Digital and internet profits for Aster City Cable to fuel new video service

In the first half of 2004 Aster City Cable (ACC) posted an income of almost zł.96 million - 14% more than in H1 of 2003. Net profit was zł.20.9 million, 5% more than last year. "Sale dynamics were mostly influenced by our new internet access service as well as an innovative digital television," said ACC's president Janusz Arciszewski. The company's operational income rose even more. At zł.30.6 million it was nearly 60% more than in 2003 and its EBIDTA was zł.41.3 million, an increase of 39%. "These six months were very good. We launched commercial digital TV in a cable and were the first company on the market. Our clients are vastly interested in this solution," said Arciszewski. The operator, whose profits come mainly from supplying cable TV and internet access, will try to diversify its portfolio. Currently ACC is widening its range of digital TV programs and it will soon promote fixed line phone services but that's not the end of their plans. ACC's marketing and sales director Joanna Pasynkiewicz revealed that the company plans to launch new video services and new Premium services to widen its digital TV services by the end of 2005. The Aster cable network connects 280,000 TVs and over 45,000 internet users in Warsaw and nearby towns. (Puls Biznesu, p. 7) D.W.