UK DTV broadcaster ONdigital hits million sub mark

British digital terrestrial broadcaster ONdigital says it hit its target of one million subscribers at the end of 2000, just over two years after its 1998 launch.

ONdigital's customer base grew by 134,000 in Q4 2000 and attracted more than 35,000 new subscribers the week before Christmas through retail stores alone. The company said it expects to hit the two million mark within two years. ONdigital's terrestrial digital broadcast service – the only one of its kind in the UK -- is available to about 72 percent of Britain.

"ONdigital has met its targets, and we have reached our first million sales by the end of 2000," says Stuart Prebble, ONdigital CEO. "We've achieved it faster than Sky, faster than any cable company, faster than Vodafone, or Orange or Cellnet. Our challenge ahead is to take advantage of the drive towards digital switch-over to become the most widespread pay TV and interactive services platform."

ONdigital's net sales in the quarter represented one of the best quarters since launch, the company said, but warned that its expect churn rate of between 15 and 20 per cent would continue until its customer base becomes more mature.

Source: ONdigital
With contributions by Tom Butts, Managing Editor