult to see how Sky can avoid the impact of pressure on household spending

Just for cynic :-)

Half Yearly Report (British Sky Broad)





TIDMBSY

RNS Number : 3530M
British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC
28 January 2009

?
BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC
Results for the half year ended 31 December 2008




Strong Performance in a Tough Environment



Continued growth in home entertainment and communications
* Net customer growth of 171,000 in the second quarter, (prior year 167,000),
taking the total customer base to 9.24 million
* Churn reduced to 9.9%, benefiting from strong take-up of additional products
* Over 50% of customers now take Sky+ or Sky+HD; sales of both products
accelerated sharply during the quarter
* Strengthened on-screen offering, with 17 new HD channels and important rights
renewals in sports, movies and entertainment
* The UK's fastest growing broadband provider with 1.96 million Sky Broadband
customers
* Fastest growing home telephony service in the UK with 1.50 million Sky Talk
customers



Delivered a strong financial performance for the first six months
* Increased rate of customer growth and record ARPU, delivering 6% increase in
revenue to GBP2.6 billion
* Good cost control helped to increase adjusted operating margin by 2.4 percentage
points to 14.9% of sales
* Adjusted operating profit up by 26% to GBP388 million1; reported operating
profit up by 31% to GBP385 million
* Adjusted basic EPS growth of 34% to 13.0 pence1; basic EPS of 9.5 pence, up by
15.9 pence
* Interim dividend increased by 5% to 7.5 pence per share



2009: Investing through the economic downturn to take advantage of growth
opportunities


* Extend leadership in TV through focused additional investment in HD growth

- Sky+HD set-top box price reduced to GBP49 from 28 January 2009
- Creating around 1,000 jobs to support growth
* Continue to grow in broadband and telephony
* Maintain focus on efficiency and cost reduction to enhance returns



Jeremy Darroch, Chief Executive, said:


"In a very challenging economic environment, we have delivered a great set of
results by focusing on quality, value and service for our customers. Overall
customer growth is up year on year and we are selling more products across the
board, including record growth in Sky+HD.
"Good cost control has allowed us to turn our operational performance into very
strong financial results, with 6% growth in revenue, 26% growth in operating
profit and 34% growth in earnings per share.


"These results are only possible because of the hard work and dedication of the
great team of people we have right across Sky.


"We enter 2009 in a strong position. Against a very difficult and uncertain
economic backdrop, we will continue to focus our efforts on providing customers
with more of what they want: the very best of entertainment and home
communications at great value, backed up by great service.


"Today we are announcing plans to make high definition more accessible to
everyone. We will continue to build our broadband and home telephony businesses,
helping even more Sky customers to save money on their household bills.


"We will build on our Bigger Picture commitment to make the arts more
accessible, encourage participation in sport and help tackle climate change. And
we will continue to focus on the efficiency of our operations.


"Delivering on these plans will create a stronger and more profitable business
for the benefit of customers, shareholders and colleagues alike."


1See page 3 for financial highlights and reconciliation of non-GAAP measures and
page 16 for definition of terms.

Results highlights




Customer Metrics (unaudited)


+------------------------------+--------------+----------------+------------+
| '000s | 31-Dec-08 | 30-Sept-08 | Change |
+------------------------------+--------------+----------------+------------+
| Total customers | 9,238 | 9,067 | 171 |
+------------------------------+--------------+----------------+------------+
| Additional products | | | |
+------------------------------+--------------+----------------+------------+
| Sky+ | 4,650 | 4,135 | 515 |
+------------------------------+--------------+----------------+------------+
| Multiroom | 1,723 | 1,655 | 68 |
+------------------------------+--------------+----------------+------------+
| Sky+HD | 779 | 591 | 188 |
+------------------------------+--------------+----------------+------------+
| Broadband | 1,955 | 1,792 | 163 |
+------------------------------+--------------+----------------+------------+
| Telephony | 1,500 | 1,361 | 139 |
+------------------------------+--------------+----------------+------------+
| Other KPIs | | | |
+------------------------------+--------------+----------------+------------+
| Churn for the | 9.9% | 10.9% | -1.0% |
| quarter | | | |
| (annualised) | | | |
+------------------------------+--------------+----------------+------------+
| ARPU | GBP444 | GBP430 | +GBP14 |
+------------------------------+--------------+----------------+------------+


Financial Summary (unaudited)


+---------------------------+--------+--------+--------+--+--------------+------------+
| GBP'millions | 6 months to Dec-08 | 6 months to | % movement |
| | | Dec-07 | |
+---------------------------+--------------------------+-----------------+------------+
| Revenue | 2,601 | 2,458 | 6% |
+---------------------------+--------------------------+-----------------+------------+
| Reported operating profit | 385 | 295 | 31% |
+---------------------------+--------------------------+-----------------+------------+
| Adjusted operating | 388 | 307 | 26% |
| profit(1) | | | |
+---------------------------+--------------------------+-----------------+------------+
| % Adjusted Operating | 14.9% | 12.5% | |
| Profit Margin | | | |
+---------------------------+--------------------------+-----------------+------------+
| Profit/(loss) for the | 166 | (112) | n/m |
| period | | | |
+---------------------------+--------------------------+-----------------+------------+
| Adjusted profit for the | 226 | 170 | 33% |
| period(2) | | | |
+---------------------------+--------------------------+-----------------+------------+
| | | | |
+---------------------------+--------------------------+-----------------+------------+
| EBITDA | 522 | 415 | 26% |
+---------------------------+--------------------------+-----------------+------------+
| Cash generated from | 588 | 429 | 37% |
| operations | | | |
+---------------------------+--------------------------+-----------------+------------+
| Net debt(3) | 1,642 | 1,973 | -17% |
+---------------------------+--------------------------+-----------------+------------+
| | | | | |
+---------------------------+-----------------+-----------+--------------+------------+
| Per share information | 6 months to Dec-08 | 6 months to | % movement |
| (pence) | | Dec-07 | |
+---------------------------+--------------------------+-----------------+------------+
| Adjusted basic earnings per | 13.0 | | 9.7 | 34% |
| share(2) | | | | |
+------------------------------------+-----------------+--+--------------+------------+
| Basic earnings/(loss) per share | 9.5 | | (6.4) | n/m |
+---------------------------+--------+--------+--------+--+--------------+------------+


1 Adjusted operating profit in the six months to 31 December 2008 stated before
EDS legal costs of GBP3 million (2008: GBP12 million)
2 Adjusted profit for the period excludes GBP3 million EDS legal costs (2008:
GBP12 million), an impairment of GBP59 million relating to the Group's
investment in ITV (2008: GBP343 million), an adjustment of GBP6 million relating
to a deferred tax write-off following a change in law in the period in respect
of industrial building allowances (2008: nil), GBP11 million relating to
mark-to-market gains of derivative financial instruments that do not qualify for
hedge accounting (2008: GBP4 million gain) and related tax effects. Adjusted
profit for the six months to 31 December 2007 also excludes GBP67 million gain
relating to an exchange transaction for National Geographic.
3 Net debt is defined as cash and cash-equivalents (GBP1,088 million),
short-term deposits (GBP165 million) and borrowings related financial
instruments (GBP616 million) net of borrowings (GBP3,511 million).

Results for the twelve months ended 30 June 2009

BSkyB reports double-digit growth

Chairman's Statement.

