Twenty-First Century Fox 2003 Annual Report Download - page 28

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The News Corporation Limited 26
News Corporation’s satellite television operations put the Group at
the vanguard of direct-to-home broadcasting. In fiscal 2003, News
Corporation took two important steps to expand this leadership – and to
continue to provide top-quality digital satellite television to markets
around the world.
In April, News Corporation completed the merger of its Italian
platform Stream with formal rival Telepiu, creating News Corporation’s
80 percent-owned Sky Italia: a television platform of unique quality
in the underserved Italian market. Also in April, the Group agreed to
acquire 34 percent of Hughes Electronics, whose businesses include
DIRECTV, the leading DTH satellite television provider in the U.S. The
Group awaits regulatory and other approvals for the transaction, which
is expected to be completed by the end of calendar 2003 or early in
2004. Meanwhile, 35 percent-owned BSkyB grew its number of digital
direct-to-home subscribers to 6.8 million as it continued to diversify its
services and to satisfy the mounting demand for digital television across
the U.K. And 25 percent-owned FOXTEL continued to serve as Australia’s
preferred source of subscription television, providing an array of chan-
nels from 39 different Australian and international media companies.
Through these and other services, News Corporation will continue
to offer consumers great choices and extraordinary quality in the
multi-channel DTH marketplace.
➤To Italian viewers with limited broadcast and cable television options, Sky Italia provides a variety of
well-produced local programming and premier entertainment never before available on a single platform
➤BSkyB’s operating profit nearly doubled over the previous year, the result of strong revenue growth
and diligent cost controls
➤In December 2002, following the signing of a landmark content sharing agreement between FOXTEL and
Optus Television, FOXTEL dramatically expanded the programming options of Optus customers by providing
them access to its premium movies, sports, general entertainment, music and documentary channels
➤During the year, FOXTEL launched new dedicated services for football fans in New South Wales,
Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and West Australia