UPC Ireland, which owns the NTL and Chorus cable companies, lost 7,900 subscribers in the three months to the end of June yet still managed to marginally increase its revenues.
Figures published yesterday show that NTL and Chorus had 586,200 TV customers at the end of June, compared with 594,100 at the end of March.
Over the same period, however, its revenues rose by 1.4 per cent to $74.7 million (€54.6 million). UPC reports its revenues in dollars, in line with its parent company, Liberty Global.
Its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 6.6 per cent to $24.1 million.
Robert Dunn, UPC Ireland's chief executive, said the reduction in its TV customer numbers was as a result of seasonality and a "data clean-up" of its subscriber base.
He said the increase in revenues and earnings was attributable to an increase in broadband and telephone subscribers and the migration of 5,700 customers from analogue to digital TV.
At the end of June, UPC had 67,000 broadband customers and 2,700 telephone users. It is now the second-biggest residential broadband provider after Eircom.
UPC had 216,500 digital cable customers, 260,800 analogue TV subscribers and 108,900 MMDS users. It remains the biggest pay TV provider in the Republic, ahead of Sky, which has more than 500,000 customers here.
In the six months to the end of June, UPC's revenues rose year-on-year by 17.3 per cent to $148.4 million while its EBITDA increased by 19.7 per cent to $46.7 million.
Mr Dunn said the company would launch its digital video recorder next week. This set-top box will allow digital subscribers to record 80 hours of programming and will cost €7.50 a month.
He said the company would also formally rebrand the two cable businesses as UPC Ireland next February. The UPC name will appear on customer bills from October.
"We want to build a new UPC culture internally, based around simplicity of service," Mr Dunn said.
"This is an opportunity to re-establish a strong, vibrant relationship with customers and to leave old relationships behind."
Mr Dunn said UPC will spend up to €150 million over the next 18 months upgrading its network, bringing its total investment in the Republic to more than €1 billion.
