Mediaset Premium increases quarterly subs

Mediaset-backed pay TV unit Mediaset Premium had 1.815 million post-paid subscribers at the end of the third quarter, a quarterly net increase of 112,000, exceeding its original target, according to the Italian broadcaster.

The figure does not include customers who acquired Mediaset pre-paid cards. Mediaset originally set a target of 200,000 new subscribers between June and the end of the year, and the June-September figure means it is already over half way towards that target.

Mediaset said the figures were higher than those of competitors and reflected the appeal of its acquisition of Champions League football rights, for which the broadcaster reportedly paid over €600 million.

Italian observers noted that the latest growth comes after a period of declining pay TV numbers and also possibly reflected Mediaset’s decision not to make Champions League matches available on a pay-per-view basis.