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Skyline Champion

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FY2010 Annual Report · Skyline Champion
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British Sky Broadcasting Group plc
AnnuAl RepoRt 2010

CONTENTS

Chairman’s statement

Directors’ report – business review

Chief Executive Officer’s statement
Our performance
Review of the business
Corporate responsibility
People
Principal risks and uncertainties

Directors’ report – financial review

Introduction
Financial and operating review

Directors’ report – governance

Board of Directors
Corporate governance report
Other governance and statutory disclosures
Report on Directors’ remuneration

Consolidated financial statements

Statement of Directors’ responsibility
Independent Auditors’ report
Consolidated financial statements
Group financial record
Non-GAAP measures

Shareholder information

Glossary of terms

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ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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This constitutes the Annual Report of British Sky Broadcasting Group plc (the “Company”) in
accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) and with those parts of the
Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS and is dated 28 July 2010. This
Annual Report makes references to various Company websites. The information on our websites shall
not be deemed to be part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Information on the significant
risks and uncertainties
associated with our business is
described in “Directors’ report –
Review of the business –
Principal risks and
uncertainties” in this document.
No part of these results
constitutes, or shall be taken to
constitute, an invitation or
inducement to invest in the
Company or any other entity
and must not be relied upon in
any way in connection with any
investment decision. All forward
looking statements in this
document are based on
information known to us on the
date hereof. Except as required
by law, we undertake no
obligation publicly to update or
revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result
of new information, future
events or otherwise.

This document contains certain
forward-looking statements
with respect to our financial
condition, results of operations
and business, and our strategy,
plans and objectives. These
statements include, without
limitation, those that express
forecasts, expectations and
projections, such as forecasts,
expectations and projections
with respect to the potential for
growth of free-to-air and pay
television, fixed line telephony,
broadband and bandwidth
requirements, advertising
growth, Direct-to-Home (“DTH”)
customer growth, Multiroom,
Sky+, Sky+HD and other
services’ penetration, churn,
DTH and other revenue,
profitability and margin growth,
cash flow generation,
programming costs, subscriber
management and supply chain
costs, administration costs and
other costs, marketing
expenditure, capital expenditure
programmes and proposals for
returning capital to
shareholders.

Although the Company believes
that the expectations reflected
in such forward-looking
statements are reasonable,
these statements (and all other
forward-looking statements
contained in this document) are
not guarantees of future
performance and are subject to
risks, uncertainties and other
factors, some of which are
beyond our control, are difficult
to predict and could cause
actual results to differ
materially from those expressed
or implied or forecast in the
forward-looking statements.
These factors include, but are
not limited to, the fact that we
operate in a highly competitive
environment, the effects of laws
and government regulation
upon our activities, our reliance
on technology, which is subject
to risk, change and
development, failure of key
suppliers, our ability to continue
to obtain exclusive rights to
movies, sports events and other
programming content, risks
inherent in the implementation
of large-scale capital
expenditure projects, our ability
to continue to communicate
and market our services
effectively, and the risks
associated with our operation
of digital television transmission
in the United Kingdom (“UK”)
and Republic of Ireland
(“Ireland”).

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BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC     ANNUAL REPORT 2010

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

Over the course of the last year, the
environment for consumer-facing businesses
has again been characterised by an uncertain
economic outlook and pressures on household
budgets. Against this challenging backdrop, 
Sky has continued to do well with good
progress operationally and a strong financial
performance.

Our business, based largely on
direct consumer subscription
revenues, has proven to be more
resilient to difficult economic
conditions than those media
businesses with greater
exposure to cyclical advertising
revenue. That strength,
combined with the steps taken
by the management team in
pursuit of disciplined growth
and operational efficiency, has
put the Company on course to
emerge from the downturn in a
better position than before.

Customers are choosing Sky in
greater numbers – and for a
greater variety of products –
than ever. At the close of the
year, the Company was nearing
its target of 10 million
customers; a target that many
observers long believed was not
achievable. Furthermore, our
relationships with those
households are becoming
increasingly valuable as more
customers choose to take

additional products such as
high definition, broadband and
telephony.

This strong response from
customers, even in more difficult
economic times, is a powerful
endorsement of Sky’s approach
to business: taking risks,
investing, innovating and
competing vigorously and fairly.
Our belief is that companies
that embrace change and open
up more choice in this way
should have the opportunity to
enjoy the fair rewards of
success. We will continue to
resist regulatory intervention
that risks undermining the
incentives for investment and
the positive benefits enjoyed by
consumers today.

Our approach also includes a
strong sense of responsibility in
the way we do business. Making
a broad contribution to the
society in which we operate is a
key element of durable

commercial success and we
continue to expand our work in
three key areas: helping to
create a healthy environment;
opening up the arts to more
people; and encouraging
participation in sport.

In June 2010, News Corporation
– where I am an Executive
Director - approached the Board
of Sky with a proposal to acquire
the shares in the Company that
it does not already own. Further
details of this matter are
included in the Chief Executive
Officer’s statement. For my part,
I would like to take this
opportunity to reiterate that
News Corporation remains a
committed shareholder in Sky
and is fully supportive of its
talented management team
and exceptional people.

In reflection of the Company’s
continued strong performance,
the Board proposes a 10%
increase in the full year dividend
to 19.40 pence per share.

This performance is only
possible as a result of the
commitment and effectiveness
of all our colleagues at Sky. On
behalf of the Board, I would like
to express warm thanks to them
for their contribution to the
Company over the last year, just
as we thank all shareholders for
their continued support.

James Murdoch
Chairman
28 July 2010

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT – BUSINESS REVIEW

Chief Executive Officer’s statement

For several years, Sky has been pursuing a clear
and consistent strategy with the goal of
building a larger and more profitable business.
This is designed to take advantage of two
fundamental trends in today’s marketplace,
which come together to create a significant
opportunity for our business. We see that
customers are increasingly willing to pay for a
better television experience and they have a
growing appetite to take multiple products
from a single, trusted provider. In both cases,
Sky is well positioned to benefit.

Aligning the business with those
trends, our strategy is focused
on two legs of growth. First, we
continue to grow our overall
customer base and, second, we
are increasingly focused on
selling more products to existing
customers. Our approach is
based on the combination of
disciplined investment in areas
where customers see value and
a strong focus on operational
efficiency, with the aim of
striking the right balance
between growth and returns.

Our performance over the last
12 months – and over the last
few years - gives us confidence
that our strategy is working.
More customers are choosing
Sky than ever before and they
are choosing to take more from
us. Not only have we grown our

customer base by almost 1.3
million over the last three years,
we have also sold a total of 8.9
million additional subscription
products over the same period.
As customers have rewarded us
with more of their business, it
has driven increased average
revenue per customer and
helped to maintain our strong
levels of loyalty and retention. 

Despite continuing pressure on
household budgets and an
uncertain economic outlook, our
rate of growth has remained
strong during 2010. This is
testament to the importance
that people place on their home
entertainment experience; an
importance that is now widely
recognised. But it also reflects
the steps that we have taken
over a number of years to make

continuous improvements to
the value, quality and range of
our offering. There are a number
of strands to the way in which
we are creating more reasons
for new customers to consider
Sky and adding more value for
existing customers.

First, we never forget that the
main reason why customers join
Sky is for a better choice of TV
viewing. That is why we have
continued to invest in stand-
out content, widening the gap
between what customers get
from free-to-air TV and the
enhanced choice they can enjoy
with Sky. This year, we have
extended our entertainment
offering on Sky1 with more
original drama such as Chris
Ryan’s ‘Strike Back’ and more
family entertainment such as
‘Got to Dance’ with Davina
McCall. Sky Arts has gone from
strength to strength, reaching
almost two million viewers a
month with a highly distinctive
schedule including the return of
live theatre to UK television. Sky
Sports has had another
successful year, with England’s
Ashes victory and more live
UEFA Champions League, while
Sky Movies brought viewers the
ground-breaking World War Two
drama, ‘The Pacific’. 

Second, we look continually for
new ways to bring content to
life through innovation. A
powerful example of how
customers respond to a better

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BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

viewing experience is provided
by the success of high definition
(HD), which is now in 30% of our
customers’ homes with
penetration more than doubling
for the second successive year.
During 2010, we’ve made HD
more accessible to viewers by
lowering the upfront cost of the
Sky+HD box, while further
expanding the range of HD
channels, including the launch
of Europe’s first HD news
channel, Sky News HD. The
growth of HD is an attractive
area for us to invest, opening up
a high-margin revenue stream
and differentiating our product
from the competition. In
October 2010, we’ll move
forward again with the launch of
3D television to residential
customers via the existing
Sky+HD box, following a
successful launch in commercial
premises last year. We’ll also

9.86m

Total Sky TV customers

£5,912m

Adjusted Group revenue

31.1p

Adjusted basic earnings per share

continue to extend distribution
of our Sky Player and Mobile TV
services, opening up new ways
for customers to access our
content through devices like the
iPad and Xbox.

A third area of focus is the
opportunity created by our
entry into the arena of home
communications. Today, one in
five customers take all three of
TV, broadband and home
telephony from us and there is a
significant opportunity for
further growth. Our proposition
is based on value, reliability and
simplicity, offering our

customers the opportunity to
enjoy a high quality service and
save money when they switch
from their existing phone or
broadband provider to Sky. 

Alongside sensible investment
in customer-facing areas of the
business, we have focused
equally hard on operational
efficiency. After scaling the
business to manage a step-
change in demand, we have
made good progress in making
our cost base more efficient, in
particular by simplifying
processes in our supply chain
and back office functions.

This approach is translating
into strong financial results,
with double-digit growth across
the board this financial year.
Group revenue increased 11% to
£5,912 million on an adjusted
basis. Adjusted operating
profit increased by 10% to
£855 million, demonstrating
accelerated returns as we move
through our investments in high
definition and home
communications. We delivered
record adjusted basic EPS of
31.1p, up 20% year on year, with
reported EPS increasing to
50.4p reflecting both the EDS
litigation settlement and the
partial disposal of our
investment in ITV. Adjusted
free cash flow grew by 23% to
£626 million.

It is notable that this strong
financial performance has been
achieved during a year of
continued investment. This
indicates that our approach – of
combining disciplined
investment with a continuous
focus on operational efficiency –
is delivering the right balance
between growth and returns.
We intend to maintain this
balanced approach going
forward, as we believe it
represents the best way to
create value for shareholders.

While 2010 has been a good
year for Sky, there are
challenges ahead. Last year,
Ofcom concluded its Pay TV

Review with a ruling that Sky
must wholesale some of its
premium channels at regulated
prices to other distributors. We
believe that this is the wrong
decision and that our prices are
fair, both for consumers and for
the other companies which
carry our channels. This is a
marketplace in which customers
are very well served, with more
choice and more innovation
than ever. We have begun an
appeal process.

Beyond the challenge of
unwarranted regulation, the
outlook for the economy and
consumer spending remains
uncertain, particularly as the
new Government takes action
to reduce the budget deficit. At
the same time, we continue to
operate in a competitive and
dynamic marketplace, in which
both existing players and new
entrants challenging for
customers attention and
business. As we move into the
next financial year, we intend
therefore to maintain a high
degree of flexibility in order that
we can respond to both
challenges and opportunities as
they arise. 

It is important to emphasise
that the scale of the
opportunity ahead of us
remains substantial: around half
of UK households have yet to
choose a pay TV service and
almost 80% of our existing TV
customers do not yet take both
broadband and talk from Sky.
Notwithstanding factors
outside our control, we believe
that, with a clear direction and a
consistent set of priorities, the
business is in good shape to
take advantage of these
opportunities. 

We’re proud of the contribution
that Sky makes to life in the UK
and Ireland: opening up more
choice, investing in great TV,
innovating for customers and
contributing to the wider
economy. But we want to go
further by using our capabilities

to make a difference to the
issues that people care about. 

In addition to our commitment
to doing the right thing in our
day-to-day operations, we focus
on three areas where we believe
we can make a real difference:
helping to protect the
environment and tackle climate
change; encouraging
participation in sport at every
level; and opening up the arts to
more people. This has been a
year of good progress in each of
these areas.

