UPC Ireland posts 16% rise in 2008 revenues

UPC Ireland (ntl & Chorus) posted a 16% rise in revenues to EUR255.7 million (USD356 million) in 2008, bolstered by increased usage of its TV, broadband and telephony services. In its financial report the cableco’s parent, Liberty Global Inc, reported that its Irish unit ended the year with a total of 554,000 customers, up from 547,000 three months earlier, but below the 575,000 figure reported at end-June 2008. Last month UPC Ireland launched a major marketing offensive to shore up its voice telephony base and boost broadband subscriber numbers. The move was successful: it ended 2008 with 102,000 broadband users, up from 94,000 three months earlier, while the number of telephone subscribers rose to 27,800 from 23,300 quarter-on-quarter. UPC Ireland chief executive Robert Dunn told the Irish Independent that the company is ‘performing according to its plan’ despite accounts just filed for the Irish arm that show it posted a EUR25.7 million pre-tax loss in 2007.