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Rivals put squeeze on BT customer growth [Western Mail (Wales)]
[November 01, 2014]

Rivals put squeeze on BT customer growth [Western Mail (Wales)]


(Western Mail (Wales) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) BT said it had been squeezed by rivals in the cut-throat battle for broadband customers as it reported the lowest level of customer growth for two years.

The telecoms giant, which has invested heavily in TV football rights in its battle with Sky, reported net retail broadband additions of 88,000 in the second quarter to the end of September.

It said the figure was lower than in recent quarters "due to strong promotional activity in the market". Shares fell 3%.

The results suggested rivals Sky and TalkTalk were fighting back after BT's Pounds 738m deal to air 38 Premier League games a season appeared to be paying off.

The TV sports package is offered for free to customers taking its internet and telephone services.



BT has also paid Pounds 897m to show Champions League football from next year.

The broadband adds figure compared to 156,000 in the same period last year. They have been higher than 100,000 for the past four quarters, in the wake of the Premier League deal announcement. They were last lower than the latest figure two years ago.


But the group said it had enjoyed a successful start to its second season of showing top-flight football.

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