BSkyB has achieved its target of having a quarter of customers signed up to Sky+ three years early.

Today's quarterly update states that 2,167,000 households in the UK and Ireland had the service at the end of March.

Sky now has a total of 8,492,000 customers, with 51,000 net additions made in January, February and March.

Sky Broadband has generated more than 500,000 customers and its service now reaches more than over 60 per cent of UK homes.

BSkyB added 60,000 high-definition subscribers, taking its tally to 244,000 at the end of March, 10 months after the service launched.

However, churn – the amount of subscribers leaving Sky’s services – was up 13.7 per cent from 11.9 per cent in the previous quarter and quarterly pre-tax profits fell 8.7 per cent year-on-year to £556 million.

James Murdoch, Chief Executive said: "Customer response to our 'See, Speak, Surf' campaign has been very encouraging. Total sales of our TV, broadband and telephony products surpassed one million for the second consecutive quarter and now exceed three million in the year to date, an increase of more than 50% on the prior year and almost double that of two years ago.

"In just eight months, Sky Broadband has passed the milestone of 500,000 customers who are enjoying fast speeds, wireless access and significant savings. Our network now reaches over 60% of U.K. homes and we are on track for our goal of more than 700,000 broadband customers by the end of June.

"Our investments in customer service, value and quality are driving more customers to choose more services from Sky than ever before.

"Changes to our retention and acquisition strategy are delivering valuable benefits to the quality and profitability of our business. We are delivering on our multi-product strategy and customers are responding in record numbers."

Related link:
Sky HD subscribers increases to 96,000