BSkyB's earnings have climbed sharply before its annual general meeting where new Chief Executive Mr James Murdoch will make his debut before concerned shareholders.
The pay-TV firm, which is 35.4 per cent owned by Rupert Murdoch's media conglomerate News Corp, said turnover for the three months to September 30 rose 17 per cent to 850 million pounds. Profit excluding interest, tax and exceptional items was 150 million pounds, from 45 million pounds in the year-ago quarter.
Churn, or the number of subscribers who dropped Sky's service, was 9.6 per cent - flat compared with the year-ago period. Average revenue per subscriber, a closely watched figure that shows how much money Sky extracts from each customer per year, rose £18 to £366.
The company's largest shareholders have accepted Mr James Murdoch's appointment as chief executive, but BSkyB could still see some fireworks at its annual meeting later today.
Institutional investors were outraged when Mr Murdoch, who headed News Corp's Star Group pay-TV operation in Asia, was tapped as CEO to serve alongside his father Rupert, the company's chairman.
But shareholder groups, including the Association of British Insurers and the National Association of Pension Funds, toned down the rhetoric after meeting Mr James Murdoch and non-executive board members in recent weeks. Any attempt to block his appointment would have been unlikely to succeed because of News Corp's large stake.