We are taking more action to
minimise our environmental
impact through a new set of
challenging targets, including a
25% reduction in gross CO2
emissions (tonnes/£m turnover)
by 2020. Beyond our own
footprint, we have launched a
new project with WWF, Sky
Rainforest Rescue, to help save
three million hectares of
rainforest in Brazil. Fundraising
is on track and the project is
progressing well on the ground.

In sport, around 100,000 people
of all ages and abilities joined in
our Sky Ride programme of
traffic-free events in its first
year. For summer 2010, we’ve
doubled the number of cities
hosting Sky Ride events and, in
parallel, we hope that our new
professional road racing team,
Team Sky, will provide
inspiration as it competes in its
first season.

This year also saw the 1,000th
school join our Sky Sports Living
for Sport initiative, which uses
participation in sport to inspire
young people to be the best
they can be. The initiative, run in
partnership with the Youth
Sport Trust, has already reached
more than 25,000 students to
date, helping them to grow in
confidence and self-esteem.

Alongside our portfolio of Sky
Arts channels, we’re also one of
the UK’s largest corporate
supporters of the arts,
partnering organisations like
English National Ballet and

supporting events such as the
Hay Festival. Our partnership
with Artichoke, the UK’s leading
public art producer, has
delivered a number of exciting
projects this year, including
Antony Gormley’s One & Other
project in Trafalgar Square and
the Lumière festival of light in
Durham.

Initiatives like these are not just
the right thing to do; they are
good business. They give people
more reasons to join Sky and
stay with us, whether that’s
customers, employees or
business partners. We see this
as a vital component of long-
term, sustainable success. 

Our talented people, as always,
are the key to that success. I
would like to thank them for the
commitment, creativity and
energy that they bring to Sky
every day.

Finally, it is appropriate to re-
state here that on 15 June, the
Company announced that our
largest shareholder, News
Corporation, had approached
the Board with a proposal that
could lead to a future offer to
take full ownership of Sky.
Recognising that an offer could
be in the interest of
shareholders, Sky has agreed to
co-operate with News
Corporation in seeking the
necessary clearances from the
relevant regulatory authorities. 

While this process continues,
the Company’s Independent
Directors have put in place
structures to uphold the
interests of all shareholders. As
part of these arrangements,
Nicholas Ferguson, the Senior
Independent Non-Executive
Director, has been appointed as
Deputy Chairman of the Board.
The management team remains
fully focused on executing
against our priorities, delivering
for customers and increasing
returns for all shareholders.

Jeremy Darroch
Chief Executive Officer

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT – BUSINESS REVIEW
continued

Our performance

We have a clear and consistent strategy for growth: to attract new customers to Sky and to sell 
more products and services to our existing customers. This year, we saw continued growth in 
both of these areas as customers responded to the quality and value of our products. 
Operational delivery translated into strong financial results, with double-digit growth in each of 
revenue, operating profit, earnings per share and cash flow, on an adjusted basis.
We have identified a number of key performance indicators that we use to assess how the Group is performing against its core strategic 
priorities. They include both operational and financial measures and are set out below. In addition to operational and financial KPIs, we 
have developed 10 environmental KPIs. Our performance against these KPIs, together with a comprehensive review of our environmental 
initiatives, can be found in the Bigger Picture Review at www.sky.com/biggerpicturereview2010.

Operational key performance indicators

Customer base (million)

9.860

9.442

8.980

2008

2009

2010

Analysis
Our total customer base is a key 
determinant of the Group’s value. In 
2010, we added 418,000 net new 
customers, growing the total base 
by 4%.

Description
Total customers are defined as the 
total number of residential and 
commercial direct-to-home (DTH) 
customers at the close of a given 
period. The Group also retails 
certain Sky channels to a limited 
number of DSL subscribers which 
are included. This number excludes 
subscribers to our channels 
through the cable platform.

Churn (%)

10.3%

2010

Sky+HD penetration (%)

2010 

2009 

2008 

14%

6%

Customers taking each of TV, broadband and telephony (%)

2009   10.3%
10.4%
2008 

Description
Churn represents the number of DTH 
customers over a given period that 
terminated their subscriptions, net of 
former customers who reinstated 
their subscription (within 12 months of 
their original subscription) expressed 
as a percentage of total average 
customers.

Analysis
Churn is a good measure of 
customer satisfaction, which is a 
key driver of value for our business. 
Churn for 2010 was in line with the 
previous year at 10.3%.

30%

Description
Sky+HD penetration is defined as 
the percentage of customers paying 
an additional monthly subscription 
to view HD content.

Analysis
Driving take-up of HD is important 
for customer satisfaction while also 
generating incremental revenue and 
profit. In 2010 we added 1.6 million 
HD customers; twice the level of the 
previous year.

 11%

 2008 

16%

21%

Description
The percentage of the total DTH 
customer base taking any of our TV 
products and both a Sky Broadband 
and a Sky Talk product. Customers 
may also opt for our line rental 
product.

2009 

2010

Analysis
This is an important measure for 
our business, with higher 
penetration positively impacting 
ARPU and customer loyalty. At 
30 June 2010, two million customers 
chose each of TV, broadband and 
telephony, up 36% from the prior 
year.

6 

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC     ANNUAL REPORT 2010

 
 
 
 
Financial key performance indicators

ARPU (£)

2010 

2009 

2008 

Adjusted Group revenue (£m)

2010 

2009 

2008 

Adjusted operating profit (£m)

2010 

2009 

2008 

Adjusted basic earnings per share (p)

31.1p +20%

2010

Adjusted free cash flow (£m)

2010 

2009 

2008 

Total Shareholder Return (%)

2010 

2009 

2008 

  41%
  30.9%  

  -11.9%
  -25.7%  

  -11.1%
  -4.9%  

508

464

427

Description
Average Revenue Per User or ‘ARPU’ 
is calculated by taking the amount 
spent by the Group’s residential 
customers (ex-VAT), divided by the 
average number of residential 
customers.

Analysis
ARPU is impacted by the type of 
subscription package taken by a 
customer, as well as the number of 
additional paid-for products. ARPU 
increased by £44 as customers 
rewarded us with more of their 
business.

5,912

5,323

4,952

Description
Adjusted Group revenue includes 
revenue from retail subscriptions, 
wholesale revenue, advertising, 
revenue from Easynet and 
installation, hardware and service 
revenue. It is adjusted for any 
exceptional items to give a 
consistent yearly comparison of the 
business. A reconciliation of 
non-GAAP measures is set out on 
page 113.

Analysis
Adjusted Group revenue is a key 
measure of how the Group is 
delivering on its strategy to grow 
the business. In 2010, adjusted 
revenue grew by £589 million to 
reach £5,912 million.

855

780

752

2009   25.9p
25.1p
2008 

Description
Adjusted operating profit for the 
Group excludes any exceptional or 
one-off items. A reconciliation of 
non-GAAP measures is set out on 
page 113.

Analysis
Adjusted operating profit is a key 
measure of the underlying business 
performance. It increased by 10% in 
2010.

Description
Adjusted basic EPS is the profit 
after tax for the year excluding 
exceptional items and related tax 
effects, divided by the weighted 
average number of ordinary shares. 
For further details see note 10 of 
the consolidated financial 
statements.

Analysis
Adjusted basic EPS provides a 
measure of shareholder return that 
is comparable over time. Adjusted 
basic EPS increased by 20% to reach 
a record level of 31.1p.

626

508

399

Description
Adjusted free cash flow is defined 
as cash generated from operations 
after the impact of capital 
expenditure, interest and tax paid, 
cash flows to and from joint 
ventures and excluding exceptional 
items. A reconciliation of non-GAAP 
measures is set out on page 113.

Analysis
Free cash flow is an important 
measure of the Group’s success in 
converting profits to cash flow and 
of the underlying health of the 
business. Adjusted free cash flow 
increased by 23% as a result of 
higher profitability, improved working 
capital and lower interest payments.

Description
Total shareholder return represents 
the change in value of a share held 
for the 12 months to 30 June, 
assuming that dividends are 
reinvested to purchase additional 
shares at the closing price 
applicable on the ex-dividend date. 
The value of the share is based on 
the average share price over the 
three months prior to 30 June.

Analysis
Total shareholder return represents 
a comparable measure of 
shareholder return over time. On 
this basis, BSkyB shares performed 
ten percentage points better than 
the FTSE 100 index in the year to 
30 June 2010.

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC 

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 Sky 

 FTSE 

-30 

-20 

-10 

0 

10 

20 

30 

40 

50

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DIRECTORS’ REPORT – BUSINESS REVIEW
continued

Review of the business
Introduction
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc (the “Company”) and its
subsidiaries (“Sky” or the “Group”) operate the leading pay
television service in the UK and Ireland as well as broadband and
telephony services. We commission and acquire programming to
broadcast on our own channels and supply certain of those
channels to cable and other operators for retransmission to their
subscribers in the UK and Ireland. We retail channels (both our own
and third parties’) to DTH, Sky Player and Sky Mobile TV customers
and certain of our own channels to DSL and iPad subscribers
(reference in this Annual Report to the number of “DTH customers”
includes the number of DSL subscribers to whom Sky retails its
content directly). We also make three of our channels available free-
to-air via the UK DTT platform, as part of the branded ‘‘Freeview’’
offering. 

At 30 June 2010, there were 9,860,000 DTH customers to our
television service, and 4,312,000 subscribers of the cable operators
to whom we supply certain of our channels, in the UK and Ireland.
According to estimates of Ofcom, as at 31 March 2010 (the latest
data available for the year ended 30 June 2010), there were
10,200,000 homes in the UK receiving certain of our channels via
DTT where DTT is the only digital TV platform supplying services
(see ‘‘DTT distribution’’ below). Our total revenue in fiscal 2010 was
£5,912 million (2009: £5,359 million), as set out in the table below. 

For the year to 30 June

Retail subscription
Wholesale subscription
Advertising
Easynet
Installation, hardware and service
Other
Revenue

2010
£m

4,761
238
319
203
174
217
5,912

2009
£m

4,177
206
308
202
235
231
5,359

We operate principally within the UK and Ireland, with activities
conducted primarily from the UK. Our revenue principally arises
from services provided to retail and wholesale customers within the
UK, with the exception of £483 million (2009: £443 million) which
arises from services provided in other countries. 

Our fiscal years end on the Sunday nearest to 30 June in each year.
References in this document to a fiscal year ended 30 June is to
the fiscal year ending on the Sunday nearest to 30 June. We
publish our financial statements in British pounds sterling.
References to ‘‘US dollars’’, ‘‘dollars’’, ‘‘US$’’, ‘‘$’’ and ‘‘¢’’ are to the
currency of the United States (‘‘US’’), references to ‘‘Euro’’ and ‘‘€’’
are to the currency of the participating European Union (“EU”)
countries, and references to ‘‘pounds sterling’’, ‘‘£’’, ‘‘pence’’ and ‘‘p’’
are to the currency of the UK.

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance
with IFRS as adopted by the EU, the Companies Act 2006 and
Article 4 of the International Accounting Standard (“IAS”)
Regulations. In addition, our consolidated financial statements also
comply with IFRS as issued by the International Accounting
Standards Board (“IASB”). 

8

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

Certain terms used herein are defined in the ‘‘Glossary of terms’’
which appears at the end of this Annual Report.

The Company, a public company limited by shares and domiciled in
the UK, operates under the laws of England and Wales. It was
incorporated in England and Wales on 25 April 1988. Our principal
executive offices are located at Grant Way, Isleworth, Middlesex,
TW7 5QD, England. Tel: +44 (0)20 7705 3000. A list of our
significant investments is set out in note 31 to the consolidated
financial statements. 

Content
We provide customers with a broad range of programming options.
Content is a key factor in generating and maintaining customers.
With respect to the channels we own and operate, we incur
significant expense to produce and commission original
programming and to acquire exclusive UK and Ireland television
rights to films, certain sports events and other programming. We
have also acquired the rights to market the television services of
third parties to DTH customers.

