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BSkyB annual profits fall by 15% BSkyB to return £1bn to its shareholders
(42 minutes later)
Satellite broadcaster BSkyB has reported a 15% fall in annual pre-tax profits to £1.01bn. Satellite broadcaster BSkyB is returning £1bn to shareholders through a higher dividend and share buyback.
News Corp has said it will not be trying to buy the 61% of BSkyB it does not already own following the News of the World phone-hacking scandal. Its shares have fallen sharply since last month amid the phone-hacking scandal and the end of News Corporation's bid for BSkyB.
BSkyB's board has confirmed that James Murdoch will stay on as its chairman. The announcement came with the publication of a 15% fall in annual pre-tax profits to £1.01bn.
While pre-tax profits fell, operating profits, which exclude earnings from non-core activities such as investments, rose 23% to £1.07bn. But operating profits, which exclude earnings from non-core activities such as investments, rose 23% to £1.07bn.
BSkyB's board also confirmed that James Murdoch will stay on as its chairman, despite the phone-hacking scandal.
"There was a long discussion as you would expect at the board yesterday around governance, and that included the role of chairman, and the outcome was that the board was unanimous in its support for James as chairman," BSkyB chief executive Jeremy Darroch told BBC News.
BSkyB is raising its dividend 20% to 23.28 pence per share and has announced a £750m share buyback.BSkyB is raising its dividend 20% to 23.28 pence per share and has announced a £750m share buyback.
The cash going to shareholders should help to placate them, as the value of their shares has fallen more than 15% as a result of News Corporation deciding not to try to buy the rest of the company. This should help to placate shareholders, as the value of their shares has fallen 15% since in the last month.
BSkyB chief executive Jeremy Darroch confirmed that the decision for James Murdoch to stay on as chairman was a unanimous one.
"There was a long discussion as you would expect at the board yesterday around governance, and that included the role of chairman, and the outcome was that the board was unanimous in its support for James as chairman," he told BBC News.
Triple-playTriple-play
BSkyB increased its customer base by 426,000 in the year to give it a total of 10,294,000 subscribers.BSkyB increased its customer base by 426,000 in the year to give it a total of 10,294,000 subscribers.
Average revenue per customer grew £31 to £539 per customer.Average revenue per customer grew £31 to £539 per customer.
One of the key targets for media companies at the moment is persuading customers to each take more of their products, such as broadband and landline telephone services, together with television.One of the key targets for media companies at the moment is persuading customers to each take more of their products, such as broadband and landline telephone services, together with television.
"Critically, they've put on a 37% increase in triple-play, that's people who take pay-TV, telephone and broadband," said Steve Hewlett from BBC Radio 4's Media Show."Critically, they've put on a 37% increase in triple-play, that's people who take pay-TV, telephone and broadband," said Steve Hewlett from BBC Radio 4's Media Show.
"That's the holy grail - that's what everyone is after, and they've now got 27% of their customers, 2.8 million people, taking all three services.""That's the holy grail - that's what everyone is after, and they've now got 27% of their customers, 2.8 million people, taking all three services."