RNS Number : 2461G
British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC
28 January 2010

?
BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC
Results for the half year ended 31 December 2009
GOOD SECOND QUARTER COMPLETES A STRONG FIRST HALF
Strong demand across the board in the second quarter
* Good progress on both legs of growth - adding more customers and selling more
products
- 172,000 net additions takes the total customer base to 9.7 million -
One million net subscription product sales, up 36%

* Sky+HD surpasses two million households with net additions more than double the
prior year at 482,000
* 18% of customers now take TV, broadband and telephony

More innovation for customers in 2010
* Bringing more high quality content and HD channels to customers
* Switching to selling HD-enabled set-top boxes as standard
* Launching Europe's first dedicated 3D TV channel

Strong financial performance in the first half
* Total revenue up by 10% to GBP2.9 billion
* Absorbed the cost of strong demand to deliver 4% growth in operating profit to
GBP401 million
* Strong financial progress in broadband and telephony
* Free cash flow up 5% to GBP290 million1
* Adjusted basic EPS of 14.47 pence1 up 11%; reported basic EPS of 14.70 pence up
54%
* Interim dividend increased by 5% to 7.875 pence per share

Pretty impressive numbers skinny! My short got blown out of the water -15 :-((((

Bad Luck Chris - it was on my list, but after the last couple of days, I decided I had enough open. I guess with more people staying in due to money constraints, a move to the upside was more likely.

Ofcom orders Sky to slash wholesale prices
Business Financial Newswire
Sky must offer to supply Sky Sports 1 and 2 to other retailers for example, cable, terrestrial and IPTV at a wholesale price set by Ofcom.

BSkyB said it will launch a legal challenge against the ruling.

Ofcom has set a wholesale price of 10.63 for each of Sky Sports 1 and 2, when sold on a standalone basis, which is 23.4% below the current wholesale price to cable operators.

Most consumers currently buy packages which include Sky Sports 1 and 2 and the wholesale price for this service bundle has been reduced by 10.5% to 17.14.

Ofcom has given conditional approval to Sky and Arqivas request to offer pay TV services on digital terrestrial TV (known as Picnic).

Approval of Picnic is subject to Sky implementing a wholesale deal under the supply obligation for Sky Sports 1 and 2. In addition, if Sky decides to offer movie channels on digital terrestrial TV then those channels must also be offered to other digital terrestrial TV operators.

Ofcom is consulting on its proposed decision to make a reference to the Competition Commission asking the Commission to address concerns regarding the sale and distribution of subscription video-on-demand premium movie rights (but which cannot be addressed fully using Ofcoms powers).

Sky must offer to wholesale high-definition versions of Sky Sports 1 and 2. HD is a relatively new innovation. To help to promote future innovation Ofcom has not set wholesale prices for the HD channels but requires them to be offered on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms.

3rd quarter results.

Continued Strong Customer Growth in the Quarter

Third quarter net customer growth of 62,000 to reach 9.770 million households

Success in our multi-product strategy with ARPU up 11%; net additional subscription product sales of 878,000

Strong response from customers to new Sky+HD box price with 428,000 net HD additions

1.9 million customers taking all three of TV, broadband and telephony, up 39%



Accelerating Financial Performance - Double-Digit Growth in Revenue and Earnings

Total revenue up 10%; adjusted revenue up 11% to 4,383 million

Adjusted operating profit up by 5% to 618 million, despite upfront cost of strong demand for HD; reported operating profit of 645 million up 4%

Adjusted basic EPS growth of 16% to 22.3 pence; basic EPS of 31.1 pence

Strong growth in free cash flow, up 17% to 310 million

NEWS CORPORATION PROPOSES TO THE BOARD OF BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC
A CASH OFFER OF 700 PENCE PER SHARE FOR THE BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC
SHARES IT DOES NOT ALREADY OWN

BSkyB: News Corp Bid Undervalues Co, Seeks 800P/Share Bid
LONDON (Dow Jones)

British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC (BSY.LN) said Tuesday it considers the terms of the proposal from News Corporation (NWS) to undervalue significantly BSkyB, adding that it wont' recommend an offer if it were made at 700 pence per share but would be prepared to support a bid in excess of 800 pence.

Unaudited results for the six months ended 31 December 2010

Record Q2 product growth

Total net product growth of 1.204 million

- Surpassed 10 million customer milestone with 140,000 net additions

- Net additional Q2 product growth up 7% to 1.064 million

HD reaches 3.5 million customers, up 68% year on year

Fastest broadband growth in 10 quarters with 204,000 net additions

24% of customers now taking all three of TV, broadband and telephony


Bringing outstanding content, more innovation and greater value to Sky customers

Sky Atlantic, a brand new entertainment channel, to launch on 1 February for Sky TV customers at no extra cost

Sky Anywhere to allow easy access to Sky content on multiple devices, supported by acquisition of leading public Wi-Fi operator 'The Cloud'

Improving customer service with the opening of new contact centres across the UK, creating 1,500 jobs at Sky


Excellent financial performance; strong growth in revenue, profit and cash flow

Revenue up 15% to 3.2 billion with broadly-based growth

Adjusted operating profit up 26% to 520 million; operating margin expansion of 140 basis points to 16.3%

Adjusted basic EPS up 32% to 20.0 pence

Adjusted free cash flow up 44% to 443 million

Interim dividend up 11% to 8.74 pence

Strewth! As the boss might say.
How much further?

Looks like 'the bid' might now be off and these might well be going back down to circa 760 or even 700.

dont you mean 300p

the deal is finished sell sell sky will be split up

WHO WANTS TO HAVE ACTIVITIES WITH THE - MURDERER / MURDOCH -

Well the campaign has got some results ........

News of the World to close
News International says the News of the World
will publish its final edition on Sunday.

Next is to get the WITCH her punishment



She has the look of a " witch "alright

news the sky deal will go ahead that is a CERT . remember i told you it is a cert
it can not be stopped fact

it is a terrible thing for the innocent people at the NOTW
a few bastards should not be allowed to destoy there jobs

if the police took cash have MPs taken cash ?

Why ask us when you tell us you know just about everything? -):

Every thing can be bought for a price.

Might be in your world, thankfully not all of us are.

stan i was just asking the question have MPs taken cash has the question been put to any one .i do not no this answer .

but do no that the deal will go ahead .

David Cameron has plenty of the BROWN sauce on his pants after the last episode, too many wrongs do not make it right, it will be wrong is is allowed to be approved


Decision on Murdoch's bid for BSkyB likely to be delayed

A decision on whether Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation will be allowed to buy all shares in British Sky Broadcasting is likely to be delayed for some weeks.

Following the revelation of scandals at The News of the World, which resulted in a decision to close the newspaper, the Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has received a large number of submissions commenting on the proposal.

News Corporation owns 39.1% and has offered 700p a share for all those that it does not possess.

Mr Hunt had indicated that he was likely to approve this provided Sky News was spun off into a different company.

But the latest submissions will take some time to assess and Prime Minister, David Cameron, said that a decision may take some time.

"Calm down dear" needs some of that now ....

Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson is arrested by police investigating phone hacking as the PM details two inquiries into the scandal.


Rusbridger: 'I warned David Cameron over Coulson link'

News Corporation withdrawing the bid for BSkyB

Old news! :-)

Rebekah Brooks Murdoch and his slimy son are due to appear before
next Tuesday Select CommitteeBrooks has already admitted knowing about payments to police under her watchwhich I believe was later denied and it is also alleged James Murdoch was involved authorising payments to silence Gordon Taylor after his phone was hackedI cant see the two Murdoch's turning upthey wont have their usual unfair advantage high ranking Police officers and Politicians regularly socialised free of charge with the slim balls organisation so the Police investigation and The News International internal inquiry looks sensible lol

A couple of good points.. Hedge funds have been severely burnt on Sky and Vince Cablewho was again laughed at but has yet again come out of this as the clever guyall IMO

Agreed.

There is a bounce in Vince's step.

In a statement of the blindingly obvious, Panmure Gordon says that the probability of a successful takeover by Rupert Murdochs News Corporation of the satellite broadcaster BSkyB has been reduced to zero.

Panmure, which previously thought there was a 10% chance of the deal going ahead, places its target price on BSkyB under review, following yesterdays news that NewsCorp, which publishes the Sun and the Times, has withdrawn its bid for the satellite broadcaster.

As the market now has certainty on the outcome, we would expect the shares to rally, at least in the short term., Panmure said, adding that it is now looking into the fundamentals in more detail.

Panmure has a hold/special situations recommendation on BSkyB.

