Rogers TV subscribers down 31,000 in 3Q 2015

Thursday, October 22nd, 2015
Rogers Communications logo

Launched 4K TV and announced the world’s largest commitment to live sports broadcasting in 4K

TORONTO — Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI.A; RCI.B and NYSE: RCI), a leading diversified Canadian communications and media company, today announced its unaudited financial and operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2015.

Cable

The 4% decrease in Television revenue this quarter and 3% decrease year to date were a result of:

  • the decline in Television subscribers over the past year primarily associated with the changing television consumption environment; partially offset by
  • the impact and timing of pricing changes implemented over the past year.

Television Subscribers (thousands)

                    Three months          Nine months
              ended September 30   ended September 30
             -------------------  -------------------
              2015   2014    Chg   2015   2014    Chg
             -----  -----  -----  -----  -----  -----                             
Total*       1,920  2,044  (124)  1,920  2,044  (124)
Net losses    (31)   (30)    (1)  (104)   (83)   (21)

* On November 4, 2014, we acquired approximately 16,000 Internet subscribers, 16,000 Television subscribers and 11,000 Phone subscribers from our acquisition of Source Cable. The acquisition also increased homes passed by 26,000.

Launched 4K TV and 4K set-top box; will broadcast over 100 live sporting events in 4K, including every 2016 Toronto Blue Jays home game and over 20 marquee NHL games

Rogers will deliver the next big innovation in home entertainment with the launch of 4K-ready gigabit Internet speeds, a new 4K set-top box, Rogers 4K TV, and the world’s largest commitment to live sports broadcasting in 4K. These initiatives will allow our customers to enjoy four times the amount of pixels in standard HDTV for higher resolution and improved motion video. This launch highlights the unique mix of Rogers’ assets:

  • the delivery of 4K content requiring considerably more bandwidth, and allowing us to leverage our fibre-coaxial network advantage; and
  • Rogers’ sports content portfolio, which differentiates Sportsnet from its competitor.

Beginning in 2016, Rogers’ customers will be able to access over 500 hours of live sports, movies, and shows, in addition to an ever-growing catalogue of original series, in 4K through a partnership with Netflix.