Swisscom grows TV base despite ‘fierce’ cable competition

Swisscom grew its TV base by 33,000 in the second quarter despite what it described as “fierce competition” from cable. The additions take the telco’s TV base to 1.4 million, up 13.1% year-on-year.

The TV total included 1.15 million basic package subscribers. Swisscom said that three Quarters of customers now use its cloud-based Swisscom TV 2.0 service.

The company said that it had still not recognised a fine levied for alleged abuse of regulations governing the marketing of sports pay TV content as a provision in its financial statements. Swisscom said it was confident its appeal against a Competition Commission sanction would succeed.

Swisscom launched a new TV offering for bars and restaurants, and other corporate customers, in June.

Overall, Swisscom posted revenues of CHF5.8 billion (€5.3 billion) for the first half, more or less flat year-on-year. Operating income was up 2.7% to CHF1.14 billion.

The company said it expected a slight decline in revenues for the full year, with growth in TV, broadband and mobile failing to offset declining telephony revenues. Broadband lines numbered 1.922 million at the half-year point, up 2.9%.