BSkyB will fall further as investigations gets along...

Cameron in crisis: Now FOUR police chiefs face inquiry as PM is forced to call emergency session on phone hacking

John Yates and Sir Paul Stephenson face complaints commission inquiry

Two former senior officers at the Met will also be investigated by IPCC

PM announces delay in Parliament summer break to answer MPs' questions

Miliband: Cameron is hamstrung over connections to Coulson and Brooks

Cressida Dick will take over from John Yates as Assistant Commissioner
Home Secretary announces Parliamentary review of police corruption

News Corp shares drop by 4.3% in New York and 7.6% in Sydney

Was Coulson giving information to Cameron and the tory party about labour party leaders before the last election?

There were a large amount of "government" leaks in the lead up to the last election.

Were the leaks due to phone hacking?

Excellent Panorama just finished on BBC - catch it if you can.

Birds of a feather flock together
NEWS CORPORATION - MURDERER/MURDOCH - DIRTY AFFAIR

Resignation after resignation latest .........

Met Police Assistant Commissioner John Yates has
resigned as the phone-hacking scandal fall-out continues.

THE LIST
Andy Coulson
Glenn Mulcaire
Rebekah Brooks
Sir Paul Stephenson
John Yates

NEXT
.....

Note : My campaign to expose this mafia style, have been on for a few years now,
using this nickname MURDERER/MURDOCH ( it rhymes ).

Rupert Murdoch and his son on the hot chair this afternoon...

BBC News Clip where Sean Hoare tells Panorama/New York Times that phone hacking was endemic at NoW:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14195574

Hoare also said in the same interview that the then NoW editor Andy Coulson had asked him to hack phones - something Mr Coulson has denied.

Thinks.....

Q. And if this is/was true, whose phones did Coulson want hacking?
A. Hmmm? The political opposition?

Thinks.....

Oh dear, Mr Cameron!!!!

Here's a link to the full Panorama programme:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b012y1tv

From Ladbrokes:

Only Chris Huhne (2/1) and Andrew Lansley (6/1) are deemed more likely now to quit next leaving the PM joint third favourite with Kenneth Clarke (also 8/1).

Alex Donohue of Ladbrokes said: "This bears all the hallmarks of a massive public gamble. People up and down the land are queueing out of the door of our shops to back the PM to walk."

Ladbrokes latest betting:

Next Cabinet Member to leave

Dead Heat Rules apply if more than one leave on same day

Chris Huhne - 2/1
Andrew Lansley - 6/1
Kenneth Clarke - 8/1
David Cameron - 8/1
Vince Cable - 10/1
Cheryl Gillan - 10/1

On the other hand, here is The Economist's take:
(Tyler Durden on 07/18/2011)

It is wrong to argue, as do some Labour MPs, some bloggers and tonight's edition of BBC Newsnight, that David Cameron logically might have to resign as prime minister, now that Britain's most senior police officer, Sir Paul Stephenson, has had to quit.

The argument rests on a superficially neat piece of symmetry. Sir Paul, until this weekend Commissioner of the Metropolitan police, had to resign after it emerged that his force had employed the former deputy editor of the News of the World, Neil Wallis, as a PR consultant. In contrast, Mr Cameron hired Mr Wallis's boss, the ex-NotW editor Andy Coulson as his PR chief, and yet he is still in his job as prime minister. "Spot the Difference", grumbled the Newsnight political editor Michael Crick, who had earlier asked the Tory mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to explain the same contrast at a press conference this afternoon, reducing the normally loquacious Mr Johnson to stammering and flannelling.

Ex-commissioner Stephenson clearly sees things the same way, aiming a clear barb at Downing Street in his resignation statement, when he noted that his ex-tabloid helper had never had to resign, unlike the prime minister's ex-tabloid helper, Mr Coulson (who stood down as editor of the NoTW in 2007 after the jailing of his royal correspondent and a private investigator over phone-hacking, even though he said he knew nothing about it).

But the problem was not so much that Neil Wallis was given a two day a month contract at Scotland Yard between 2009 and 2010, advising senior officers on PR strategy. The problem is that more recently, even after the police came under huge pressure for their astonishingly lackadaisical approach to the phone-hacking scandal at the NotW, senior officers did not think it appropriate to tell anyone in government, let alone the public, that they had been paying a former deputy editor of the same paper for strategic press advice.

This though that advice was being given at the very same time, in 2009, when Scotland Yard was deciding not to reopen the hacking investigation, and was poo-pooing the excellent reporting of the scandal by papers like the Guardian. In the end, the police only alerted the government last week, on the day that Mr Wallis was arrested on suspicion of involvement in phone hacking, as part of the current police probe, known as Operation Weeting.

If it had only just emerged that David Cameron had been secretly taking paid advice from Andy Coulson, the prime minister would also be in astonishing trouble right now. As it is, Mr Coulson's appointment (which was a colossal mistake, as I have said many times) was a matter of public record. That makes a very big difference.

About time the MURDERERS were send back to the " PENAL COLONY " (Australia )
were they belong, they can take the WITCH ( Rebekah Brooks ) with them,
almost sure both have been bedding her ( she was useless as a journalist
and worse as an editor) unless was for a SEX scandal.

Latest

So far 10 ex employers of News Corporation were working for the Metropolitan police.

How will you call that?

Spionage
moles
.....

The "GREEDY" was attacked with a plate of "SHAVING FOAM"

last minute to minute till the accident

1711: Iain Watson Political correspondent, BBC News Police say they've arrested a man following the attack on Rupert Murdoch. According to one of the committee members Paul Farrelly, the assailant made for Rupert Murdoch with what appeared to be a paper plate with shaving foam on it, in the form of a custard pie. The committee room corridor has been sealed off by police.

1709: The session is restarted after 15 minutes. Tory MP Louise Mensch continues her questioning. She praises Mr Murdoch's "immense guts" for facing the committee.


1708: Labour MP Chris Bryant, who is attending the hearing, tells the BBC the plate of shaving foam was shoved in Rupert Murdoch's face. He says it is a "despicable" thing to do, especially to a man of more than 80 years of age.

1701: James Murdoch looked shocked that security staff had failed to protect his father properly, Nick Robinson says.

1701: Nick Robinson says Rupert Murdoch's wife was "up like a shot" to defend her husband.

1659: BBC political editor Nick Robinson says Rupert Murdoch was apparently hit in the face with a plate of shaving foam by a man shouting: "Greedy."

1657: A man with white substance - possibly paint - on his face has been taken away by police following the incident.

1656: Rupert Murdoch's wife Wendi stood up and appeared to strike somebody in defence of her husband.

1655: Rupert Murdoch appears to have been attacked by somebody in the public gallery.

1654: The sitting is suspended for 10 minutes - after some kind of disturbance.

1653: Mr Murdoch tells MPs how the Brown and Murdoch children used to play together and how their wives "struck up a great friendship". He thought the former PM had "great values". He hopes the relationship can be rebuilt in the future, adds Mr Murdoch.

1651: Rupert Murdoch says he is "sorry" that he no longer has a friendship with Gordon Brown - who launched a scathing attack on News International last week in the Commons.

1649: Damian Collins asks if Rupert Murdoch has a "cultural problem" with advisers saying what he wants to hear. The media magnate says it is up to him to "see through" people trying to please him.

1645: Rupert Murdoch says that when the Daily Telegraph bought stolen documents on MPs' expenses it caused a huge outcry. He adds that Singapore is the cleanest society in the world, as every minister is paid at least one million dollars a year and has no temptation to transgress. "Good luck in selling that one," Damian Collins replies.

have just been reading about TOM WATSON in my view he is not fit to ask anyone
any questions look at what he claimed for take a look . he is like stevenson he gets 12k gift and says if a bobbie ges a free meal he is breaking the law

Didn't he have any Wisteria, or did he pay for his private taxi rides?

no we did and a lot more has well.
go in to is history he should not judge any one

Watch 'How Murdoch Run Britain' on Channel 4 and see how Murdoch influence Tony Blair and Cameron on various affairs like going to war in Iraq, EU referendum and how News International running a protection racket!

