Mediaset’s DTT 2.4 million subs

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Mediaset’s digital terrestrial PPV service, Mediaset Premium, had 2.42m active subscribers on March 5, a net addition of 353.00 new clients compared to the 2.067m subscribers at the end of December 2007.

The strong growth of active smart cards was mainly due to the launch of the Premium Gallery offer, presented on January 17. Revenues more than doubled to E225.9 million (in 2006 they were E107.8 million), while income from the sale of encrypted TV rights to other platforms brought in E94.3 million.

Rival platform, Telecom Italia Media’s La7 Cartapiù, has not published any figures relative to the number of smart-cards sold or activated, but said that 2007 revenues totalled E62.7 million, a 99% growth on 2006 figures of E31.5 million. The positive results were due both to the development of the offer and the cutting of costs at FTA channels La7 Sport and QOOB.

Meanwhile, Mediaset vice president Piersilvio Berlusconi has confirmed that contacts are underway with Sky Italia and Italian broadband operators regarding carriage of Mediaset's new PPV offer (Premium Gallery). He also said that they are expecting to reach breakeven in 2010 for the Mediaset Premium service.

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