Currently, we own, operate, distribute and retail 26 Sky Channels via
our DTH service (or 28 including multiplex versions of the Sky
Channels, but excluding simulcast channels and the business
channels SkyVenue and the Pub Channel). We also simulcast most
of the Sky Channels or programming from some of the Sky Channels
in high definition. We currently retail to our DTH customers 160 Sky
Distributed Channels (including multiplex versions of certain
channels) (the ‘‘Sky Distributed Channels’’). We do not own the Sky
Distributed Channels, although we have an equity interest in
certain of them. In addition to the Sky Distributed Channels, we
currently retail to our DTH customers the Sky Box Office service (a
pay-per-view service offering movies, sporting events and
concerts).

The Sky Distributed Channels packages as at 30 June 2010, were as
follows:

Package

Variety Pack
Style & Culture Pack 
Children’s Pack
Knowledge Pack 
Music Pack 
News & Events Pack 
ROI Bonus Mix
Adult Pay-Per Night
Disney Cinemagic*
MUTV
Chelsea TV
ESPN
MGM HD

3rd Party
Channels

39
23
18
24
16
10
11
12
2
1
1
2
1

*

Disney Cinemagic also available as a bonus channel to customers of both Movies
Mix packages.

We retail ‘‘packages’’ of channels to our DTH customers. The way
they are packaged offers customers a choice of up to six ‘‘packs’’ of
both Sky Basic Channels and Sky Distributed Channels (see “Basic
Channels” below). Each pack contains channels broadly within a
specific genre of interest, to which customers have the option to
add a combination of Sky Premium Channels and Premium Sky
Distributed Channels (see “Sky Premium Channels” below). We also

offer customers the opportunity to subscribe to Sky Premium
Channels without the need to subscribe to a “pack”. 

We also offer Sky Box Office to all our DTH customers. On the DTH
platform, the Sky Premium Channels, the Sky Basic Channels (other
than Sky News), Sky Box Office and the Sky Distributed Channels
are encrypted in order to limit access to paying customers only.

Virgin Media (“VM” – see ‘‘Cable distribution – UK’’ below) carries
versions of the Sky Basic and Sky Premium Channels (including
multiplex channels) on its cable systems. We have also entered into
agreements with BT and Top Up TV for carriage of Sky Sports 1 and
Sky Sports 2 on their respective DTT services. We broadcast
versions of three of the Sky Channels, Sky News, Sky Sports News
and Sky 3, unencrypted free-to-air via DTT in the UK as part of the
Freeview offering (see ‘‘Distribution – DTT Distribution’’ below). We
recently announced that Sky Sports News will not be available via
DTT from 23 August 2010 and will be replaced with a multiplex
version of Sky 3.

We also operate a high definition TV (“HD”) service which consists
of: Sky1 HD, Sky Arts 1 HD, Sky Arts 2 HD, Sky Real Lives HD, Sky Box
Office HD (two screens), Sky Sports HD (four channels) Sky News
HD and Sky Movies HD (ten screens), The Biography Channel HD,
Crime and Investigation Network HD, Discovery HD, Disney
Cinemagic HD, Eurosport HD, FX HD, History HD, MTVN HD, National
Geographic HD, Nat Geo Wild HD, SyFy HD, Hallmark Channel HD, E4
HD, Goodfood HD, MGM HD, ESPN HD, ESPN America HD and Rush
HD. We have recently announced that we will be launching Sky
Sports News HD in summer 2010. BBC HD, ITV1 HD, Channel 4 HD,
Five HD and Luxe TV HD are also available on our platform.

In April 2010 Sky launched Sky 3D, Europe’s first 3D TV channel with
a live Premier League match available to over 1,400 pubs. Later in
the calendar year, Sky 3D will offer entertainment and arts content
as well as sport and movies to residential customers. The channel
will initially be introduced at no extra cost for customers who
subscribe to Sky’s top channels and HD pack.   

We hold equity interests in ventures that own certain of the Sky
Distributed Channels (including certain Premium Sky Distributed
Channels) which are operated and distributed in the UK (for the
purposes of this report, any reference to the UK in relation to the
distribution of the Sky Channels and Sky Distributed Channels
includes the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands) namely
Attheraces, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Nick Jr. 2, Nicktoons,
Nicktoonsters, National Geographic Channel, National Geographic
HD, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo Wild HD, Chelsea TV, MUTV, Comedy
Central, Comedy Central Extra, The History Channel, Military History,
The History Channel HD, Bio, Bio HD, MGM HD and Crime and
Investigation Network HD. We also have a 33.33% equity interest in
the venture operating the Sky News Australia Channel, which is
based in Australia.

Premium channels
Sky Premium Channels
Sky Movies channels
Sky Movies features 9 channels of different genres divided into two
packs:

Pack 1
Sky Movies Comedy

Sky Movies Family
Sky Movies Classics
Sky Movies Modern Greats
Sky Movies Drama & Romance

Pack 2
Sky Movies Action & Adventure
Sky Movies Crime & Thriller
Sky Movies Sci Fi & Horror
Sky Movies Indie
Sky Movies Comedy

The channels principally broadcast the output of recent theatrical
movies and certain library movies (in respect of which we are
typically granted exclusive UK and Ireland rights to broadcast
during the relevant pay television window) by major Hollywood and
independent US and European licensors.

Sky DTH and digital cable customers subscribing to both packs
receive Sky Movies Premiere, Sky Movies Premiere +1 and Sky Movies
Showcase and (in the case of DTH customers only) Disney
Cinemagic without additional charge. Sky Movies Premiere and Sky
Movies Premiere +1 (a delayed multiplex of Sky Movies Premiere)
exclusively show titles in their first run TV windows (after the pay
per view and VoD windows). The movies are recent theatrical
releases, including foreign film content. Sky Movies Premiere
typically broadcasts five new films per week, and two films from the
previous week every day for seven days.

Each of the Sky Movies channels (other than Sky Premiere +1 and
Sky Movies Classic) is also broadcast as an HD simulcast and such
HD channels are available to customers to our Sky+HD service who
are entitled to the corresponding standard definition channel. Sky
Movies Classic HD is due to launch in 2010. Customers who take
both of the Sky Movies packs and the Sky+HD service receive MGM
HD without additional charge.

Sky Movies Premiere, Sky Movies Showcase, Sky Movies Action and
Sky Movies Family is available on Sky Player. There are also over 500
films available for Sky Movies customers to download from Sky
Player (see “Digital subscriber line and other fixed line distribution –
Sky Player” below).

Sky Sports channels
The Sky Sports Channels currently are Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports 2,
Sky Sports 3 and Sky Sports 4. In addition, Sky Sports HD1, Sky
Sports HD2, Sky Sports HD3 and Sky Sports HD4 are available to
customers to our Sky+HD service who are entitled to the
corresponding standard definition channel. 

Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports 2, Sky Sports 3 and Sky Sports 4 are all
available online on Sky Player. Content from those channels is also
available on an on-demand basis on Sky Player.

In March 2006, the European Commission rendered legally binding
the Premier League’s (“PL”) commitment to sell live TV rights in six
balanced packages, with no one bidder being allowed to buy all six
packages. In February 2009, the Group successfully bid for five of
those six available packages (each of 23 games) of live rights to
Premier League football in the UK. These rights run from the
beginning of the 2010/11 season to the end of the 2012/13 season.

In addition to those PL rights, our programming rights for the Sky
Sports channels include exclusive live rights to broadcast, in the UK
and Ireland, a range of sport including a number of football, rugby

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT – BUSINESS REVIEW
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Review of the business
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union, rugby league, cricket, golf and tennis events. Those events
include: (i) broadcast rights to npower Football League matches
and the Carling Cup for the 2008/09 to 2011/12 domestic football
seasons; (ii) broadcast rights to the UEFA Champions League for
three seasons from 2009/10; (iii) exclusive live rights to England’s
primary domestic cricket matches and all of England’s home test
matches, one day internationals and Twenty20 internationals until
2013; (iv) live rights for the International Cricket Tours of India,
Australia, South Africa and the West Indies from 2006 to 2012; (v) a
number of rugby union matches including autumn international
matches to 2015 and Guinness Premiership matches to 2013, (vi)
exclusive live rights to the Heineken Cup and the Challenge Cup
until 2014; (vii) exclusive rights to all tri-nations Rugby union
matches between Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, plus all
summer tours to these three countries made by England, Scotland,
Wales and Ireland and exclusive rights to domestic competitions in
those territories, including the Super 14 Tournament and Currie Cup
until December 2015; and (viii) exclusive live rights to the Ryder Cup,
World Golf Championship and the PGA European Tour until 2012;
and exclusive live rights to the PGA US Tour until 2017.

Basic Channels
Sky Basic Channels
Sky1 is the general entertainment flagship channel of the Sky
Channels and is available to our DTH customers and certain DSL
and cable subscribers. It is targeted primarily at a 16-44 age group
audience and includes UK-commissioned drama, factual and family
entertainment series and major event programming in addition to
first-run acquired US series. Sky1 is also simulcast in HD.

Sky2 broadcasts primarily a catch-up schedule of programming
from Sky1 and is complemented by Sky1’s programming library and
some exclusive content and is available to our DTH customers and
certain DSL and cable subscribers. Sky3 broadcasts a schedule of
programming from Sky1’s library, content from Sky Real Lives and
Sky Arts, as well as some exclusive content. Sky3 is also currently
shown on some cable networks in the UK and Ireland and on DTT as
part of the Freeview offering in the UK.

Content from Sky1, Sky2 and Sky3 is also available on an
on-demand basis from Sky Player. Sky1 is also simultaneously
streamed to Sky Player.

Sky News provides national and international news to viewers in
the UK, Ireland and across the globe. The channel is broadcast
unencrypted on Astra satellites (see ‘‘Satellites’’ below), and
distributed to viewers via cable and satellite networks in Europe,
Africa, the Middle East and Asia. It is also currently shown on most
cable networks in the UK and Ireland and on DTT as part of the
Freeview offering in the UK. Sky News is also available to viewers on
the Sky News website and on Sky Player and Sky Mobile TV.

During this fiscal year, the Group launched Sky News HD, a 24 hour
high definition simulcast of Sky News available to its Sky+HD
customers. Sky News HD is the first HD news channel to air in the
UK.

Sky Sports News provides 24-hour national and international
sports news coverage. It is currently available to our DTH

customers, some cable and DSL subscribers in the UK and Ireland
and in the UK on DTT as part of the Freeview offering in the UK
(although the Group has recently announced that from 23 August
2010 it will no longer be available by these means). Sky Sports News
is available online on Sky Player and on Sky Mobile TV. We have
recently announced that we will be launching Sky Sports News HD
in summer 2010.

Sky Arts 1 and Sky Arts 1 HD provide contemporary arts and music
oriented programming and documentaries. Sky Arts 2 and Sky Arts
2 HD broadcast classical arts programming including opera,
literature, theatre, cinema and dance. Both Sky Arts HD channels
are available to all customers to our HD service. Individual
programmes are available on an on-demand basis from Sky Player.

Sky Real Lives and its multiplexes Sky Real Lives +1 and Sky Real
Lives 2 focus on real life human interest stories appealing to a
female audience. Sky Real Lives is also simulcast in HD and is
available on Sky Player. We have recently announced that from 19
August 2010 Sky Real Lives will no longer be available on any
platform.

Sky Vegas and SkyPoker.com are interactive television channels
which currently broadcast on a 24-hour a day basis and are
currently available to our DTH customers.

On 4 June 2010, the Group announced that it had agreed to acquire
Virgin Media Television (“VMTV”) for up to £160 million in cash. The
acquisition completed on 12 July 2010 at which point the Group
paid £105 million to VM. Payment of the remainder is contingent on
the outcome of the UK regulatory process. The VMTV Channel
portfolio includes Living, Bravo, Challenge, Virgin 1 and Challenge
Jackpot. The Group will not licence the Virgin brand and will
announce the new Channel brand for Virgin 1 in due course.