Murdoch seems to be running Britain from behind the scenes. And he always enter No. 10 through the back door!Wonder why, eh???

Now tell us something we don't know.

stan . our grandchildren will hate us for allowing the goverments to leave them with no country to call theirs.

What do u mean... it will be called Murdochville. lol.

no pakistan uk. and it will be a dirty place by then

HCL technologies, an Indian-based IT firm that manages the companys computer systems, said yesterday that it had been asked to dispose of internal emails on nine occasions between April 2010 and July 2011.

The disclosure follows claims by Tom Watson, the Labour MP who has campaigned on hacking, that there had been an attempt to destroy data at the HCL storage facility in Chennai in apparent efforts to cover up the scale of the phone hacking scandal. The company said it did not know of anything abnormal, untoward or inconsistent behind the requests to delete them.

Keith Vaz, the chairman of the home affairs select committee, said he was surprised by the letter and said the MPs would continue questioning the company about its role in the hacking scandal.

The fact that so many emails have been deleted at the request of News International raises a number of further questions which we will continue to probe the company about, he said.

In a letter, sent on behalf of HCL by Stuart Benson, a lawyer, the company disclosed that it had been involved in discussions about deleting emails nine times since April last year. It said: It is of course entirely for News International, the police and your committee as to whether there was any other agenda or subtext when issues of deletion arose, and that is a matter on which my client cannot comment and something which you will no doubt explore direct with News International.

UPDATE: European Court Ruling Could Transform TV Soccer Rights

Today : Tuesday 4 October 2011


Europe's highest court Tuesday ruled that the way lucrative soccer television rights are currently handed out in the EU is against single market rules, a move that has financial implications for broadcasters and Europe's major soccer leagues and could change the way the rights are sold across the world.

The European Court of Justice said the current system whereby leagues hand out TV rights on a country-by-country basis and prohibits broadcasting those matches across borders was incompatible with the single market and competition law.

"A system of exclusive licences is also contrary to European Union competition law if the licence agreements prohibit the supply of decoder cards to television viewers who wish to watch the broadcasts outside the Member State for which the licence is granted," the European Court of Justice said Tuesday in a statement.

The court ruling follows a case brought against Karen Murphy, a pub landlady in Portsmouth, England, who showed Premier League soccer matches shown on a Greek TV station using a legitimately-purchased Greek decoder, instead of using a more expensive decoder from British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC (BSY.LN), which holds nearly all the rights to show live premier league matches in the U.K.

The ECJ is ruling after questions were referred to it by the UK's High Court, which needed advice on the EU law aspects of two similar cases; a civil case between the FA Premier League and QC Leisure, which supplied the decoder card, and a criminal case against pub owner Karen Murphy.

The Premier League currently has a three-year deal with British broadcasters worth some $3 billion. It also has other deals in other EU countries, but the U.K. broadcasters pay more than European rivals for their rights. BskyB has the rights to show nearly all live matches in the U.K., while other broadcasters show highlights or delayed matches.

In its ruling, the ECJ said that broadcasters have no right to prohibit the use of foreign decoder cards.

"A prohibition on using foreign decoder cards would go beyond what is necessary to ensure appropriate remuneration for the holders of the rights concerned," the statement said.

BSkyB wasn't immediately available for comment.

Although BSkyB pays a lot for the rights to show Premier League matches live exclusively, the popularity of the game in the U.K. has been a key driver of the company's rapid rise to become the country's biggest pay-TV company.

"Payment by the television stations of a premium in order to ensure themselves absolute territorial exclusivity goes beyond what is necessary to ensure the right holders appropriate remuneration, because such a practice may result in artificial price differences between the partitioned national markets," the ECJ said in a statement.

"Such partitioning and such an artificial price difference are irreconcilable with the fundamental aim of the Treaty, which is completion of the internal market."

The court also ruled that the actual soccer matches are not subject to copyright.

The premier league music, recorded films of highlights, and various graphics can be regarded as 'works' and are therefore protected by copyright, the court said, but "by contrast, the matches themselves are not works enjoying such protection."

News Corp. (NWS) holds a 39.1% stake in BSkyB. It also owns Dow Jones & Co., publisher of this newswire and The Wall Street Journal.

-By Frances Robinson, Dow Jones Newswires; +32 2 741 1486; frances.robinson@dowjones.com

Great result for Mrs Murphy. This could get interesting, bet Andy Grays future employment prospects just got better :O)

19/10 Q1 2012 results
16/11 Full year Ex - Divi date proposed
29/11 AGM

Maybe worth a punt?

Competition Commission U-turn over films on TV may ignite BSkyB share price

Final Results


Record financial performance


· Revenue up 4.5% to £6.791 billion on a like-for-like basis1

· Record adjusted operating profit of £1.223 billion, up 14% with continued margin expansion to reach 18.0%, the highest level for six years

· Adjusted basic EPS up 22% to 50.8 pence

· Full year dividend increased by 9% to 25.4 pence per share

· Additional £500 million capital return to shareholders via share buy-back
Consistent and strong operational growth

· Total products increase by 12% to reach 28.4 million

· 10.6 million customers choose Sky, up 312,000 on the prior year

· Strong customer loyalty with churn of 9.9% in the quarter

· Four million customers choose Sky Broadband for great quality and value

· Largest and fastest growing triple play customer base in Britain at 3.4 million, up 21%

Delivering the best experience for customers

· Breadth of sports coverage continues with new rights renewals for Spanish football, British and Irish Lions rugby and Premier League

· Our second brand, NOW TV, launched on 17 July to give millions of people easy, instant access to Sky content

· Bringing a full suite of Sky services to Irish customers with the launch of Sky Broadband and Talk later this year

· Extending Sky Go with eight kids' channels now available including Disney and Nickelodeon; access to 32 live channels and a broad range of on demand content

· Free-to-air catch-up service to launch in the autumn to include BBC iPlayer, ITV Player and Demand 5; Sky Anytime+ surpasses one million homes, up 57% on last quarter

Sky's movie strength cleared by Competition Commission

Sky's strong position in the pay-TV movie market "does not adversely affect competition", the Competition Commission has confirmed.

British Sky Broadcasting hit a new 52-week high this week of 775p. It currently stands a few pence down from that on 760p, which is 24% up on the share price's low point of 614p almost exactly a year ago.

Much of that was driven by July's strong annual results, which showed a 16% rise in operating profit and a 21% boost to earnings per share (eps), from revenues that were 3% up on the previous year. The dividend was lifted by 9% to 25.4p per share. Current forecasts suggest a payout of 3.6% next year, with the shares on a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of about 13.5.

Keep an eye on this one harry, div .1620p on 24/10. chart going south at mo, might be a chance of £7 or below.,.

Ofcom finds BSkyB "fit and proper" broadcaster

LONDON | Thu Sep 20, 2012 7:17am BST

(Reuters) - Pay-TV group BSkyB is 'fit and proper' to hold a broadcast licence, Ofcom has found, after an investigation sparked by the revelations of criminality at its largest shareholder News Corp.

Ofcom said in a brief statement on Thursday that it had investigated the group after Rupert Murdoch's News Corp admitted some of its journalists had hacked into phones on an industrial basis at its now-defunct News of the World tabloid.

News Corp had been trying to buy the rest of BSkyB it did not already own when the revelations broke. James Murdoch, Rupert's son, was chairman of BSkyB at the time.

'fit and proper'? More like "fit for nothing."

all the same the news will send sp north rather than south for us to get in.,.

Ex-divi 24th Oct '12 (16.2p)

British Sky Broadcasting will release Q1 results on Thursday, on the same day as its AGM. The shares have had a good run since early 2009, but have fallen back since their peak in mid-2001 to today's 718p.

