Virgin Media predicts customer growth

Virgin Media is predicting a return to overall customer growth in the second half of 2007 following “better than expected” TV subscriber performance during April and May. The announcement today contradicts a forecast last month of TV subscriber losses due to the withdrawal of BSkyB basic channels from the Virgin Media TV platform.

The cable company, which rebranded from NTL and Telewest in February this year, puts improved performance down to the “wide ranging mitigating actions” it has taken.
The company says: “We have also benefited from reinvigorated communications and marketing, growing customer recognition of the value of our video-on-demand content and the inherent appeal of the new Virgin Media brand.”

Earlier this month Virgin Media announced it had appointed Dr Stuart Poore as its first director of corporate responsibility. Poore will focus on managing the cable company’s social, environmental and ethical reputation, which it says are “critical”factors in strengthening brand and corporate profiles.