Basic Sky Distributed Channels
Our agreements with the owners of the Sky Distributed Channels
typically grant us the exclusive right to offer these channels to
residential DTH customers in the UK and Ireland. The owners of the
Sky Distributed Channels generally sell their own advertising time
on their channels, although we act as an advertising sales
representative for certain of these channels (see ‘‘Advertising’’
below).

Pay-per-view
Our Sky Box Office service currently offers our DTH customers
television premieres of movies and occasional live sports and other
special events on a pay-per-view basis. We have acquired certain
exclusive DTH rights from Hollywood and independent distributors,
which enable us to show their movies on Sky Box Office. Sky Box
Office HD offers at least 12 movies each week in high definition on a
pay-per-view basis.

Sky Anytime TV
In March 2007, the Group launched Sky Anytime TV, an on-demand
service that provides access to selected programmes that are
added to the service overnight with approximately 30 hours of
content available at any one time. Viewers have seven days to
watch programmes or store them on their Sky+ planner (see
description of Sky+ in ‘‘DTH Distribution’’ below) as newer
programmes are added and older programmes are deleted. Sky
Anytime TV uses additional storage capacity on relevant set-top
boxes to automatically store selected programmes for viewing on-

10

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

demand and the customer’s personal recording capacity remains
unaffected. Sky Anytime TV is available to all Sky HD customers and
customers with applicable Sky+ set-top boxes at no extra charge in
accordance with their subscriptions (for example, customers who
subscribe for the Sky Movies channels will have access to certain
Sky Movies programming on Sky Anytime TV at no extra charge). 

Distribution
We distribute our programming services directly to DTH customers
through the packages described above. Cable subscribers, by
contrast, contract with cable operators, which in turn acquire the
rights to distribute certain of the Sky Channels from us, which they
combine with other channels from third parties and distribute to
their subscribers. 

DTT viewers must have either an integrated digital television set or
an appropriate set-top box.

As at 30 June
(In thousands)

Distribution of Sky Channels
DTH homes
Cable homes(1)
Total Sky pay homes
DTT homes(2)

2010

2009

9,860
4,312
14,172
10,200

9,442
4,271
13,713
9,900(4)

(1)

(2)

The number of cable homes is reported to us by the cable operators.

The DTT homes number consists of the Office of Communications’ (‘‘Ofcom’’)
estimate of the number of homes where DTT is the only digital TV platform
supplying services and includes Top Up TV DTT homes. The number of DTT homes
for all periods disclosed above is based on Ofcom’s Digital Television Update
published quarterly in arrears. Latest data available for the year ended 30 June
2010 is at 31 March 2010.

On 31 March 2010, Ofcom published its decision to impose
wholesale must-offer obligations on Sky (the “WMO Obligations”)
for the channels Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports 2, Sky Sports 1 HD and Sky
Sports 2 HD (the “Channels”). This decision brings to an end
Ofcom’s three year Pay TV Investigation. In June 2010, Sky appealed
Ofcom’s decision to the Competition Appeal Tribunal (“CAT”).

The WMO Obligations require Sky, amongst other things, to offer, on
a wholesale basis, the Channels to third parties which satisfy
various minimum qualifying criteria (including financial, technical
and security criteria).

The WMO Obligation specifies maximum prices that Sky may charge
for Sky Sports 1 and/or Sky Sports 2. Those prices will be increased
in September 2010 when Sky raises its retail prices (under the WMO
Obligations, the wholesale price is linked to Sky’s retail price).

The WMO Obligations do not specify a maximum price for Sky
Sports 1 HD and/or Sky Sports 2 HD. Rather, Sky is required to offer
these channels on a fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory basis.

In April 2010, Sky applied to the Competition Appeal Tribunal
(“CAT”) for a suspension of the implementation of the WMO
Obligations. On 29 April 2010, Sky’s application was resolved by way
of an agreed Order from the President of the CAT. The terms of the
Order result in the suspension of certain aspects of Ofcom’s
decision pending the outcome of Sky‘s substantive appeal. In
summary, the effect of the Order is as follows:
• Sky is required to offer Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2 to each of

BT, Top Up TV and Virgin Media for distribution via Digital
Terrestrial TV and Virgin Media for distribution via cable. Other

parties may apply to the CAT to be added to the list of persons
to whom Sky is required to offer its channels.

• In the event that BT, Top Up TV or Virgin Media enter into a

distribution agreement for Sky Sports 1 and/or Sky Sports 2, the
distributor is required to pay Sky the equivalent of the maximum
price Sky may charge for the channel(s) under the WMO
Obligation. The difference between that price and the relevant
rate card price will be paid into escrow.

• At the conclusion of Sky’s appeal, the CAT will determine the

distribution of the monies held in escrow.

On 1 June 2010, Sky submitted its appeal against Ofcom’s decision
to impose the WMO Obligations, on the following grounds:
• Ofcom had no jurisdiction to adopt its decision under its sectoral

powers;

• Ofcom erred in finding that Sky acted on an incentive to withhold

supply of the Channels;

• Ofcom erred in its assessment of the impact and proportionality

of the WMO Obligations; and

• Ofcom acted unlawfully in imposing the WMO Obligations.
In March 2010 Ofcom stated that the Group’s premium movie
channels are not, at this stage, to be subject to wholesale must-
offer obligations. However, Ofcom is currently consulting on a
market investigation reference to the Competition Commission
(“CC”) in relation to various markets related to premium movies. In
its consultation, Ofcom stated that it has concerns about alleged
restricted exploitation of subscription video-on-demand movies.

DTH distribution
As at 30 June 2010, the total number of DTH customers in the UK
and Ireland was 9,860,000, representing a net increase of 418,000
customers in the fiscal year. DTH churn in total was 10.3% in fiscal
2010 (2009: 10.3%). We define DTH churn as the number of DTH
customers over a given period who terminate their subscription in
its entirety, net of former customers who reinstate their
subscription in that period (where such reinstatement is within a
twelve month period of the termination of their original
subscription) expressed as an annualised percentage of total
average customers. In fiscal 2010, we derived £4,761 million (81%) of
our revenue from DTH subscription revenue (2009: £4,177 million
(78%)).

We also offer a number of our services, including our HD service, to
commercial DTH customers in the UK and Ireland under a range of
contracts. The types of contract, and the channels, which are
available to any particular commercial customer depend primarily
upon the type of business premises within which such customers
wish to show our services. Our commercial DTH customers include
offices, retail outlets, hotels, pubs and clubs. Each such operator
with a SMATV system is considered to be a single commercial DTH
customer regardless of the number of points (e.g. rooms in a hotel)
within the premises to which the television signal is distributed.

Digital satellite reception equipment
In order to receive our DTH service, customers are required to have
a digital satellite system, which includes a satellite dish and LNB
(low noise block converter), a digital satellite receiver (‘‘set-top
box’’), a smartcard (see ‘‘Technology and Infrastructure’’ below) and
a remote control. We have in the past worked closely with selected

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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manufacturers who have manufactured digital satellite receivers
for us based on our specifications. We announced in January 2010
that our intentions were to source all our digital satellite receivers
from our own manufacturing division and supplies from third party
manufacturers ceased in May 2010. We work closely with a number
of selected electronic manufacturing service suppliers.

During fiscal 2010, we have continued to offer the Sky+ box and
Sky+HD box. These are set-top boxes that we have developed
which contain two satellite tuners and an integrated PVR allowing
programming to be recorded directly on to a hard-disk contained
within the box. This enables DTH customers to watch one live
satellite programme (or a previously recorded programme) while
simultaneously recording another or to record simultaneously two
programmes, to pause or rewind live television and to record
automatically some series of programmes. Sky+ customers need a
Sky+ subscription to use the Sky+ recording features of the Sky+
and Sky+HD box. DTH customers receive the Sky+ subscription for
free. 

Customers with a Sky+HD box receive a number of Channels which
depends on the basic package to which they subscribe and the
other premium channels they have chosen.

DTH customers with a Sky+ subscription and a compatible Sky+ or
Sky+HD box can also receive Sky Anytime TV at no extra cost (see
“Sky Anytime TV” above).

We also offer our customers the opportunity to purchase up to
seven extra Digibox receivers, or three Sky+ or Sky+HD boxes for
use at the same residence as their original set-top box, which
enables them to watch different satellite programmes in different
rooms at the same time using just one satellite dish. 

Both digital satellite reception equipment and subscriptions to our
DTH services are offered by us directly and through a variety of
retailers in both the UK and Ireland. We also provide installation and
equipment repair services. Some of the channels offered in Ireland
differ from those offered in the UK.

Sky Broadband
We launched Sky Broadband, our broadband internet access
service in 2006. As at 30 June 2010, our broadband network
covered approximately 70% of UK households.

For customers covered by our broadband network, two different
broadband products are available: Sky Broadband Everyday Lite;
and Sky Broadband Unlimited. Both products offer up to 20Mb
download speeds and up to 1.3Mb upload speeds. Sky Broadband
Everyday Lite is limited to a 2GB monthly usage allowance whereas
Sky Broadband Unlimited has no limit on monthly usage.

We also offer Sky Broadband Connect to customers in the UK who
are not within the coverage area of our broadband network. Sky
Broadband Connect offers up to 8 Mb download speeds and 40GB
monthly usage.

Sky Broadband Unlimited is now available to customers who do not
take a television service from Sky.

Sky Talk
Sky Talk is a telephony service available to all of Sky’s customers in
the UK. Sky Talk Freetime offers customers free evening and
weekend calls of up to an hour to UK landlines and Sky Talk
Unlimited offers customers unlimited calls (for up to one hour per
call) and unlimited calls to certain international destinations.

Sky Talk customers are also able to take their telephony line rental
directly from Sky. 

As with Sky Broadband Unlimited, Sky Talk is now available to
customers who do not take a television service.

Online
We own and operate a number of established websites including
sky.com, skysports.com and sky.com/news. Sky’s full-service online
portal encompasses e-mail and search to sit alongside
skysports.com and sky.com/news websites.

Sky also extended its commitment to protection of its customers
by introducing the Sky Security Centre where users can obtain
information and products relating to online security and protection.

Sky Active
We offer our viewers enhanced and interactive services. We offer
enhanced broadcast applications behind a number of Sky
Channels, including Sky Movies Active (behind our movie channels),
Sky Sports Active (behind our sports channels), Sky News Active
(behind Sky News) and the interactive betting service available
behind SkyPoker.com and Sky Vegas. We offer interactive services
which can be accessed whilst the programming on the channel to
which the interactive service relates stays in view.

Sky Betting and Gaming
The Group offers a range of betting and gaming services under the
‘‘Sky Bet’’, ‘‘Sky Poker’’, ‘‘Sky Vegas’’ and ‘‘Sky Bingo’’ brands in relation
to which the Group acts as bookmaker and operator. The Sky Bet
fixed odds sports betting service is licensed by the Alderney
Gambling Control Commission and is available across multiple
platforms, including by means of set-top boxes (including Sky+ and
Sky+HD), by telephone and on the internet (including the mobile
internet). Customers can also bet on virtual dog and horse racing
on the Sky Vegas channel. Sky’s gaming operations, which include
poker, bingo and an online casino are also licensed in Alderney. The
Group also continues to develop a range of popular games
products on the internet (at www.skyvegas.com) through the Sky
Vegas 24/7 games service. In accordance with the licensing
structure of transactional gambling channels introduced in June
2009 by Ofcom, the Sky Poker and Sky Vegas channels operate as
teleshopping channels rather than as editorial channels. Sky Bingo
was launched on the internet in December 2007. The gambling
business is certified by the Gambling charity Gamcare and has in
place stringent social responsibility measures for the protection of
minors and other vulnerable people. We take active measures to
prevent persons resident in the US participating in our internet
gaming and betting services.