This is another company that pays decent dividends, albeit lower than some, around the 3.5% mark. BSkyB also has a good record of rising earnings, and there are forecasts for further growth in the next two years.

The last full year brought the company a 14% rise in adjusted operating profit, and there is still a share buyback programme in operation, so we have plenty to look for in this quarterly update

1st Quarter Results

Robust quarterly performance with broad product growth and strong loyalty

· Good growth in products and customers, up 533,000 and 48,000 respectively
· One in three customers now takes all three of TV, broadband and talk
· Strong customer loyalty with Q1 churn of 10.9%

Extending leadership in content

· Long-term renewals in sports and movies providing certainty on content leadership
· Spectacular success of Ryder Cup - 4.8m viewers and 700,000 unique Sky Go users
Bringing world-class innovation to customers
· Launch of catch up service offers the best of pay and free TV on demand
· Award-winning Sky+HD box re-launched with six times more storage
· Unique users of Sky Go up 75%, confirming leadership in over-the-top content delivery

Top-line growth and operational efficiency driving strong financial performance

· Revenue up 4%
· Adjusted operating profit up 5%
· Adjusted basic earnings per share up 16%
· Approval sought at 2012 AGM for further £500m share buy-back programme in 2012/13

Interim Results

Further strong financial performance and increased returns to shareholders

· Revenue up 5% to £3,533m

· Adjusted operating profit up 8% to £647m

· Adjusted basic earnings per share up 18% to 28.3 pence

· Interim dividend up 20% to 11.0 pence

Multi-product strategy delivering good operational growth

· Subscription product growth of 615,000 in Q2

· Total subscription product base of 29.5 million, up 10% year on year

· Triple-play penetration of 33%, up 4pp year on year

· 88,000 new customers added in Q2 to reach 10.74 million, up 271,000 year on year

· ARPU of £568, up £24 year on year
Customers responding positively to our content and products

· New services driving increased viewing - weekly On Demand downloads up 150% in Q2; Sky Go users increased 46% year on year to reach 3.1 million

· Standout performance from Sky Sports - record audiences for Ryder Cup and US Open tennis, and over 9 million viewers to first season of Sky Sports F1 channel
Continued excellent progress in cost initiatives and efficiency improvements

· Adjusted other operating costs as percentage of sales reduced by 200 basis points

Great results. Companies are doing great....

sp well down today as BT take on their sports channel semi-monopoly by giving free sports viewing to their own broadband customers...... Murdoch start crying in your Fosters!

Ex-divi Wed 13th Nov (19p)

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC - SHARE BUYBACK
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc (the "Company") announces that in accordance with the authority granted by shareholders at the Company's Annual General Meeting on 1 November 2012, on 31 October 2013 it purchased 200,000 of its ordinary shares of £0.50 pence each ("shares") for cancellation.

The volume weighted average price paid by the Company was 933.5014 pence per share.

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC - SHARE BUYBACK
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc (the "Company") confirms that further to yesterday's announcement, and in accordance with the authority granted by shareholders at the Company's Annual General Meeting on 1 November 2012 and pursuant to the agreement between the Company and 21st Century Fox UK Nominees Limited (formerly known as News Corporation) dated 25 July 2012 that it has completed the purchase of 128,611 shares of £0.50 pence each ("shares") from 21st Century Fox UK Nominees Limited for cancellation. The price paid by the Company was 933.5014 pence per share

StockMarketWire.com
Westhouse Securities has moderated its recommendation on BSkyB (LON:BSY) and moved to a "neutral" stock rating, on valuation grounds, following a period of strong share price outperformance. The broker points out that the shares are up by 16 per cent since it initiated coverage with an "add" recommendation, back in May, and are up by 8 per cent since the company published its third-quarter results on 17 October. Analysts have left their price target unchanged at 985 pence per share.

Goldman Sachs cuts British Sky Broadcasting to buy from conviction buy, target cut from 1,170p to 1,120p.

Down 7% presumably on the w/e news that BT have bought the rights to show Champions League games.

StockMarketWire.com
Nomura has downgraded its recommendation on BSkyB (LON:BSY) to "reduce" from "buy" following news that BT (BT.A) has won exclusive rights to broadcast Champions League and Europa League football for three years, starting from the 2015/16 season. The broker believes that the deal highlights BT's willingness to overpay for content, which it views as a "bad sign for Sky in terms of the next Premier League auction". Nomura said: "Regardless of whether BT can monetise this outlay, it shows that they are not content to be the number 2 sports service, which has big implications for the next (blind) Premier League auction in mid-2015". Analysts have cut their price target to 850 pence per share from 1,040 pence. Separately, Goldman Sachs and Citigroup have both repeated their respective "buy" stock recommendations, with GS cutting its price target to 1,070 pence a share (from 1,120 pence) while Citi left its price target unchanged at 1,000 pence a share.
The broker said: While for BSkyB this is a property it would much rather have not lost, it does only represent 3% of Sky Sports viewing and money can be reinvested to support its push into UK drama. While not welcome, we think this is handleable and would see significant weakness as an opportunity to buy the shares.

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC - SHARE BUYBACK
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc (the "Company") announces that in accordance with the authority granted by shareholders at the Company's Annual General Meeting on 1 November 2012, on 11 November 2013 it purchased 830,000 of its ordinary shares of £0.50 pence each ("shares") for cancellation.

The volume weighted average price paid by the Company was 838.7764 pence per share.

In accordance with the agreement between the Company and 21st Century Fox UK Nominees Limited (formerly known as News Corporation) (and others) dated 25 July 2012 (the "2012 Buyback Agreement"), and shareholder authority granted on 1 November 2012, the Company will today purchase 533,734 shares at 838.7764 pence per share from 21st Century Fox UK Nominees Limited for cancellation.

British Sky Broadcasting Group plc (the "Company") announces that in accordance with the authority granted by shareholders at the Company's Annual General Meeting on 1 November 2012, on 12 November 2013 it purchased 250,000 of its ordinary shares of £0.50 pence each ("shares") for cancellation.

The volume weighted average price paid by the Company was 841.7531 pence per share.

In accordance with the agreement between the Company and 21st Century Fox UK Nominees Limited (formerly known as News Corporation) (and others) dated 25 July 2012 (the "2012 Buyback Agreement"), and shareholder authority granted on 1 November 2012, the Company will today purchase 160,764 shares at 841.7531 pence per share from 21st Century Fox UK Nominees Limited for cancellation.

Credit Suisse Underperform 0.00 810.00 700.00 Downgrades

HSBC Underweight 0.00 600.00 600.00 Reiterates

Deutsche Bank Buy 0.00 1,100.00 1,100.00 Reiterates


And from yestreday :-

Jefferies International Underperform 0.00 710.00 710.00 Reiterates

Investec Reduce 0.00 825.00 825.00 Retains

Espirito Santo Execution Noble Buy 0.00 935.00 935.00 Reiterates

Barclays Capital Equal weight 0.00 - 945.00 Reiterates

Westhouse Securities Neutral 0.00 985.00 985.00 Reiterates

Goldman Sachs Buy 0.00 1,120.00 1,070.00 Reiterates

Citigroup Buy 0.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 Reiterates

Nomura Reduce 0.00 1,040.00 850.00 Downgrades

JP Morgan Cazenove Neutral 0.00 - 930.00 Reiterates

Hmmm.......Ex-divi Wed 13th Nov (19p), which is a bit more attractive at this level, but sp likely to take a hit (even further!).

Harry - I dithered earlier on buying for the dividend @830p - suffice to say - I didn't!

I already hold at a higher price, but have bought more at 840p, so will get the divi & will probably have to hold for longer than I anticipated.

StockMarketWire.com
Sky has agreed to invest $8m in Luminari Capital, a venture capital fund focusing on technology and media startup companies that operate within the theme of innovation in video.

Through this investment Sky will increase its exposure to relevant start-up companies that it may choose to partner with in the future. Luminari Capital is being formed by Daniel Leff, formerly of Globespan Capital Partners and current board member of Roku Inc.

