Telenor Broadcast sees in tough final quarter

Telenor’s Fornebu HQ

Norwegian telco Telenor’s Broadcast arm had a poor fourth quarter, with revenues down 6% year-on-year and EBITDA down 12%, hit by a currency impact on pay TV unit Canal Digital’s revenues and changes in its sport offering in Norway.

Canal Digital DTH revenues fell by 6% to NOK1.098 billion (€124 million). EBITDA was down 22% to NOK153 million, mostly due to currency impacts, as well as equipment and marketing costs. An ongoing drop in DTH subscribers was compensated by price increases.

DTH subscribers numbered 862,000, down 4% year-on-year. DTH ARPU was also down by 2% to NOK382.

Revenues from the Telenor Satellite unit, which operates the Thor satellite platform, decreased by 9% primarily due to price

pressure in the data communication market and the termination of

a satellite uplink contract. Q4 revenue amounted to NOK234 million. EBITDA declined by 7% to NOK158 million as the revenue reduction was partly compensated by lower capacity lease and operating costs.

Telenor Broadcast as a whole posted revenues of NOK1.495 billion and EB:ITDA of NOK446 million for the quarter.