12

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

Digital subscriber line (‘‘DSL’’) and other fixed line
distribution
Sky Player
Sky Player is a PC-application that provides access to a range of live
channels, including certain of the Sky Channels, as well as on-
demand programmes including Sky Sports, Sky1, Sky News, Sky Arts
and Sky Movies programming. Sky Player is also available on the
Xbox and on Fetch TV Smart Boxes.

Customers can access a range of entertainment, sports and movies
content with Sky Player via www.sky.com/skyplayer provided they
have a compatible computer and operating system. This offers
downloads and streamed content to any PC or Mac with internet
access. The cost and availability of content depends on whether
the customer is a DTH customer and what DTH subscription
package they have. Certain content is available on a pay-per-view
and subscription basis.

Sky By Wire
‘‘Sky By Wire’’ refers to television services retailed directly by us over
the fixed line networks of other operators in the UK and Ireland.

The most significant of these is TalkTalk TV (previously Tiscali TV)
which distributes pay television services by means of the TalkTalk
network. Under arrangements in respect of TalkTalk TV, we have
access to the TalkTalk TV platform to enable us to retail certain of
the Sky Premium Channels to customers who already subscribe to
TalkTalk TV services. In addition, we are provided with certain
customer management, billing and sales agency services in respect
of our customers receiving Sky Premium Channels via its platform.
In return for these services, we pay a fixed monthly fee per
subscriber who subscribes to a Sky Premium Channel on the
TalkTalk TV platform.

Mobile networks
Sky Mobile Applications and Sky Mobile TV
Sky Mobile TV offers a combination of live linear channels and made
for mobile streams covering Sports, News and Entertainment
content. The mobile TV service is available via mobile network
operators and also as an application on the iPhone and iPad direct
from Sky. In addition we offer a range of Sky mobile applications,
Sky+ to enable remote recording, Sky News for breaking news
stories and video, Football and Cricket Score Centres for live scores
and commentary. The applications are available on a range of
compatible mobile handsets and across all mobile networks.

Cable distribution
UK
VM provides both analogue and digital cable services across its
cable systems and accounts for the majority of our wholesale
revenue, which is revenue derived from the supply of Sky Channels
to UK and Irish cable platforms. In fiscal 2010, we derived
£238 million in subscription fees from cable operators (2009:
£206 million).

On 4 June 2010, the Group entered into a number of agreements
providing for the carriage of certain Sky SD and HD Channels on
VM’s cable TV service. The agreements became effective on 12 July
2010 and cover the following: 
• New carriage agreements will secure wholesale distribution of
Sky’s basic channel line-up, including Sky1 and Sky Arts, and the

newly acquired VMtv channels (see “Basic channels” above), on
VM’s cable TV service.   

• For an incremental wholesale fee, VM will, for the first time, have
the option of carrying any of Sky’s basic HD channels, Sky Sports
HD 1 and Sky Sports HD 2, and all Sky Movies HD channels. 

• VM will be able to make available on-demand TV services

provided by Sky consisting of content from Sky’s basic and
premium channels, including the newly acquired VMtv channels.
VM will also have access to red button interactive sports
coverage and the opportunity to deliver selected standard
definition programming over the internet.

Cable operators are able to offer their subscribers any choice or
combination of the Sky Premium Channels pursuant to the terms
on which we supply such channels. We negotiate separate
commercial arrangements with each cable operator for the carriage
of the Sky Basic Channels (see also “Distribution” above).

We have contracts with Smallworld, Newtel and Wightcable for their
distribution of all of the Sky Basic Channels. These three regional
cable operators operate the only other major pay TV cable services
outside the VM network, covering the Borders region, Jersey and
the Isle of Wight respectively. 

In addition, several of the Sky Channels are distributed on a number
of narrowband cable networks. These are generally smaller cable
operators that have limited channel capacity (when compared with
digital satellite or digital cable) and accordingly do not generally
carry all of the Sky Channels.

Ireland
We currently have arrangements in place with UPC Communications
Ireland Limited (‘‘UPC’’) for the re-transmission of certain of the Sky
Channels, including Sky Basic and Sky Premium Channels, to their
subscribers. UPC operates both analogue and digital cable services
in Ireland.

In addition, several of the Sky Channels are distributed on a number
of local cable networks in Ireland. These are generally smaller cable
operators that have limited channel capacity (when compared with
digital satellite or digital cable) and accordingly do not generally
carry all of the Sky Channels.

DTT distribution
We currently broadcast versions of three of our channels, Sky News,
Sky Sports News and Sky 3, unencrypted free-to-air via DTT in the
UK. These channels are broadcast on a DTT multiplex for which the
licence is held by Arqiva Services Limited (which owns and operates
shared wireless communications and broadcast infrastructure). We
recently announced that Sky Sports News will not be available via
DTT from 23 August 2010 and will be replaced with Sky 3+1.

The channels broadcast via DTT by us, together with a number of
other channels broadcast free-to-air via DTT by other broadcasters,
are marketed to consumers under the generic brand ‘‘Freeview’’. 

In June and July 2010 the Group entered into agreements providing
for the carriage of Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2 via DTT on BT
Vision’s TV service and Top Up TV’s service from August 2010.

Free-to-view satellite proposition
We offer purchasers a freesat proposition with access to over 270
free-to-view television and radio channels (including regional
variants) and interactive services, without a monthly subscription

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT – BUSINESS REVIEW
continued

Review of the business
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fee. Consumers must purchase a package of digital satellite
reception equipment, including a digital satellite smartcard and
standard installation, to take advantage of this offering. The
purchasers of this proposition are not obliged to subscribe to our
pay television service; however, the proposition offers an easy
upgrade path to our DTH pay television service.

Emerging forms of distribution
We are also evaluating various other possible new means of
distributing our services other than by DTH, cable, DSL and DTT,
such as wireless broadband using Wimax or other similar
technologies, mobile TV using technologies such as MediaFLO by
Qualcomm and IP Wireless/ TDtv.

We also participate actively in the Digital Video Broadcasting
(‘‘DVB’’) standardisation group both in the various working groups
and at the level of the DVB’s Steering Board, which gives us early
exposure to other emerging technologies.

Seasonality
Historically, DTH customer acquisitions have tended to be higher in
the first half of our fiscal year, which, as a result of us expensing the
cost of acquiring customers as incurred, has tended to provide a
modest weighting of profit towards the second half of the year.
There can be no assurance that these trends will continue in the
future.

Marketing
The principal types of marketing used by us to promote our
products and services are press (including both national and
regional newspapers and magazines), media inserts, door drops,
direct mailings, outdoor activity (such as billboards and bus backs),
on-air advertising on both national and regional radio and
television channels (on both promotional and commercial airtime),
outbound calling, online advertising on both third party websites
and on sky.com, advertising in our customer magazine, point of sale
advertising in retail outlets which sell our products and services
and Sky retail stores.

Advertising and sponsorship
In fiscal 2010, we derived £319 million of our revenue from
advertising sales and sponsorship (2009: £308 million).

We sell advertising for all of the Sky Channels (as well as for their
multiplexes) around all programmes broadcast on these channels.
We also act as the advertising sales representative for certain third
party channels. We sell advertising time across all of the Sky
Channels and third party channels represented by us, and tailor
distribution according to the target audience an advertiser is trying
to reach. We also sell advertising on-line.

Competition
Sky is a channel provider, a distributor of television services and a
DTH (satellite) platform service provider. Sky also offers broadband
and telephony services, as well as a range of other services
including variants of video on demand (VOD) via the set-top box

and online, games via both interactive TV and the internet, and
betting and gaming services via TV, telephone and the internet.

Sky competes with a number of communications and
entertainment companies to secure a supply of content, for
audiences for that content, for advertising sales and for customers
to its DTH and other related services, broadband and telephony
services (see “Principal Risks and Uncertainties” below). This
competitive set can be categorised as follows:
• competition from other video distributors and video distribution

channels;

• competition from broadband and telephony (fixed and mobile)

providers;

• competition from other television channels; and
• competition from sellers of advertising air time.

In recent years, large parts of telecoms network infrastructure have
been upgraded from circuit-switched networks to packet-switched
(‘‘IP’’) networks. These IP networks are able to carry video content in
addition to voice and other data and, together with the
digitalization of content, have facilitated a convergence between
media and telecoms companies.

This technical convergence has also increased the propensity for
companies to offer a bundle of services to customers (typically, a
‘‘triple play’’ of broadband access, telephony and video content) as
they seek to make efficient use of their networks.

Technology and infrastructure
We control access to some DTH channels through the use of a
conditional access system, VideoGuard (see ‘‘Encryption of digital
services’’ below). The satellite reception equipment provided to
DTH customers is owned by them, except for certain aspects such
as the smartcard (a credit card size plastic card containing a chip
that provides conditional access functionality), some of the
software in all set-top boxes and a proportion of the hard drive
capacity in some of the Sky+ PVRs and Sky+HD PVRs.

The Group completed its acquisition of Amstrad in fiscal 2008.
Amstrad designs, develops and sells standard definition and high
definition set-top boxes and PVR set-top boxes and has been a
major supplier to the Group for a number of years.

Our set-top boxes use an EPG which has been and continues to be
developed for us by NDS Limited (‘‘NDS’’) and an operating system
which we license from OpenTV, Inc. (‘‘OpenTV’’). The OpenTV
operating system provides a virtual machine interface which
enables applications to be authored once, yet still be capable of
running on all our different types of DTH set-top box once the
application is downloaded to the set-top box. This simplifies the
development of applications for the set-top box and ensures
universal availability of services to all DTH set-top boxes. The
operating system in each set-top box is licensed upon payment of
a per set-top box royalty by the set-top box manufacturer to
OpenTV.

Later this calendar year we will deploy a new operating system into
our HD capable set-top boxes. This operating system has been
developed in conjunction with NDS under the project name Darwin,
and will support the launch of the Sky Anytime+ (VOD) service, as
well as providing a significantly more flexible platform for the
development of additional new features and functionality. 

14

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

Encryption of digital services
VideoGuard is a conditional access technology which can be used
to encrypt and decrypt digital television and audio services. We use
it to control DTH viewers’ access to encrypted satellite non-
subscription channels and encrypted digital pay and pay-per-view
television and audio channels broadcast on digital satellite for
reception in the UK and/or Ireland.

We use the VideoGuard technology and distribute smartcards in
the UK and Ireland under an agreement with NDS. NDS supplies
smartcards and undertakes ongoing security development and
other support services in return for the payment of fees by us.

In conjunction with NDS, we maintain a policy of refining and
updating the VideoGuard technology in order to restrict
unauthorised DTH reception of our services. We take appropriate
measures to counter unauthorised reception, including the
implementation of over-the-air countermeasures altering
authorised smartcards in a manner which then renders counterfeit
smartcards obsolete and seeking legal remedies, both civil and
criminal, reasonably available to us.

The second routine replacement of digital smartcards since our
digital launch in 1998 was successfully completed earlier this year.
The new smartcards deployed include various additional counter-
piracy measures which provide us with an improved capability to
counteract attempts to hack our system.

We seek to work with cable operators in the UK to investigate the
use of any cable piracy devices. We believe that we have suffered a
loss of wholesale cable revenue as a result of the availability of
cable piracy devices (in relation to both analogue and digital cable
television services). We are unable to quantify this loss, including
whether or not such loss is material. We have not (to date) invoiced
any cable operator in respect of such lost cable revenue and such
lost revenue has not been recognised within our consolidated
financial statements.

We distribute our channels to cable operators via satellite. To
enable reception of the satellite signal, a smartcard is located at
the site of the cable operator’s feed into its cable transmission
system, permitting decryption of the signal, which the operator in
turn distributes to those of its subscribers (often reencrypted)
who are authorised and equipped to receive the service.

Encryption of channels retailed by third parties
Any potential DTH broadcaster wishing to operate and
independently retail an encrypted television service within the UK
and Ireland must either acquire an alternative encryption and
conditional access technology from someone other than us, and
build its own decoder base capable of receiving transmissions
encrypted using that technology, or, in respect of digital services,
contract with us for conditional access services in respect of access
to the installed VideoGuard decoder base.