Sky's funding obligation is contingent upon the further fund raising activities of Luminari Capital over the coming 12 months.

Almost back to my 'top up' buy price! ....divi correction recovered. Now for the BT retaliation!

StockMarketWire.com
Shareholders at pay-TV giant British Sky Broadcasting (LON:BSY) have voted in favour of all the resolutions at today's AGM, allowing the company to commence a £500 million share buy-back programme.

Nomura reiterates reduce on British Sky Broadcasting, target raised from 850p to 870p.

StockMarketWire.com
British Sky Broadcasting has made a $350,000 equity investment in Jaunt, an innovative early-stage technology company based in Palo Alto, California, specialising in video capture and display.

This investment will provide Sky with additional insight into developments within the field.

Hoping to close the gap caused by the BT announcement a while back.

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC - SHARE BUYBACK
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc (the "Company") confirms that further to yesterday's announcement, and in accordance with the authority granted by shareholders at the Company's Annual General Meeting on 22 November 2013 and pursuant to the agreement between the Company and 21st Century Fox UK Nominees Limited (formerly known as News Corporation) (and others) dated 25 July 2013 that it has completed the purchase of 18,573 shares of £0.50 pence each ("shares") from 21st Century Fox UK Nominees Limited for cancellation. The price paid by the Company was 823.9560 pence per share.

BSkyB part of EU probe into film licencing agreements

The European Union has opened an investigation into licensing agreements between major US film studios and European pay-TV broadcasters, including BSkyB, saying they may break EU anti-trust rules.


more...

Cheers for that skinny! It was all looking so good, with less shares in issue, sp climbing, gap being closed......;o)

:-)

Notice of Interim Results
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc will be announcing results for the six months ended 31 December 2013 via RNS, at 7.00 a.m. (GMT) on Thursday 30 January 2014.

press reports broadband link up with Vodaphone under discussion.

Quarterly results tomorrow. All depends on how much of an effect BT has had presumably?

Isn't that last weeks rumour news?

Interim Results Announcement

STRONG FIRST HALF WITH EXCELLENT GROWTH

Growth in paid-for products up 42%year on year
· 873,000 new paid-for subscription products in Q2

· High Definition and Broadband now in 5 million homes

· 36% of customers now take triple play, 534,000 more than a year ago

Leading in connected TV growth; investment driving returns
· Record growth in connected Sky+HD boxes, up 1 million in Q2 to 4.4 million

· Threefold increase in On Demand usage

· Sky Store transactional revenues up 100%

Extending leadership in content across all genres

· Major new partnership with HBO

· Landmark deal with ITV to include new drama channel exclusive to Sky

· Record audiences for new UK commissioned drama

· Sky Sports viewing at highest level for 6 years

Good financial performance in line with expectations

· Adjusted revenue1 up 8% to £3,751 million

· Adjusted EBITDA flat at £813 million despite investment in connected TV services and one-off step up in Premier League costs

· Adjusted basic earnings per share down 3.5% to 27.3 pence

· Interim dividend up 9% to 12.0 pence

The market seemed to like the figures. Up 3.5% so far. Perhaps it was just a case of them expecting worse.
"Satellite broadcaster BSkyB announced higher half-year revenue and a hike in its dividend, but blamed investment in on-demand TV services and higher costs of Premier League football rights for flat profits of 813m pounds."

Ex-divi 26th March 2014 (12p)

Barclays note today:
"1H14 results were solid (financials and KPIs slightly ahead) showing the resilience of the business model. After a 3% underperformance vs. the FTSE100 in 2013, we feel that the investment case is again hard to make, both on the bull and bear sides. Indeed, both sides have very valid arguments (see below). Consequently, we expect another year of performance close to the market (4% underperformance year todate).
Re-iterate Equal Weight with an unchanged 920p price target and unchanged forecasts. We are slightly below consensus (Zonefinance) and expect consensus to adjust towards our forecasts (£1,240m on operating profit vs. consensus at £1,260m).
The bull view - KPI and revenue growth continues to be solid while BSkyB and BT agree to a wholesale deal. This would lead to lower inflation than expected for the Premier League rights. This scenario should result in BSkyB making forecasts and, on this basis, the stock is inexpensive versus other FTSE names, especially taking into account a likely further buyback.
The bear view - BSkyB continues to spend their way to maintaining growth with marketing costs up significantly. BSkyB and BT do not agree to a wholesale deal and the Premier League rights see significant inflation leading to downgrades in the outer years. 1H 2014 financial results and KPIs slightly ahead – Revenues grew 6.3% to £3,757m, in line. EBITDA of £813m was flat and 2% ahead of our expectations. Operating profit declined 8.0% to £695m, 2% ahead of Barclays but in line with consensus. Headline diluted EPS fell 3.3% to 27.1p, 2% above our estimates. Total net adds were 106k (77k TV, 29k standalone). Broadband net adds were 110k (consensus 106k) and Telephony 140k (vs Barclays 146k) – encouraging given BT’s entrance into pay TV and marking a similar run rate to FY13. Churn was in line at 10.8%. ARPU was £570, below our £575."

Gap to 920p nearly closed.

Court of Appeal ruling on pay TV appeal
Sky notes today's Court of Appeal judgment on the various appeals against Ofcom's 2010 decision to impose a Wholesale Must Offer (WMO) obligation in respect of Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2.

Today's judgment means that the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) will be asked to consider further an additional and very specific aspect of Ofcom's decision, in relation to the level of Sky's wholesale pricing.

This does not alter in any way the CAT's fundamental findings, overturning Ofcom, that Sky engaged constructively with other distributors over the supply of its premium sports channels, and that Virgin Media is able to compete effectively with Sky on the basis of Sky's rate card prices.

Sky continues to believe that Ofcom's 2010 decision is flawed and that the WMO obligation ought properly to be removed, and will continue to pursue all available options to achieve this aim.

StockMarketWire.com
Analysts at Berenberg Bank have stated that they believe BSkyB (LON:BSY) is 'stuck in a spiral of increasing costs', having recently signed large number of sports rights agreements in an attempt to block any further advancement by rival BT (LON:BT.A). The broker argues that the recent high stake / high price deals struck by BT have been used by rights owners as a stick to pressure Sky into paying inflated prices and, in some cases, forcing them into early renewals and / or extensions. It, therefore, comes as no surprise to note that analysts have retained their "sell" stock rating and 680 pence per share price target. In short, while these rights renewals make sense, they come at a cost, and having looked to make savings already (to offset the Premier League cost inflation that took effect from August 2013), it will be even harder to find further economies, Berenberg said in its note.

StockMarketWire.com
Westhouse Securities has downgraded its recommendation on BSkyB (LON:BSY) to "neutral" from "buy" on valuation grounds, given the shares have risen to within 8 per cent of its unchanged 985 pence a share target price. The broker pointed out that the share price has gained 12 per cent since the company released its interim results, on 30 January, and has outpaced the market by almost 15 per cent in the last three months. "We view its current valuation (15.8x / 9.5x FY2014E PE and EV/EBITDA ratios, respectively, 3.3% yield) as fair and have decided to moderate our recommendation from Buy to Neutral."

StockMarketWire.com
British Sky Broadcasting will seek shareholder approval for the acquisition of Sky Italia and at least a 57.4% stake in Sky Deutschland at a general meeting on 6 October.

The meeting will be held at Park Plaza Victoria, 239 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 1EQ

Ex divi thurs 13th Nov (20p).

I don't know if you read this piece in proactiveinvestors .



