TalkTalk on track to hit 1 million TV customers

UK operator TalkTalk said that it expects to reach nearly 1 million TV customers for its YouView service by the end of its financial year, claiming that it has the “fastest growing TV business in the UK.”

Announcing its half-year interim results for the six months ending September 30, TalkTalk said it is experiencing “strong and accelerating TV growth,” adding 167,000 TV customers in the quarter and growing its TV user base up to 557,000 customers.

TalkTalk launched its ‘Essentials TV’ package in the quarter, which it said it expected to “help drive a significant acceleration in TV net adds in H2.”

This package offers subscribers a free YouView box, unlimited broadband and free evening and weekend calls for £7.50 per month plus line rental.

TalkTalk said Essentials TV is aimed at customers who don’t currently subscribe to any pay TV service, but want to upgrade from Freeview and gain the benefits of catch up TV via services such as ITV Player or BBC iPlayer.

TalkTalk is one of the seven founding partners behind the YouView internet connected TV platform and uses it to power its TV offering, which it launched last year.

According to TalkTalk’s earnings report, the firm invested a further £1m in YouView TV Limited in the 6 months ended 30 September 2013.

For the six months ending 30 September 2013, TalkTalk reported revenues of £843m, up 1.8% year-on-year. However, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation dropped by 48% year-on-year to £76 million. TalkTalk said this was in line with expectations and reflected an additional £86m investment in growth.