German pay-television broadcaster Sky Deutschland has reported strong growth in the second quarter of 2013, citing its sports coverage as a major contributor.
Sky’s financial report for the quarter said total customers increased by 47,900 to 3.453m.
Revenues of €375.4m ($488m) reflected an increase of 15 per cent year-on-year, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation stood at €36.8m, up 60 per cent year-on-year.
Sky Deutschland chief executive Brian Sullivan said: “With Bundesliga exclusivity, an unrivalled sport offering, great new channels, innovative products and a significantly expanded distribution position, we have set the stage for the second half of this year and beyond.”
The results come as Sky prepares to enter into the first season of its new broadcast rights contract for German Bundesliga football.
In April 2012, Sky held off competition from rival Deutsche Telekom to acquire the key pay-television and mobile rights packages to the Bundesliga in a deal covering the four seasons from 2013-14 to 2016-17.
Sky acquired all live pay-television rights packages, including the IPTV rights which Telekom had in the previous cycle from 2009-10 to 2012-13. Sky also acquired the mobile rights which Telekom had in the previous cycle.
Sky will pay €485.7m per season for the live rights to all Bundesliga 1 and 2 games. Its rights allow it to simultaneously show the games online and on mobile. The broadcaster paid about €250m per season in the previous cycle for the same rights, excluding the IPTV rights and the mobile rights.