TORONTO, Jan. 6 /CNW/ - Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI; NYSE: RCI)
today announced selected preliminary fourth quarter 2008 subscriber results.
"Rogers ended 2008 with healthy growth in both our wireless and cable
subscriber bases reflecting our innovative offerings that have the features,
convenience and value that Canadians want," said Alan Horn, Chairman and
acting CEO of Rogers Communications Inc. "We continue to focus on the higher
value segments in both wireless and cable. Our wireless subscriber results
reflect our success in driving greater penetration of more advanced wireless
data devices and services. While our fourth quarter cable subscriber additions
reflect the challenging economic backdrop, we continued to enhance our high
penetration levels in Internet and home phone and achieved success during the
fourth quarter with our seasonal digital cable campaign."Selected Preliminary 2008 Subscriber Statistics(1)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
December 31 December 31
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Subscriber
statistics in
thousands,
except churn) 2008 2007 Change 2008 2007 Change
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wireless Postpaid
Retail Subscribers 6,451 5,914 537
Gross additions 369 362 7 1,341 1,352 (11)
Net additions 158 158 0 537 581 (44)
Adjustment to postpaid
subscriber base 0 (65) 65
Churn % 1.12% 1.17% -0.05% 1.10% 1.15% -0.05%
Wireless Prepaid
Retail Subscribers 1,491 1,424 67
Gross additions 173 156 17 632 635 (3)
Net additions 41 25 16 67 70 (3)
Adjustment to prepaid
subscriber base 0 (26) 26
Churn % 3.03% 3.12% -0.09% 3.31% 3.42% -0.11%
Total Wireless
Retail Subscribers 7,942 7,338 604
Gross additions 542 518 24 1,973 1,987 (14)
Net additions 199 183 16 604 651 (47)
Adjustment to
subscriber base 0 (91) 91
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic Cable
Subscribers 2,320 2,295 25
Net additions 4 20 (16) 9 18 (9)
Digital Cable
Households 1,550 1,353 197
Net additions 61 61 0 191 219 (28)
Residential High-speed
Internet Subscribers 1,582 1,465 117
Net additions 19 46 (27) 102 165 (63)
Residential Cable
Telephony Subscribers 840 656 184
Net additions(2) 40 65 (25) 182 290 (108)
Cable Revenue Generating
Units (RGUs)(3) 6,292 5,769 523
Net additions 124 192 (68) 484 692 (208)
Residential
Circuit-Switched
Telephony Subscribers 215 334 (119)
Net losses(2) (39) (3) (36) (119) (37) (82)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) See Rogers' third quarter 2008 MD&A and full year 2007 MD&A for notes
regarding prior period subscriber reporting and results.
(2) Includes approximately 21,000 and 60,000 migrations from circuit-
switched to cable telephony for three and twelve months ended
December 31, 2008, respectively, and includes approximately 2,000 and
42,000 migrations from circuit-switched to cable telephony for the
three and twelve months ended December 31, 2007, respectively.
(3) Cable RGUs are comprised of basic cable subscribers, digital cable
households, residential-high speed Internet subscribers and cable
telephony subscribers.During the fourth quarter of 2008, Rogers Wireless activated
approximately 130,000 iPhone 3G devices, approximately 40% of which were with
new subscribers with the remainder being with existing Rogers Wireless
subscribers who upgraded to the iPhone, committed to new term contracts and in
the vast majority of cases subscribed to both voice and monthly data service
plans.
These subscriber results are provided for informational purposes only and
should not be used to infer or draw conclusions with respect to Rogers'
financial performance. As previously announced, Rogers Communications plans to
release its unaudited fourth quarter 2008 financial results and full year 2009
guidance before North American markets open the morning of February 18, 2009.
About the Company
We are a diversified Canadian communications and media company. We are
engaged in wireless voice and data communications services through Rogers
Wireless, Canada's largest wireless provider and the operator of the country's
only national GSM/HSPA based network. Through Rogers Cable we are one of
Canada's largest providers of cable television services as well as high-speed
Internet access and telephony services. Through Rogers Media, we are engaged
in radio and television broadcasting, televised shopping, magazines and trade
publications, and sports entertainment. We are publicly traded on the Toronto
Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange
(NYSE: RCI). For further information about the Rogers group of companies,
please visit www.rogers.com.