British Sky Broadcasting wins big in golf war
By John Harrington October 16 2014, 11:07am
Sky TV’s coverage of the Ryder Cup broke all viewing records for the pay TV channel, British Sky Broadcasting (LON:BSY) revealed in first quarter results.
During the final day's play, Sky Sports Ryder Cup was the single most watched channel in all TV homes, the company claimed.
The revelation was part of an upbeat trading statement in which the satellite broadcaster and Internet service provider revealed a 6% increase in revenue to £1.93bn in the three months to 30 September from £1.82bn in the same period of 2013.
That was more or less in line with expectations, as was an 11% increase in operating profit to £316mln, while underlying earnings (EBITDA) rose 6% to £417mln from £392mln the year before.
The company added 760,000 new paid-for subscription products in the quarter, 8% more than the previous quarter, while adding 51,000 new retail customers to close the quarter at 11.5 million.
Average revenue per user (ARPU) grew by £17 to £576 while churn – the percentage of customers who stop taking Sky’s services – remained stable at 11.0%.
"The investments that we have made in new connected TV services are delivering growing benefits to our business. We extended our lead as the UK's largest connected TV platform, surpassing 6 million connected homes. Sky Store more than doubled its revenues and our mobile TV service Sky Go Extra achieved a record quarter of growth. The benefits are clear as connected customers watch more TV, spend more with us and are more loyal,” claimed Jeremy Darroch, chief executive of BskyB

Tell you what Cynic lets trash this thread now like you and the boys have trashed the chart thread, lets all have a bit of fun.........

aldwickk View aldwickk's profile - 24 Oct 2014 12:21 - 2232 of 2235

Been headhunted aswel Zak Mir ...Tips TV, Jim Mellon....T1PS, Tom Winnifrith......shareprophets/Clem Chambers, iii have all asked if I was available to do a piece/column for them.

Under what name ? You have so many to choose from
goldfinger Send an email to goldfinger View goldfinger's profile - 24 Oct 2014 12:29 - 2233 of 2235 edit this post

Whats your point alders?
doodlebug4 - 24 Oct 2014 12:32 - 2234 of 2235

Lol, aldwickk! That's a very good point - rumour is that it's going to be WalterMitty.
cynic Send an email to cynic View cynic's profile - 24 Oct 2014 12:42 - 2235 of 2235

i like dd4 .... let's hope sticky doesn't get the hump at that jolly jape

looks like a very subdued day all round .... i suspect ev dow will be range bound between about 16,600 and 16,700, or 16,750 at a push

Tell you what Cynic lets trash this thread now like you and the boys have trashed the chart thread, lets all have a bit of fun.........

aldwickk View aldwickk's profile - 24 Oct 2014 12:21 - 2232 of 2235

Been headhunted aswel Zak Mir ...Tips TV, Jim Mellon....T1PS, Tom Winnifrith......shareprophets/Clem Chambers, iii have all asked if I was available to do a piece/column for them.

Under what name ? You have so many to choose from
goldfinger Send an email to goldfinger View goldfinger's profile - 24 Oct 2014 12:29 - 2233 of 2235 edit this post

Whats your point alders?
doodlebug4 - 24 Oct 2014 12:32 - 2234 of 2235

Lol, aldwickk! That's a very good point - rumour is that it's going to be WalterMitty.
cynic Send an email to cynic View cynic's profile - 24 Oct 2014 12:42 - 2235 of 2235

i like dd4 .... let's hope sticky doesn't get the hump at that jolly jape

looks like a very subdued day all round .... i suspect ev dow will be range bound between about 16,600 and 16,700, or 16,750 at a push

Tell you what Cynic lets trash this thread now like you and the boys have trashed the chart thread, lets all have a bit of fun.........

aldwickk View aldwickk's profile - 24 Oct 2014 12:21 - 2232 of 2235

Been headhunted aswel Zak Mir ...Tips TV, Jim Mellon....T1PS, Tom Winnifrith......shareprophets/Clem Chambers, iii have all asked if I was available to do a piece/column for them.

Under what name ? You have so many to choose from
goldfinger Send an email to goldfinger View goldfinger's profile - 24 Oct 2014 12:29 - 2233 of 2235 edit this post

Whats your point alders?
doodlebug4 - 24 Oct 2014 12:32 - 2234 of 2235

Lol, aldwickk! That's a very good point - rumour is that it's going to be WalterMitty.
cynic Send an email to cynic View cynic's profile - 24 Oct 2014 12:42 - 2235 of 2235

i like dd4 .... let's hope sticky doesn't get the hump at that jolly jape

looks like a very subdued day all round .... i suspect ev dow will be range bound between about 16,600 and 16,700, or 16,750 at a push

I don't even hold this share, that post 133 was only out there for Harry's attention.

Tell you what Cynic lets trash this thread now like you and the boys have trashed the chart thread, lets all have a bit of fun.........

aldwickk View aldwickk's profile - 24 Oct 2014 12:21 - 2232 of 2235

Been headhunted aswel Zak Mir ...Tips TV, Jim Mellon....T1PS, Tom Winnifrith......shareprophets/Clem Chambers, iii have all asked if I was available to do a piece/column for them.

Under what name ? You have so many to choose from
goldfinger Send an email to goldfinger View goldfinger's profile - 24 Oct 2014 12:29 - 2233 of 2235 edit this post

Whats your point alders?
doodlebug4 - 24 Oct 2014 12:32 - 2234 of 2235

Lol, aldwickk! That's a very good point - rumour is that it's going to be WalterMitty.
cynic Send an email to cynic View cynic's profile - 24 Oct 2014 12:42 - 2235 of 2235

i like dd4 .... let's hope sticky doesn't get the hump at that jolly jape

looks like a very subdued day all round .... i suspect ev dow will be range bound between about 16,600 and 16,700, or 16,750 at a push

Tell you what Cynic lets trash this thread now like you and the boys have trashed the chart thread, lets all have a bit of fun.........

aldwickk View aldwickk's profile - 24 Oct 2014 12:21 - 2232 of 2235

Been headhunted aswel Zak Mir ...Tips TV, Jim Mellon....T1PS, Tom Winnifrith......shareprophets/Clem Chambers, iii have all asked if I was available to do a piece/column for them.

Under what name ? You have so many to choose from
goldfinger Send an email to goldfinger View goldfinger's profile - 24 Oct 2014 12:29 - 2233 of 2235 edit this post

Whats your point alders?
doodlebug4 - 24 Oct 2014 12:32 - 2234 of 2235

Lol, aldwickk! That's a very good point - rumour is that it's going to be WalterMitty.
cynic Send an email to cynic View cynic's profile - 24 Oct 2014 12:42 - 2235 of 2235

i like dd4 .... let's hope sticky doesn't get the hump at that jolly jape

looks like a very subdued day all round .... i suspect ev dow will be range bound between about 16,600 and 16,700, or 16,750 at a push

doodlebug4 - 24 Oct 2014 17:24 - 137 of 138

I don't even hold this share, that post 133 was only out there for Harry's attention.

db4, don't get sucked into this childish rubbish.
Gf, you just need to grow up. The world doesn't revolve around you, so stop throwing a tantrum every time things don't go your way.

Harry lets just face it your a bit slow. Always have been. You dont even know what as gone on.

DB4 and C Carson started this problem 3 weeks ago.

"You dont even know what as gone on."...... Yes I do. Probably a bit more intelligent than you think.
Is this really how you live your life? Presumably you got bullied at school and now think the whole world is against you. I assume every time you run to some kind of authority and start pleading for justice it gives you a warm feeling inside? The joke is that no one else is like this on these boards. What does that tell you?
And really...... you are resorting to "they started it"......jeeeeeez. We gave all that up when we were 12 years old.

Who ran to management saying they thought I had threatened them physically about 6 months ago he he ha ha ho ho. go on have a guess LOL.

Then came back with his trousers around his ankles as he had got it all wrong.

What a wally.

One of the best laughs Ive ever had on here.

If the cap fits Harry, if the cap fits.

Well said Harry, he is a child and his actions are plain to see by all.

Chris (and i guess DB4 too) ..... can you please stop goading sticky so he/you/we can all calm down and get back to having a fun board once again with no one thrown off

yes, i am fully aware that it requires everyone to join the dance but this place is starting to get tiresome

cynic - I'm not goading anybody, I agreed as did db to stop all this nonsense yesterday. Look at FLYB and SGE thread and then ask yourself the same question. If I or db had done that I for one would expect to be banned, the difference is neither one of us is that pathetic or childish.