In addition to providing broadcast conditional access services, both
for our own DTH offerings and those of third parties, we provide
digital access control services for interactive services produced by
us and others, including using a telephone return path to carry out
transactions between suppliers and viewers. These broadcast
conditional access and access control services are regulated by
Ofcom and require the Group to provide these services upon
request and on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms. The

Group is also required to provide electronic programme guide
(“EPG”) services to broadcasters on fair, reasonable and non-
discriminatory terms.

Satellites
We contract with SES Astra for the majority of capacity on the
satellite transponders that we use for digital transmissions for
reception by both DTH viewers and cable operators. SES Astra is
100% owned by SES, a Luxembourg company listed on the
Luxembourg Stock Exchange and Euronext Paris. We consider that
this arrangement with SES Astra, which is discussed below in
further detail, is essential to the business of the Group within the
meaning of section 417(5)(c) of the Companies Act 2006.

For the transmission of our DTH service, we have contracted for
capacity on 31 transponders from SES Astra on SES satellites Astra
2A, 2B and 2D. We have also contracted, via an agreement with
Arqiva, for capacity on four transponders on the Eurobird satellite,
which is owned and operated by Eutelsat. In June 2009, we signed
a long term transponder arrangement with SES Astra which covers
the renewal of the arrangements on 24 of our transponders. The
new transponder agreements have expiry dates between 2019 and
2025 and thus provide long term security for the platform. As part
of this arrangement we also entered into an inter-satellite back-up
transponder agreement which provides protection for all of our
transponders in the event of transponder or satellite failures.

In addition to using some of the transponder capacity that we have
contracted to broadcast Sky Channels, some of our transponder
capacity (and in some cases all of the capacity on a particular
transponder) is sub-contracted to third parties for the
transmission of other channels or services, including certain of the
Sky Distributed Channels.

We have been designated a ‘‘non pre-emptible customer’’ under
each of our transponder agreements. This means that, in the event
of satellite or transponder malfunction, our use of these
transponders cannot be suspended or terminated by SES Astra or
Eutelsat in favour of another broadcaster with pre-emption rights
in preference to us.

We have also put in place disaster recovery plans in the event that
we experience any significant disruption of our transponder
capacity. To date, we have not experienced any such significant
disruption. However, the operation of both the Astra and Eutelsat
satellites is outside our control and a disruption of transmissions
could have a material adverse effect on our business, depending on
the number of transponders affected and the duration of the
disruption.

Our transponder agreements with SES Astra provide that our rights
are subject to termination by SES Astra in the event that SES
Astra’s franchise is withdrawn by the Luxembourg government.

Capital expenditure programme
We continue to invest consistently in capital expenditure required
to support our growth strategies. Total capital expenditure for the
Group was £455 million in 2010. This included £341 million invested
in core services; information systems infrastructure; broadcast
infrastructure; broadband and telephony infrastructure; new
product development; and investments relating to customer
service improvements. In addition, £114 million was invested in new
property and property improvements including £57 million for the

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT – BUSINESS REVIEW
continued

Review of the business
continued

purchase of freehold land adjacent to the Osterley site which was
subsequently let back to the current occupant in the short term.

In November 2007, the Group began construction work on a
building to house studios, production and technical facilities as well
as office space in Osterley, Middlesex. The project will be financed
from existing cash balances for the foreseeable future although the
Group may sell and leaseback the property and its freehold in the
future. During the period to 30 June 2010, total expenditure on the
construction element of this project was £31 million, which is
included within the total estimated construction cost of around
£156 million. The Group’s capital expenditure in respect of the
technical fit out was £14 million, with a further £63 million
expected, taking the total technical fit out expenditure to
£77 million. The facility is due to enter service in calendar year 2011
and will allow the Group to benefit from efficiencies by moving to a
wholly digital production environment.

As is common with capital expenditure projects of this scale, there
are risks that they may not be implemented as envisaged; or that
they may not be completed either within the proposed timescale or
budget; or that the anticipated business benefits of the projects
may not be fully achieved.

The customer management centres and Sky In-Home
Service Limited
Our customer management centres are based in Scotland,
Stockport and Leeds. The centres’ functions include the handling of
orders from customers, the establishment and maintenance of
customer accounts, invoicing and revenue collection, telemarketing
and customer service. These functions permit the centres to play a
key role in both customer acquisition and customer retention. We
provide customer management services for the Sky Channels and
the Sky Distributed Channels. We also deliver customer services for
both our own, and certain third party, interactive television
services, our telephony services, our broadband services and our
video-streaming services.

The customer management centres also provide nationwide
installation and servicing of digital satellite reception equipment
directly in customer homes. The Group also provides an aftercare
service to the DTH customer base in relation to digital satellite
reception equipment which is both in, and out of, warranty.

Playout and uplink facilities
Our uplinking facilities, located in southern England, provide
uplinking capacity for our digital services to the Astra 2A, 2B and 2D
satellites as well as Eutelsat’s Eurobird 1 satellite.

Our television channels are distributed from two sites with each of
the sites providing backup service for the other. The Osterley
sourced channels are fed to the uplink sites using a fibre link, which
is backed up by a diversely routed secondary link in the case of any
malfunction in the primary fibre route. This route passes through
the other facility so that, in the case of one facility being
unavailable, the services can be uplinked directly from the other
facility.

For those third parties to whom we sub-contract transponder
capacity, we usually have agreements in place to provide uplinking
facilities as well.

Minority equity investments
ITV
On 17 November 2006, the Group acquired 696 million shares in ITV
plc (‘‘ITV’’) representing 17.9% of the issued share capital of ITV, at a
price of 135 pence per share. The total consideration paid
amounted to £946 million, and was funded by the Group’s existing
cash balances and its previously undrawn revolving credit facility.
This investment has been subject to an in-depth review by the CC
the outcome of which, Sky appealed to the Court of Appeal (“CoA”).
On 21 January 2010 the CoA delivered its judgment upholding the
Secretary of State’s decision requiring Sky to divest its
shareholding in ITV to below 7.5%. 

On 9 February 2009 the Group announced that it had successfully
placed a shareholding of approximately 10.4% in ITV plc in
accordance with the final undertakings given by Sky to the
Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills relating to
Sky’s investment in ITV. The placing by Sky of 404,362,095 ITV
shares with Morgan Stanley Securities Limited at 48.50p per ITV
share resulted in aggregate consideration of approximately £196
million. The Group has confirmed that it intends to retain its
residual investment in ITV of just under 7.5% for the medium term
and to remain a committed shareholder of ITV (see also “Directors
Report – Financial Review – Financial and Operating Review”).

Significant agreements
The Companies Act 2006 requires us to disclose the following
significant agreements that take effect, alter or terminate on a
change of control of the Company:

Premier League
In 2009, British Sky Broadcasting Limited (a group subsidiary)
entered into an agreement (the “PL Licence”) with The Premier
League Limited (the “PL”), pursuant to which the Group was
awarded five of six available packages of live audio-visual rights for
Premier League football (the six packages are together the “Live
Packages”).

The PL will not award all of the Live Packages to a single licensee
(either on its own or as part of a consortium or through one or
more of its related parties) (the “Single Buyer Rule”).

Pursuant to the PL Licence, the PL can suspend and/or terminate
all of the rights which are included in, or exercisable as part of, one
of the six available Live Packages in the event that a change of
control of the Company occurs at any time prior to the expiry of the
PL Licence which, if it had occurred prior to the award of the Live
Packages to the Group, would have resulted in a breach of the
Single Buyer Rule.

Revolving Credit Facility
The £1 billion revolving credit facility agreement entered into on
3 November 2004 was voluntarily reduced by the Company to
£750 million in April 2010. This facility was cancelled in June 2010.

On 19 June 2009, the Company entered into a £750 million forward
starting syndicated credit facility available for drawing from 30 July

16

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

2010 and expiring on 31 July 2012. This forward starting facility was
amended in June 2010. The facility was extended by one year to
31 July 2013 and the start date brought forward to June 2010.

There are two opportunities to request an extension of one further
year to the RCF, at the lenders’ discretion, with a potential final
maturity of July 2015.

The lenders can require any amounts outstanding under the
revolving credit facility to be repaid in the event of a change of
control of the Company (other than in the event that News
Corporation or any subsidiary or holding company thereof acquires
such control).

News Corporation voting agreement
On 21 September 2005, the Company, BSkyB Holdco Inc., News UK
Nominees Limited and News Corporation entered into a voting
agreement, pursuant to which News UK Nominees Limited’s voting
rights at any general meeting are capped at 37.19% (the ‘‘Voting
Agreement’’). The provisions of the Voting Agreement cease to
apply inter alia, on a change of control of the Company.

EMTN bond issue
On 3 April 2007, the Group established a Euro medium term note
programme (the ‘‘EMTN Programme’’) which provides the Group
with a standardised documentation platform to allow for senior
debt issuance in the Eurobond markets. The maximum potential
issuance under the EMTN Programme is £1 billion.

On 14 May 2007, the Company issued Eurobonds consisting of
£300 million guaranteed notes paying 6.000% interest and
maturing on 14 May 2027 (the ‘‘Notes’’). The Notes were issued
under the Group’s EMTN Programme.

Pursuant to the final terms attaching to the Notes, a holder of the
Notes has the option to require the Company to redeem or (at the
Company’s option) purchase its Notes at its principal amount plus
interest for the relevant period if there is a change of control of the
Company (i) which within 90 days of the change of control, if the
Notes carry an investment grade credit rating, results in a
downgrade to a non-investment grade rating or a withdrawal of
that rating; or (ii) where, if the Notes carry a non-investment grade
rating, results in a downgrade by one or more notches or a
withdrawal of that non-investment grade rating; or (iii) where, if the
Notes do not carry a credit rating, the Company does not seek such
a rating or is unable to achieve such a rating, provided that in each
case, the change of control is cited by the ratings agencies as being
the rationale for the downgrade.

February 2008 and November 2008 bond issues
In February 2008, the Group entered into an indenture in respect of
US$750 million 6.10% senior unsecured notes due 2018.

In November 2008, the Group entered into an indenture in respect
of US$600 million 9.5% senior unsecured notes due 2018.

Pursuant to the final terms attaching to the securities, a holder of
the securities has the option to require the Company to redeem or
purchase its securities at a price equal to 101% of their principal
amount plus accrued and unpaid interest up to the date of
repurchase, if there is a change of control of the Company (i) which,
if the securities carry an investment grade credit rating, results in a
downgrade to a non-investment grade rating or a withdrawal of
that rating; or (ii) which, within 90 days of the change of control, if

the securities carry a non-investment grade rating, results in a
downgrade by one or more notches or a withdrawal of that non-
investment grade rating; or (iii) where if the securities do not carry
a credit rating, the Company does not seek such a rating or is
unable to achieve such a rating, provided that in each case, the
change of control is cited by the ratings agencies as being the
rationale for the downgrade.

UK broadcasting licences
The Group is party to a number of Ofcom broadcasting licences for
the broadcast of the Sky Channels.

The Broadcasting Act 1990 (as amended by the Broadcasting Act
1996 and the Communications Act) lays down a number of
restrictions on those parties permitted to hold Ofcom
broadcasting licences. Among those restricted from holding Ofcom
broadcasting licences or from controlling a licensed company are
(a) local authorities, (b) political bodies, (c) religious bodies, (d) any
company controlled by any of the previous categories or by their
officers or associates, (e) advertising agencies or any company
controlled by such an agency or in which it holds more than a 5%
interest.

Licensees are obliged to comply with these ownership restrictions.
Failure by a licensee to do so (either by the licensee becoming a
‘‘disqualified person’’ or any change affecting the nature,
characteristics or control of the licensee which would have
precluded the original grant of the licence) may constitute a breach
of the licence and, if not rectified, could result in revocation of the
licence.

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ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

17

 
 
 
 
 
 
DIRECTORS’ REPORT – BUSINESS REVIEW
continued

Corporate responsibility
The Bigger Picture is part of Sky’s approach to ensuring that we are
being a responsible company, and doing the right thing for all of
Sky’s stakeholders – including our customers, people, suppliers, and
the society in which we live and work. The following principles set
out the way in which we will do this, and are designed to provide a
framework for our activities in the UK and Ireland and our
operations.

