BSkyB results are expected to smash through analyst forecasts
BSKYB is expected to smash the market consensus when it announces its results this week.
A surge in demand for high definition (HD) services in the wake of the World Cup will drive the broadcasters profits higher than forecasts.
Sky is understood to have netted an extra 320,000 new HD customers in the last three months alone, with 90,000 new users signing up to its services.
This would push the broadcaster tantalisingly close to the milestone of 10m users – more than double that of its closest rival Virgin Media in the pay-TV market.
However, the success may come at a cost for News Corp, Sky’s former owner which maintains a 39 per cent stake in the firm.
It has mounted a bid to take full control of the broadcaster but could see the price pushed even higher in light of the results.
Last month is saw a bid of 700p a share knocked back – a bid that would have valued it at around £7.8bn. Analysts suggest a bid of 800p a share may be enough to tempt the board into recommending the offer to shareholders.