UPC sees astronomical increase in satellite subscribers

The Polish unit of Europe's largest cable television firm United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) said the number of its subscribers grew by 28% in the last 12 months due mainly to the growth in satellite TV owners. Bruce Massey, the head of UPC Polska said 1.04 million households pay for its cable offering and 378,000 for its direct-to-home satellite services. "We were especially overwhelmed by the phenomenal growth of the number of satellite subscribers, which rose 260% in the last 12 months," said Massey. UPC plans to expand its services in October by offering subscribers to its digital platform, Wizja TV, access to the internet via satellite. Internet through the cable television network should be available in December. The service will be provided first in Warsaw and Krakow by Polska Telewizja Kablowa (PTK), which is currently changing its name to UPC Telewizja Kablowa. (Gazeta Wyborcza, page 21, Reuters)