We will:

1. On a day-to-day basis, operate our business in a responsible
manner, and strive to do the right thing for every part of Sky
stakeholders, based on our understanding of their needs and
expectations.

2. Work to foster a culture of doing the right thing and taking

responsibility throughout our business so that our people will
know how to act in a way that reflects these principles.

3. Create an environment where consumers can trust our products
and services; and where they have the ability to consume them
with minimum risk.

4. Play our part in contributing positively to issues in society where
Sky believes we have a unique opportunity to make a difference,
and look for ways to enable our customers and people an
opportunity to join in with our efforts.

We have a formal committee of the Board, the Bigger Picture
Committee, which manages our approach, provides leadership and
helps to drive corporate responsibility practices throughout the
business. This committee meets twice a year and is chaired by
Dame Gail Rebuck, one of our independent directors. Its
composition and terms of reference are detailed on page 39.

We have created a high level Environment Steering Group (ESG) to
lead our activity on screen and behind the scenes. This group,
chaired by our Chief Executive Jeremy Darroch, meets regularly to
set challenging targets and drive progress against them. As a result
of the ESG’s work, we have set up a ten point plan to minimise our
carbon impacts across every area of our business. We also have
separate Arts and Cycling steering groups, and other groups are in
place to oversee health and safety and human resources policies.

The Bigger Picture team manages our day-to-day work in this area,
collaborating with colleagues across Sky to deliver our environment,
sport and arts initiatives, and ensuring our commitment to doing
the right thing is understood and fulfilled throughout the business.

To make sure we’re focusing on the right things, we ensure that our
customers, employees and other stakeholders have plenty of
opportunity to share their views. Our employees can communicate
their views on corporate responsibility via the Sky Forum of elected
Sky employees and through the regular Sky People Survey. We
continually seek feedback from customers about our products and
services and our Bigger Picture activities, using tools like customer
satisfaction surveys and focus groups. To help us identify specific
sector issues where we need to take responsibility, we also take
part in a number of forums including the Media CSR Forum, the
Corporate Responsibility Group and Business in the Community. In
addition, over the last year, Sky has undertaken a series of
interviews across the Group to identify issues which has led to the
development of a corporate responsibility risk register. This register

helps us to keep track of sustainability issues across the business
and develop plans to address key risks in the future.

Sky is a member of the FTSE4Good Index, the Dow Jones
Sustainability Index, the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations
list, and has achieved a ‘Platinum’ status in the Business in the
Community Corporate Responsibility Index. Sky takes part in the
Carbon Disclosure Project (“CDP”) which assesses companies for
potential risks and opportunities relating to climate change.

Sky produces an annual Bigger Picture Review which provides full
details of all corporate responsibility activities. The online review
can be found at www.sky.com/biggerpicturereview2010.

Responsibility
As a business, we have a responsibility to our shareholders and
employees to continue to grow and to thrive over the long term. We
also have a responsibility to deliver great products and services to
our customers; to provide them with the tools to use our products
and services responsibly and safely; to make these accessible and
useable for everyone, and make sure these are sourced and
delivered in a responsible and ethical manner.

Sky has pioneered market-leading parental control technology for
our television platform, allowing parents to protect their children
from material they consider inappropriate. Features include filters
to prevent the viewing of selected programmes, the ability to
restrict access to specific channels, complete removal of the adult
channels from the listings screen, monitoring of spend on Sky Box
Office and online and PIN controlled access to classified films
broadcast during the day.

We provide all Sky broadband customers with free parental controls
for life for their internet connection through McAfee, our internet
safety and security partner, as well as offering market-leading
parental tools which monitor instant messaging and chat rooms for
potentially dangerous behaviours. We have worked with Childnet
International, a charity focused on keeping children safe online, to
ensure we are providing the best information for customers on how
to use the internet safely, and we provide a number of Childnet’s
short films on our website, covering issues such as social
networking and blogging, for parents to download. Sky is an active
member of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety.

Sky takes seriously the need to provide its services in a way that
encourages responsible gambling. All of the Sky Betting and Gaming
team receives regular training to ensure that they are equipped
with the right knowledge and skills to meet our regulatory and
social commitments. We have worked hard to ensure that Sky Bet,
Sky Vegas, Sky Poker and Sky Bingo have all been awarded a seal of
approval from GamCare, an organisation that promotes responsible
gambling, in recognition of the importance we place on delivering
the highest industry-recognised standards for customer
protection.

We have had a dedicated accessible customer service team for
disabled or vulnerable customers since 2003. On average during
2009/10, our team of over 100 people took around 5,000 calls each
week. We created an online Accessibility tool in October 2009,
which provides additional support to customers with visual, hearing
and mobility impairments. We continue to exceed all Ofcom
requirements for subtitling, audio description and sign
interpretation, and continue to provide a minimum of 20% of
programming supported with audio description, which is above the

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Ofcom requirement of 10%, with the exception of Sky Sports 1 and
Sky News. With regards to the new Ofcom requirement for sign
presented programming, Sky helped establish the British Sign
Language Broadcasting Trust (“BSLBT”), which has been created, by
Ofcom, as an acceptable alternative to delivering sign presented
programming on low audience channels. This means Sky only
provides signing on one of the 20 channels we own, Sky Sports 1, as
all of our other channels are exempt.

In April 2009 our accessible remote control was awarded the Age
OK accreditation from Help the Aged and Age Concern. The Sky
remote was the first product in the UK to gain this accreditation,
recognising products that have been designed with the needs of
older people in mind. The accessible remote is provided free of
charge to any customer who would benefit from it.

Sky’s Responsible Sourcing Principles ensure our products are
manufactured by our suppliers in a safe, ethical and
environmentally aware manner. These principles explain what we
expect from our suppliers and cover areas such as their
environmental management and labour practices. The Group
adopted the Prompt Payment Code, devised by the government
with The Institute of Credit Management (ICM). Signatories of the
code commit to pay suppliers on time, give clear guidance to
suppliers on payment procedures and terms and to encourage
adoption of the code throughout their supply chain.

Our responsibility also addresses corporate responsibility issues on
screen through our programmes. If our ambition is to be the UK and
Ireland’s first choice for entertainment and communications, then
we must have adequate measures in place to ensure we have the
quality and choice in our programming that attracts people, along
with the value and flexibility of our packages.

Through our programming, we aim to provide:
• Something for everyone: there are more than 500 channels on
the Sky platform, covering entertainment, documentaries,
movies, children’s programmes, the arts, sports and religion.
• Breaking news: Sky News was Europe’s first dedicated 24 hour

news channel. We now have 16 news channels on the Sky
platform bringing information and analysis from around the
world.

• Coverage of issues: we pride ourselves on the breadth and
quality of our documentaries, which bring some of the most
important issues to audiences in an accessible and engaging
way.

• The highest programme standards: we apply high standards to

everything we broadcast on Sky channels. Whether it’s a
commissioned programme, live broadcast or a completed
programme we’ve purchased, we seek to ensure it meets the
expectations of our audience and complies with the Ofcom
Broadcasting Code.

• Responsible advertising: advertising carried on Sky channels is
checked and we seek to ensure it complies with the Television
Advertising Standards Code.

More information about our work across Responsibility can be
found in the Bigger Picture Review 2010,
www.sky.com/biggerpicturereview2010. Information about our
governance for data protection can be found on page 42.

Environment
Widespread recognition of the impacts of climate change has
changed the business landscape. There haven’t only been changes
in regulation – the expectations of our customers and our people
have changed too. They expect us to step up and take action on
the issues that matter to them, and climate change is now high on
their list of concerns. Minimising our environmental impact makes
sense to us and is key to our future business success – not only
does it help us to operate more efficiently and effectively, but it
shows our customers and our people that we listen to their
concerns and are prepared to act on them.

We have been focused on tackling climate change since 2005, and
our approach has been two-fold. First, we have been working to
reduce our own impact. In 2005, we measured our carbon footprint
and in 2006 became only the second FTSE100 company to become
carbon neutral. 

As part of measuring our impact, our environmental performance
data is independently assured by Environmental Resources
Management (“ERM”). We audit our carbon footprint data each
year, using the results to map out which areas to focus on to
achieve the greatest reduction in our emissions. Over a five year
period, between 2003/2004 to 2008/2009, we achieved an 11%
reduction in total net CO2 emissions - a great achievement,
meaning that we had met our target, to reduce net CO2 emissions
by 10% by 2010, a year early. The Environment Steering Group (ESG),
led by our Chief Executive Jeremy Darroch, then in October 2009
set the business ten stretching targets to minimise our most
significant environmental impacts, including a target to cut our
carbon footprint by 25% by 2020. Details of these targets and our
2009/10 performance against these targets can be found in the
Bigger Picture Review 2010 www.sky.com/biggerpicturereview2010. 

In addition, there are a number of environmental regulations that
apply to Sky’s business. Sky remains compliant with these
regulations and, where possible, seeks to show best practice by
going beyond the minimum requirements. We are also part of the
new Carbon Reductions Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme
(CRC) for our operations in the UK. Sky’s environmental reporting
year will be changed next year to be in line with the CRC reporting
year (i.e. April-March) and, as a result, performance data will be
included in the 2010/11 Annual Report.

Our products do not form part of our operational carbon footprint,
but we do want to help customers minimise their own impact in
their homes. As part of our Green Homes initiative, we continue to
provide a recycling service which offers Sky customers options to
have their electronic equipment such as Sky set-top boxes, VHS
players and DVD players recycled for free. This was extended to
include alkaline or zinc batteries. During 2009/2010, a total of 800
staff homes were insulated with loft and cavity wall insulation and
3,000 energy monitors were given away in an effort to help staff
reduce their impact at home.

As well as looking at how we as a business can reduce our impact,
as a media company reaching nearly 10 million homes, we also want
to inspire our customers to take action. In October 2009, in
partnership with WWF, we launched Sky Rainforest Rescue, an
ambitious initiative which will help to save 1 billion trees in the
Amazon rainforest. We can inspire action in part through our
programming, so in October 2009 and April 2010 we scheduled two

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT – BUSINESS REVIEW
continued

Corporate responsibility
continued

weeks of special environment and rainforest programming, the April
week coinciding with Earth Day. Programmes included the
acclaimed two-part documentary on Sky1, ‘Ross Kemp Battle for the
Amazon’, as well as Steve Jones in ‘Jones Boys’ Amazon Adventure’.
Also in April, Lily Allen visited Brazil to see first hand the damaging
effects of deforestation, with the aim of building awareness about
Sky Rainforest Rescue and helping to drive donations.

To help others take action, we have partnered with Global Action
Plan whose expertise lies in developing fun and practical ways to
fight climate change. We have been working with Global Action Plan
to develop projects for our customers and employees. We have
already broken our target of investing over £1 million in Global
Action Plan through cash donations, in-kind support and
fundraising activities. Our projects have included working with
Housing Associations to help make their housing and surrounding
areas greener; and the introduction of EcoTeams within Sky to help
people understand how they can tackle environmental impacts at
home. Some of our employees also support Global Action Plan’s
Appetite for Action project, which works with schools on
sustainability issues.

Further details on environmental initiatives are available in the
Bigger Picture Review 2010, www.sky.com/biggerpicturereview2010.

Sport
Sport has always been at the heart of what we do at Sky. Over the
past two decades, we’ve provided access to an unprecedented
depth and breadth of sports coverage. Our multi-billion pound
investment has helped British sport, from the grassroots to the
elite, to develop its talent and infrastructure. More investment
means better facilities, better training, better equipment, and a
better experience for players and viewers alike. We also want to
encourage participation in sport, help develop future talent and
encourage increased participation in sports by our customers and
our people. We are working towards these goals through three main
partnerships.

