Satellite broadcaster BSkyB has announced subscriber figures up 215,000 to 8.1 million in the quarter to 31st December and reported profits of £390m for the half-year to the end of December, up 14% on the previous year.

Chief executive James Murdoch said more customers had signed up to Sky in the last three months of 2005 than at any time in the past three years. “We’ll push the bar further with the launch of high-definition TV and our broadband service,” he added.

“These are excellent figures and Murdoch Senior, whose News Corporation owns 37.6% of Sky, will be delighted,” said City analyst Colin Perry. “Subscriber growth is healthy, churn is only 10.6%, and I’m expecting the shares to edge up.”