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Naspers pay-TV services reach over 8 million African homes

By , Editor, ITWeb Africa
Africa , 23 Jun 2014

Naspers pay-TV services reach over 8 million African homes

Subscription numbers for Naspers pay-television businesses have grown by 1.3 million to reach over 8 million homes across 50 countries in Africa.

Naspers’ pay-TV services take the form of MultiChoice’s satellite offering DStv and digital terrestrial television (DTT) service GOtv. Other units included in Naspers’ pay-TV division are the likes of M-Net and SuperSport.

And according to the company’s year-end financial results for 31 March 2014, Naspers’ South African pay-TV subscriber home numbers grew from 4.451 million in 2013 to just over 5 million in 2014. Meanwhile, Naspers’ sub-Saharan African pay-TV subscriber home numbers grew from 2.228 million to 3.051 million.

As a result, revenues for the pay-TV business also increased during the period.

“Revenues grew by 20% to R36,3bn. Investments in DTT services resulted in trading profits creeping up at a slower 13% to R8,5bn. DTT coverage has been expanded and now covers eight countries and 92 cities,” says Naspers in a trading statement.

“We continue to invest in our online offering, expanding our services on mobile phones, tablets and computers, and launched an improved personal video recorder,” adds Naspers.

Overall, pay-TV makes up 35% of Naspers’ revenues for the financial year ending March 2014.

Internet; meanwhile, makes up 54% of revenues while print encompasses just 11%. Naspers has stakes in Chinese internet giant Tencent and the Mail.ru Group in Russia.

Consolidated revenue for the group grew 26% to R62,7 billlion thanks to a weak South African rand.

Regarding profits by business segment; though, television generates the most in this regard for Naspers with 54%. Internet generates 42% of Naspers’ profits, while print makes up just 4%.

Adjusted net income for Naspers increased by 1% to 8.6 billion.

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