Sky approaching 8 million subscribers - and Sky+ users double

[John Archer]

Sky has announced that its total number of customers grew by 83,000 in the three months to 30 June 2005, pushing it ever closer to notching up the 8 million subscriber mark. Sky's subscribers now stand at 7.8 million across the UK and Ireland, meaning it's on track to hit its target of 8 million by the end of 2005.

Sky+ subscriptions, meanwhile, have more than doubled year-on-year to 888,000 - and 645,000 homes now have two or more digiboxes.