Now that is it for me on the subject. End of, Finito.!!

StockMarketWire.com
Sky has invested $7 million in Whistle Sports, the world's largest sport-focused cross-platform network as the two companies look to work together on creating exciting new content for younger sports fans, particularly 'young millennials'.

Whistle Sports partners with online personalities who create unique video content themed around sports, sports brands and franchises.

The network uses a combination of youth-orientated celebrities, innovative programming ideas and formats to make sport more accessible for younger audiences.

The partnership with Whistle Sports builds on Sky's ongoing programme of investing in innovative startups that help Sky bring new ideas, insight and services into its business.

This follows recent investments in Pluto.TV, the online video aggregator and the US ad tech firm Sharethrough. Sky has previously invested in a number of other pioneering US technology companies, including the IP streaming service provider Roku, the immersive 360 video specialists Jaunt and the video delivery firm 1 Mainstream.

More Premier League games could be shown live and at a lower cost as Ofcom examines rights sales
Ofcom will ask probe whether subscribers to Sky Sports and BT Sport are being charged too much - and whether fans want 3pm kick-offs on Saturdays televised

By Ben Rumsby10:37AM GMT 18 Nov 2014 Comments2 Comments
More Premier League games could be shown live on television - including matches kicking off at 3pm on Saturday - at a cheaper price in future after Ofcom opened an investigation into the way they are sold in the UK.
The media watchdog announced on Tuesday it would examine whether subscribers to Sky Sports and BT Sport are being ripped off by selling arrangements which witnessed a 70 per cent increase in broadcast revenues at the most recent TV rights auction. Ofcom will consult fans over whether they would like more matches to be televised, and whether matches played at 3pm on a Saturday should be shown live in this country, which could be a disincentive to supporters attending lower league matches at that time.
Ofcom's decision, which followed a formal complaint from Virgin Media in September, could delay the next rights auction, which had been due to begin early next year.
The investigation will be carried out under the Competition Act and will consider "whether there is a breach of the UK and/or EU competition law prohibition on agreements and decisions which restrict or distort competition".
Ofcom said in a statement: "This case is at an early stage and Ofcom has not reached a view as to whether there is sufficient evidence of an infringement of competition law for it to issue a statement of objections."

Outlining the objection of Virgin Media, which predicted a 60 per cent increase on the current £3 billion contract and ruled out bidding for that reason, the watchdog added: "Virgin Media's complaint alleges that the arrangements for the 'collective' selling of live UK television rights by the Premier League for matches played by its member clubs is in breach of competition law.
"In particular, the complaint raises concerns about the number of Premier League matches for which live broadcasting rights are made available.
"Virgin Media argues that the proportion of matches made available for live television broadcast under the current Premier League rights deals - at 41 per cent - is lower than some other leading European leagues, where more matches are available for live television broadcast.
"The complaint alleges that this contributes to higher prices for consumers of pay-TV packages that include premium sport channels and for the pay-TV retailers of premium sports channels."
Ofcom said it was "mindful of the likely timing of the next auction of live UK audio-visual media rights, and is open to discussion with the Premier League about its plans".
It also revealed it would consider the views of supporters' groups, many of whom would object to more games being switched from 3pm on Saturdays.
Under current rules designed to protect lower-league attendances, that would be the only way for more live matches being shown on television.
Ofcom said: "Ofcom understands that the scheduling of football games is important to many football fans, in particular attending 3pm kick-offs on Saturdays.
"The investigation will take this into account and Ofcom plans to approach the Football Supporters' Federation and certain other supporters' groups to understand their views."

More Premier League games could be shown live and at a lower cost as Ofcom examines rights sales
Ofcom will ask probe whether subscribers to Sky Sports and BT Sport are being charged too much - and whether fans want 3pm kick-offs on Saturdays televised

By Ben Rumsby10:37AM GMT 18 Nov 2014 Comments2 Comments
More Premier League games could be shown live on television - including matches kicking off at 3pm on Saturday - at a cheaper price in future after Ofcom opened an investigation into the way they are sold in the UK.
The media watchdog announced on Tuesday it would examine whether subscribers to Sky Sports and BT Sport are being ripped off by selling arrangements which witnessed a 70 per cent increase in broadcast revenues at the most recent TV rights auction. Ofcom will consult fans over whether they would like more matches to be televised, and whether matches played at 3pm on a Saturday should be shown live in this country, which could be a disincentive to supporters attending lower league matches at that time.
Ofcom's decision, which followed a formal complaint from Virgin Media in September, could delay the next rights auction, which had been due to begin early next year.
The investigation will be carried out under the Competition Act and will consider "whether there is a breach of the UK and/or EU competition law prohibition on agreements and decisions which restrict or distort competition".
Ofcom said in a statement: "This case is at an early stage and Ofcom has not reached a view as to whether there is sufficient evidence of an infringement of competition law for it to issue a statement of objections."

Outlining the objection of Virgin Media, which predicted a 60 per cent increase on the current £3 billion contract and ruled out bidding for that reason, the watchdog added: "Virgin Media's complaint alleges that the arrangements for the 'collective' selling of live UK television rights by the Premier League for matches played by its member clubs is in breach of competition law.
"In particular, the complaint raises concerns about the number of Premier League matches for which live broadcasting rights are made available.
"Virgin Media argues that the proportion of matches made available for live television broadcast under the current Premier League rights deals - at 41 per cent - is lower than some other leading European leagues, where more matches are available for live television broadcast.
"The complaint alleges that this contributes to higher prices for consumers of pay-TV packages that include premium sport channels and for the pay-TV retailers of premium sports channels."
Ofcom said it was "mindful of the likely timing of the next auction of live UK audio-visual media rights, and is open to discussion with the Premier League about its plans".
It also revealed it would consider the views of supporters' groups, many of whom would object to more games being switched from 3pm on Saturdays.
Under current rules designed to protect lower-league attendances, that would be the only way for more live matches being shown on television.
Ofcom said: "Ofcom understands that the scheduling of football games is important to many football fans, in particular attending 3pm kick-offs on Saturdays.
"The investigation will take this into account and Ofcom plans to approach the Football Supporters' Federation and certain other supporters' groups to understand their views."

Interim Results

EXCELLENT FIRST HALF WITH GOOD MOMENTUM ACROSS EXPANDED BUSINESS

Strong financial results
· Group revenue up 5%

· Operating profit up 16%

· Adjusted basic earnings per share of 27.1 pence

· Interim dividend of 12.30 pence per share

Growing customer demand across the group
· Significant outperformance in the UK and Ireland

o 204,000 new customers, the highest growth in nine years

o Over 1 million new products, the highest growth in four years

· Record growth in Germany and Austria with 214,000 new customers

· Strong performance in Italy with 30,000 new customers, the highest growth in 12 quarters

· Significant group-wide reduction in churn


Building for the future
· Strengthening drama slate: Fortitude launched in all five markets and 160 hours of original drama in production across the group

· Extending leadership in sport: exclusively live UK and Irish rights to The Open Championship

· Opening up OTT opportunity with streaming services in all our markets

· Growing new revenue streams: Sky Store revenues up 90% year on year

· Good progress with integration planning and synergies

"More Premier League games could be shown live on television - including matches kicking off at 3pm on Saturday - at a cheaper price in future after Ofcom opened an investigation into the way they are sold in the UK."

Too late they already are shown live at 3pm on a Saturday on the screen, and have been for some time.

James Murdoch has narrowly survived a rebellion by independent Sky shareholders to be re-elected as chair of the British satellite broadcaster. Just 51.6% backed Murdoch to stay in the top job. Concern among the dissenters centres around what they see as a potential conflict of interest, given his role as chief executive of 21st Century Fox, which is trying to buy Sky in an £11.7bn deal.