BSkyB shares lifted by 'positive' rating outlook

LONDON - BSkyB received a boost today as ratings agency Moody's raised its outlook from 'stable' to 'positive' in the wake of the company's solid results, improving debt and upbeat outlook for the rest of the year.

BSkyB shares lifted by 'positive' rating outlook

The ratings boost made BSkyB one of the few media companies to have its rating upgraded.

Last week, BSkyB reported pre-tax profits before tax and goodwill of £80m as total revenues increased by 15% to £1.5bn. Advertising revenue increased by 13% to £133m over the past six months, while digital subscribers rose in the last quarter to December 31 by 244,000 to 6.6m.

The ratings boost has helped Sky's share price maintain the previous week's upward momentum. This morning it was up 0.9% or 6p to 617p. In the past week, its share price gained 33p.

At the beginning of February, the credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's said that it was raising the outlook on BSkyB from "stable" to "positive", and affirmed its BB+ credit rating. BSkyB is currently rated BA1 by Moody's.

Analysts said BSkyB had a good credit history and a positive outlook. The ratings boost should see Sky regain its sought-after "investment" grade status, which it lost in 2000.

Robert Orman, credit analyst at the Royal Bank of Scotland, told the FT: "We expect it will once again be rated investment grade within a 12-month horizon."

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