Foxtel edges to 1.66m subscribers
Foxtel’s subscriber growth has continued to edge forward, according to the latest numbers released from the company.
According to Foxtel’s update on the final six months of 2011, the company’s number of subscribers including those awaiting installation was 1.66m households. This marks a fractional improvement on the set of numbers released six months ago which was 1.65m households. Foxtel’s subscription growth has slowed over the last couple of years.
Foxtel total subscribers:
- 2011 – 1.65m
- 2010 – 1.632m
- 2009 – 1.63m
- 2008 – 1.54m
- 2007 – 1.443m
However, the company still increased the revenue it achieved from each subscriber, announcing a 5.1% increase.
Foxtel’s EBITDA profits for the six months were $280m with profit before tax of $107m. When the company released its full year numbers six months ago it’s EBITDA profits were $550m.
Churn – the percentage of subscribers giving up the service – stood at 13.4%.
Richard Freudenstein, Foxtel’s newly arrived CEO, said: “There are really two stories in Foxtel’s results. Existing customers love our product and are taking more and more of it. But as retail and consumer services companies are finding across Australia, it remains a tough environment in which to win new customers.”
He added: “We are confident that our ground breaking AFL agreement in which we will offer every game of the AFL live and in full in 2012, our London Olympic broadcast offer which will be the most comprehensive sporting broadcast in Australian history, our world class domestic and international programming and our continued innovation will attract new customers to Foxtel”.
The company – owned by Telstra, News Corp and Consolidated Media Holdings – is still waiting to hear whether the ACCC will allow through its proposed merger with Austar.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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Hey Richard, if you’re bothering to read our feedback, can you please lower the cost of subscription packages. Not by much, let’s say $20-$30 a month will do. You’ll still makes heaps of money and I recon you’ll massively increase the number of subscribers. So you’ll end up making a bundle more and I believe you’ll then pick up a bigger share of Ad Revenue too. WIN, WIN, WIN, Thanks
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I cancelled Foxtel three years ago and took out gym membership instead and I’ve never looked back.
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I’ve been with Foxtel for over ten years. They give you nothing. Their customer service is indifferent at best; rude at worst. They have more repeats than over-spiced garlic prawns; all their packages are way too expensive, and they charge extra for special events. But without this mob of self-satisfied cowboys I’d be forced to watch the commercial-heavy, mind-numbing rot on Free To Air all the time instead of just a little bit. So I decided a long time ago that it’s better to be ripped off than brain dead. Of course I could always live without a television set. One of these nights, after eight or nine vodka slammers, I might summon up the Dutch courage to blow the bloody thing up, and Foxtel can cop the finger! Yipee!
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Hi JimP,
I disagree with you on the customer service element – I’ve always thought the telephone customer service from Foxtel was one of the few experiences of calling a big Australian company that isn’t a hideous ordeal.
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
Tim: That’s probably because of the velvety Michael Caine ring tones in your voice. Mine sounds more like Ned Kelly in his tin hat!
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Hey Tim – do you think you might be flagged in their database as ‘Tim from Mumbrella – important person – treat very well’? Maybe, just maybe you’re not getting the usual attitude / service?
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Hi Rick2,
Massive as my ego is, no…
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
Free to air services my needs.
ABC and SBS offer quality local and world news, current affairs and documentaries.
For large sporting events I meet my friends and watch sport in the pub.
Where Foxtel is feeling the pinch (or is it Austar – what is the difference) is in guesthouses. Why spend a shed load on a corporate Foxtel licence when you can plonk free to air in? ABC have helped with their 24news service there for sure.
I guess another reason why I do not subscribe to Foxtel, s the same reason why I do not visit News.com.au, nor read The Australian…
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I’ve never been happier having moved from Foxtel, to a combination of FTA and unlimited download DSL. My brain is thanking me for not having to endure yet another 16 And Pregnant marathon.
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I agree with Tim – whenever I call Foxtel the service is excellent. It is a well run and staffed call centre.
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I phoned and complained about the number of repeats and the poor programming. Seriously how can an episode of Top Gear from 5 years ago be of use to anyone.
Anyway they knocked $30 a month off just like that. For $90 down o $60.
I’ll still be canceling at the end of the Premier League season. And will increase my broadband quoter and stream all my TV from now on.
Satellite TV is dead and buried. That’s why Murdoch press is so anti NBN.
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Hi there, are these household numbers or actual people? I’d imagine it’s households.
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Hi mehrak. You’re correct, it’s households (and I suspect businesses would be included too – it’s the number of subscriptions).
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella