Kingston Communications is an established UK communications company. The Group's national business-to-business capabilities encompass the provision of fully integrated and managed network solutions, complemented by the delivery of voice, data and call handling services in the towns and cities served by the Kingston Communications network. This infrastructure comprises twenty-five metropolitan fibre networks and a long distance broadband network, which was initiated for service in May 2001. Kingston's new media activities include the DSL-based interactive television service, KIT, and satellite broadband content, storage and distribution arm, Kingston inmedia. The Group's East Yorkshire network operation has served business and residential customers since 1904.

See my post 501 of 17/12/13, re I have just gone onto 'youview' via KC.

At the time I had to wait just short of a week for installation.
My daughter has also decided to go for 'Youview' and the wait it now 4 weeks, this of course could be because they have cut the sub contractors hours, or because they are so busy.

I will leave you to draw your own conclusions.

Well the next Trading Statement is due on 31st March!

Last time I predicted it would be ahead of expectations, it wasn't so keeping stum this time.

Mind you if they are rolling out Youview quicker than expected more money is put in to get more out so expectations re profit are difficult to predict.

Trading Statement 31st March.

Link copied :- Why I’ve Sold My Holding In Vodafone Group plc For This Little-Known Company

Good find skinny, obviously the writer has read post 511.

Pre-close statement


KCOM Group ("the Group") announces it will be entering a close period on 1 April 2014, ahead of its preliminary results announcement for the year ending 31 March 2014. The Board confirms that trading remains in line with expectations.

The preliminary results will be released on 6 June 2014.

Board changes

As previously announced, from 1 April 2014, Bill Halbert, currently Executive Chairman, will assume the role of Group Chief Executive and Graham Holden, the role of Non-Executive Chairman. Mr Holden has been an independent Non-Executive Director (NED) for the past 6 years.

In conjunction with these changes, an additional NED will be recruited.

Pension update

The Group is pleased to announce also that it has reached an agreement with the Trustees of its Defined Benefit Pension Schemes ("the Schemes") to provide further funding of the Schemes' current deficit position through the asset backed Partnership ("the Partnership") that had been previously established during the year ended 31 March 2013.

The total value of this income distribution to the Schemes is £16.0 million. Further details will be provided, alongside an update as to the Schemes' funding position and deficit repair plan, at the preliminary results announcement in June.

ENDS

Questor share tip: KCOM's 5pc dividend

A test of 106 beckons again.

Final Results

Highlights

· Year end results in line with expectations
· Strong second half cash performance with closing net debt of £75.0 million
· Net debt to EBITDA ratio reduced to 1.0 x (2013: 1.2 x)
· Increased final dividend of 3.25p, in line with commitment to increase dividend by 10 per cent per annum until March 2016
· Refinancing agreed, providing capacity to consider investment in selective organic and inorganic opportunities to strengthen position in target markets

Finncap Corporate 90.85 90.85 120.00 130.00 Reiterates

Espirito Santo Execution Noble Buy 92.53 100.00 110.00 Upgrades

A nice UT of 4,551,582 has gone through at the high end of the auction price. always good to see.

Interim Management Statement

KCOM Group announces the following trading update for the period 1 April to 29 July 2014, ahead of its Annual General Meeting at 11am.

Since the preliminary results announcement on 6 June, the outlook for the Group remains unchanged. We have continued to focus on exploiting the opportunities that exist in our key markets. We continue also to invest in expanding the reach of, and building consumer demand for, our fibre-based broadband services in Hull and East Yorkshire, alongside the delivery of value added services to the enterprise market.

Subject to shareholder approval at today's AGM, the Group will pay a final dividend for the year ending 31 March 2014 of 3.254p (2013: 2.97p) to shareholders on the register on 27 June 2014. This brings the total dividend for the year to 4.88p per share, an increase of 10 per cent year on year. Payment of the final dividend will be made on 1 August 2014. The Board reconfirms its commitment to delivering a ten per cent increase per annum in full year dividend over two financial years, ending 31 March 2016.

Retirement of Director

Pre-close Statement

KCOM Group ("the Group") announces today it is entering a close period, ahead of its interim results announcement for the six months ending 30 September 2014. The interim results will be released on 25 November 2014.

Current trading

During the first half year of the financial year, the Group has performed in line with expectations, with continued strong cash generation.

As part of its investment in super-fast, fibre-based broadband in Hull and East Yorkshire, the Group has recently secured its 10,000th "Lightstream" customer. The Group continues to progress its strategy of focusing on key target markets and will give a further update on its fibre deployment and other initiatives at the interim results.

The cash generative capacity of the Group means it is able to continue with its progressive dividend policy while investing in those areas that support the Group's ambition to achieve leadership positions in all its target markets.

Hi Skinny,

Out of interest,

I received a letter from KC re my bundle stating that the cost was being increased by £1.

On contacting them complaining that they are now way above other providers in pricing (I only stay with them due to their very quick efficient customer service) I was informed that this was in line with other providers but as this would change my contract (it is a 2 year deal lasting till Dec 2015) I could cancel with no chargeable fee.

I said I was not happy and would leave especially as KC are now offering 12 months half price for the TV section of the bundle to new customers.

To keep a valued customer (why do they always say that when the charge to such a customer is more than that offered to new customers) I was offered the half price deal which I accepted.

So from an increase of £1 per month for the next 15 months (KC receiving an extra £15) my bill is now £6 per month less (KC receive £78 less).

I know this doesn't effect KC profits much, but it made me happy.

If only companies looked after their existing customers better instead of concentrating on new customers both their reputations as well as their profits would increase.

NOTE......Still waiting for the much promised fibre optic broadband to reach our village, perhaps it will be one of the areas to be mentioned in the results.

I has a similar experience with AOL/TalkTalk last year - the rhetoric went along the lines of "we didn't realise that you had been with us for over 15 years, rather than charge you more, we are going to charge you @£6 a month and NO line rental if you move that from BT to us".

I took them up on their offer and saved @£8 a month + @£140 in the line rental.

I guess its the way of the world these days.

They would soon change tack if there were more people like us prepared to stand their ground.

Half Yearly Report

Highlights
· Continued strong KC brand performance with top line growth, strong cash generation and growing fibre uptake
· Good market share and revenue growth in Eclipse
· Solid underlying performance and market position in Smart421
· Good progress in key customer contracts in Kcom, including HMRC, but broader revenue challenges continue
· Increased interim dividend to 1.79p, in line with commitment to increase full-year dividend by 10% per annum through to March 2016

Heading up nicely - XD 29 December.