The amount of churn in pay-TV has dropped by 2% since Austar merged into Foxtel merged, withCEO Richard Freudenstein denying the National Broadband Network poses a threat to the business.
The full-year results, released as part of 50% owner Telstra’s report yesterday, show churn dropped to 14.2%, while the number of subscribers lifted by 3.4% to 2.481m.
Overall revenues increased by 3.9% to 3.071bn, and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) was up by 22.4% to $944m.
Speculation in the press in recent days has suggested Rupert Murdoch has instructed his papers to oppose the Labor government because of its NBN plans threatening the profitability of the TV provider, which he owns 50% of through News Corporation.
However, yesterday Freudenstein told analysts "a world with NBN makes it easier for us" adding it is a “huge part of our strategy to be everywhere”, reports The Australian.
Telstra boss David Thodey also took aim at the claims, saying it would help get Foxtel into more homes, adding: “Anything that helps us do that is good news and so the NBN, in that sense, is helpful.”
