The strong figures may help the company in negotiations with Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp UK broadcaster BSkyB added 96,000 new customers in the three months to 30 September – much more than expected.
Analysts had predicted an increase of only about 69,000 subscribers.
Total revenues were £1.53bn ($2.41bn), a 15% rise on a year ago, helping push the broadcaster’s average revenue per user up to £514, from £469 a year ago.
“We have made a very good start to the year with… a record take-up of our additional subscription products,” said chief executive Jeremy Darroch.
BSkyB did not comment in its latest trading update on the takeover offer that has been made by its largest shareholder, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, which wants to buy the remaining 61% of BSkyB it does not own.
In June, News Corp told the board of BSkyB that it was prepared to pay 700p a share to take full control of the leading satellite broadcaster.
But several rival media groups jointly wrote to Business Secretary Vince Cable earlier this month, urging him to block Mr Murdoch’s move, which they say could reduce diversity in the industry.
The signatories include the heads of the BBC and Channel 4, as well as chief executives of newspaper groups, including the Telegraph, the Mail, the Guardian and the Mirror.
News Corp says it has not finalised its plans – and points out its critics are also commercial rivals.
BSkyB’s directors said the offer was £1 per share too low, but agreed to resume negotiations after regulatory hurdles have been cleared.
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