Cable Operator UPC Romania Lost 16,700 Clients In 1Q, To 1.14M

05.05.2011 By Bostan Radu

Cable television operator UPC Romania's client base dropped by 16,700 in the first quarter, to around 1.14 million, but the number of subscriptions decreased by only 11,500, as the company gained users for all its services except analog TV, the company said in a press release Thursday.

New clients who opted for packages comprising several services (video, internet, telephone) offset the global decline.

The number of analog cable subscriptions decreased by more than 46,000, to 599,700, while digital cable services gained 20,600 new users, rising to 304,500 subscriptions. UPC registered 8,900 new satellite TV clients, to a total of 235,500.

The company's internet services gained 1,200 users in the first quarter, bringing the total number of subscriptions to 256,200, while its telephone segment welcomed 4,000 new users, up to 144,800.

Controlled by U.S. media group Liberty Global, UPC Holding is registered in the Netherlands and has more than 8.8 million clients in nine European states, and a further million in Chile, through the VTR brand.

UPC Holding's revenue rose in the first quarter by 9% from the same period last year, to EUR977 million. Its operational profit increased by 32%, to EUR215 million.