TVN, Poland's largest listed broadcaster, saw a 76 percent increase in the number of subscriptions to its digital platform 'n' in 2009.

TVN's 'n' platform, the smallest of Poland's three primary pay-TV providers, gained 300,000 new customers by the end of 2009 bringing its total paying subscribers to 697,000, the company revealed in a statement on Wednesday.

“In 2009, the digital platform 'n' acquired a total of 300,000 new subscribers in the subscriber segment and 348,000 customers in the prepaid segment,” said the TVN statement.

While the figure for the pay-TV service fell short of TVN's target of 766,000 customers, which it set in March, some analysts believe the sales results are very positive.

“The results are very good when it comes to sales. It seems that the fourth quarter was successful for digital platforms,” BRE Bank Securities analyst Piotr Grzybowski said.

TVN is looking to finalize by the end of the first quarter of 2010 the purchase of a 49 percent stake in 'n' for €188 million from its shareholder, ITI group. If completed, TVN will have full control over the 'n' platform. (GP)

Source: Thomson Reuters