Sky is the principal partner of British Cycling and through this
partnership, Sky aims to get one million more people cycling on a
regular basis by 2013. We will work to ensure the sport benefits at
every level from grass roots through to the elite. At the elite end of
the spectrum, we have our own professional British road cycling
team, Team Sky. The team is managed by Great Britain Olympic
performance director, Dave Brailsford CBE, and aims to have the
first British winner of the Tour de France within five years. On the
ground, our Sky Ride programme goes from strength to strength.
Sky Ride is a series of mass participation events that the whole
family can enjoy, and takes place around the country. Last year, we
ran events in five cities with over 100,000 people taking part. As a
result, research shows that 298,000 adults were cycling more
frequently at the end of 2009 having been influenced by Sky’s
cycling activity, of which 92,000 became new ‘regular’ cyclists.

Sky Sports Living for Sport is an initiative which uses sport to
motivate and inspire 11-16 year olds. It is freely accessible to all
secondary and high schools in the UK. Over 1,000 schools have
registered and 25,000 young people have benefitted to date. As
each school progresses in their Sky Sports Living for Sport initiative,

we organise a mentoring visit from one of our team of past and
present sports stars. Our team of athlete mentors, led by
ambassador Darren Campbell, former Olympic Sprinter, have life
stories that highlight the highs and lows of being an athlete with
the ultimate aim of showing participants that anything is possible.
The initiative has been very successful with evaluation revealing
that over 75% of young people taking part showed improvements in
their attitude towards learning and over 70% of young people
taking part have showed increased self-confidence and improved
behaviour at school.

The Sky Sports ECB Coach Education Programme, in association
with England and Wales Cricket Board (“ECB”) is a scheme which is
designed to equip coaches with the necessary skills to deliver high
quality coaching programmes at all levels of the game. Participation
in grass roots cricket is increasing every year – 2009 saw a 15%
increase, following on from a 24% rise in 2008. Cricketers need
coaches, and our training programme is meeting that demand.
Since we launched the Sky Sports ECB Coach Education programme
in September 2006, the scheme has trained over 23,000
grassroots coaches, providing more coaching courses and helping
the ECB to deliver better quality coaching resources.

Arts
Our vision for the arts is simple – we want to bring more of the arts
to more people on screen, on stage, online and on the streets. We
know that many people are passionate about books, music, film,
theatre, opera, art and design - and we also know that many of
those people are our customers or potential customers. Whatever
their interest, we want our customers to have the opportunity to
explore it further. We make this possible by broadcasting more arts
programming than anyone else, and by supporting the arts off-
screen through a number of major partnerships.

We recognise that more people want to be able to enjoy the arts at
home. With 1.9 million viewers each month, Sky Arts’ reach has more
than doubled since July 2008. We broadcast 48 hours of arts
programming per day across four dedicated channels. Sky Arts 1
features contemporary arts programming, such as live rock
concerts, documentaries and films, and it is home of our flagship
programme, The Book Show, which this year aired each day from the
Hay Festival. 

Other highlights of our 2009-10 programming include Theatre Live!
which saw Sky Arts achieve what no other television channel has
successfully achieved – bringing live theatre back to television;
uninterrupted coverage of L’Elisir D’Amour at the Glyndebourne
Festival; and as well as broadcasting The Book Show, Sky Arts also
took its flagship music programme, Songbook, to the Hay Festival.

In March 2010, the Sky Arts channels were awarded the Innovation
Award by the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards, who regularly
feature our programmes in their picks of the week, as well as Best
Multichannel Programme for Sky Arts Theatre Live!, a series that
saw six highly successful authors make their debuts as playwrights
in summer 2009. Sky Arts was also highly commended in the
Broadcast Awards, and won Best Specialist Channel at the
Broadcast Digital Awards.

Our commitment to the arts does not end with the small screen.
We have a two year partnership with Artichoke, a creative company
which works with artists to create extraordinary events that take
place in public spaces across the UK. Artichoke’s ability to engage

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BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

people in the arts in new and unexpected ways reflects our own
commitment to bring more of the arts to more people. In 2009,
Antony Gormley was the artist who was commissioned for the
Fourth Plinth in London’s Trafalgar Square with his project ‘One and
Other’, in which 2,400 people spent an hour each on the plinth over
a period of 100 days. The project was the first in the 2009 Sky Arts
Artichoke Season, with Sky the main sponsor of the event. The
innovation and quality of our coverage of Antony Gormley’s One &
Other was also recognised with a BAFTA Television Award
nomination in the New Media category.

Once again we were the Broadcast Sponsor of the Hay Festival,
which brings together the world’s best writers, artists and
musicians along with around 100,000 festival goers for a unique
cultural experience. Our presence at the festival centres on our
specially constructed on site Sky Arts studio, from where we aim to
engage visitors in discussion and debate, and to provide a different
perspective on the arts. This year for the first time, we offered
behind the scenes tours of the Sky Arts studio, giving visitors the
opportunity to try out The Book Show presenter Mariella Frostrup’s
chair and read from the autocue. From the studio, nearly 23,000
festival goers were able to follow the Sky Arts Path to discover
different spaces around the festival, each offering a new creative
experience. The path led visitors back to the studio, where they
were able to contribute their thoughts and reflections to a
collective Sky Arts book.

Regional media partnerships help us to provide an important
platform for a diverse range of arts organisations across the UK
whilst also enabling us to create exclusive content for Sky Arts
viewers. We continue to produce the “Sky Arts at…” ten minute
documentaries, working with 24 partners ranging from the National
Theatre, The Art Fund Prize, Rankin Live, Pleasance Theatre Trust at
the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
Orchestra and Cork Jazz festival, enabling them to share their work
with the Sky Arts audience, as well as helping us to increase our
visibility in towns and cities across the UK.

Joining In
The Bigger Picture is about making a positive contribution to the
communities where our people and our customers live and work.
We work with our people, customers, suppliers and the wider
community to make sure we’re tackling the issues that matter and
that we’re doing it in the right way.

Sky People on full time, permanent contracts are entitled to 16
hours of paid volunteering time per year (subject to obtaining
approval from their line manager) and we provide opportunities for
volunteering by encouraging our people to use their talents to
make a positive contribution to the communities they live and work
in. Sky also offers avenues for fundraising which allow Sky People to
contribute financially to the charities of their choice, through tax-
free donations through their salaries, as well as Sky giving extra to
the money they raise as a thank you. We have made good progress
against our volunteering and payroll giving targets for all employees
on Sky’s payroll over the last year. Volunteering has gone from
4.78% to 18.63% in the period from June 2009 to July 2010 and
payroll giving averages around 3.75% for the same period. We are on
schedule to reach our volunteering target of 25% by the end of the
year and for at least 7% of our people to give to charities through
payroll giving in the same period.

Culture Connection is a programme to engage Sky People in the
arts. Support for the arts is one of the core pillars of our Bigger
Picture strategy, and we want to bring more of the arts to more of
our people as well as to our customers. Just under 2,000
employees have engaged with Culture Connection this year, by
winning a competition, taking part in an activity or submitting an
entry for a competition, for example by writing a poem to win a
weekend at Cork Jazz Festival. As part of our Rankin Live!
photography project, employees across Sky were asked to Shoot
Like Rankin. The five shortlisted entries won a trip to London and
had their portrait taken by Rankin, who also judged the winning
entries at The Truman Brewery.

Sky also provides help to schools through our initiatives across
environment, sport and arts, with programmes such as Sky Sports
Living for Sport and Global Action Plan’s Appetite for Action, which
enhance students’ lives, by helping them to improve their life skills
and raise their aspirations. 

We continue to hold the Business in the Community’s Community
Mark Award for the breadth and depth of our community
investment and the sustainability of the ‘Joining In’ programme.
This was awarded to us in July 2009 and runs for three years with a
yearly review to assess progress against public targets.

People
Organisation
In the past year, we have achieved a number of milestones in our
aim to make Sky a great place to work and we continue our efforts
to be an organisation that attracts and retains talented people. 

We have an unrelenting focus on recruiting and nurturing talent, so
we can build a strong team to deliver our customers the best
possible service.

The average number of full-time equivalent persons employed by
the Group during the year was 16,439, an increase of 1,517 from the
previous year, primarily as a result of increases in supply chain and
Sky retail services.

Talent Management
We believe that everyone who works for Sky should have the
opportunity to develop their potential to the maximum without
having to move elsewhere. This year we have further developed our
leadership development programme, with over 480 of our
managers and aspiring leaders attending courses.

We recently opened a Talent Hub – a training and recruitment
centre – at our Kirkton Campus in West Lothian designed to offer a
creative and inspiring learning environment, to help employees
deliver the best possible customer service.

Future Talent
We believe in attracting and nurturing fresh “future talent” into our
business and we offer a range of schemes to provide work
experience opportunities. We do this is through a broad range of
formal apprenticeships, graduate schemes, short and longer-term
work placements, as well as through our links with a number of
leading universities and educational partners. 

We currently offer 41 graduate placements in the following areas of
the business – marketing, finance, human resources, customer

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT – BUSINESS REVIEW
continued

People
continued

operations, supply chain and technology. For 2011 we will also be
recruiting graduates into Sky Betting and Gaming and Sky News. 

Sky also offers placements to second year undergraduates on
marketing “sandwich course” placements. This rotational scheme
offers exposure across all marketing disciplines including: brand,
marketing, business development and research areas. 

For school leavers we offer apprenticeships in our supply chain and
customer contact centres which includes training for a NVQ
(National Vocational Qualification) over a period of two years. The
scheme was launched in 2006, and so far over 200 apprentices
have been employed as a result of the scheme.

We are also in our second year of Sky’s Fast Forward scheme. The
scheme provides 16-18 year olds from seven local schools with an 11-
month placement in our entertainment and creative departments.

Sky offers a wealth of work experience opportunities and currently
runs over 200 work experience and scholarship programmes. 

Employee Engagement and Involvement
The Sky Forum has continued to evolve this year. The Sky Forum is a
team of about 80 employee representatives from across the
business, who meet several times a year to discuss a wide range of
business issues and to provide input that helps Sky continuously to
innovate and improve the way that we do things throughout the
business. 

This year the role of the Forum has evolved, to engage more
specifically in working through and resolving issues rather than just
bringing them to our attention, and we have had some great results
in a number of areas. 

We recognise that employees have many other responsibilities
beyond their work, and do what we can to help them manage their
priorities. This includes running an advisory website and 24-hour
advice hotline for employees and their families, giving access to
counsellors, financial management advice, information on eldercare
and childcare, and health risk assessments.

Diversity
Our commitment to diversity is not driven by meeting targets – it is
about having the right people for our business. 

In 2009, we introduced a new diversity strategy, with a view to
getting a better representation of women and people from Black
and Minority Ethnic groups in leadership and management
positions. 

It is still early days for the strategy, but there have been some
encouraging results particularly in terms of gender. We are now
seeing an improvement in the ratio of women included in senior
and leadership development programmes, and in the number of
women recruited/promoted into the most senior roles in the
company.

We believe that people with disabilities should have full and fair
consideration for all vacancies and promotions. Should an
employee become disabled during their employment with the
Company, where possible, we will actively re-train and adjust their
environment to allow them to maximise their potential.

Reward and Benefits
We recognise the importance of long service at Sky and truly value
the experience and knowledge that those who have been with us
for a number of years add to the business.  As part of our 20th
Anniversary celebrations, we introduced formal recognition for
those with 20 years, 15 years and 10 years continuous service.

Employees are encouraged to use the Company’s intranet portal to
keep up to date with information and developments that may
interest them such as new product launches, events and Company
announcements.

We’ve also launched a number of new online services, such as Sky
Benefits Extra, which offers our people discounts at over 1,500
retailers and an online pensions system to assist our people with
their retirement planning. 

Efficiency
We have implemented a number of change programmes this year
to deliver more of our people services through e-systems. These
programmes have improved efficiency, reduced costs and support
our environmental objectives. They include the delivery of payslips
on line, the transfer of employee records into an electronic filing
system, and online access for candidates from job application
through to joining Sky.

Recognition
Key to achieving our objectives as a great place to work is ensuring
our people are recognised for their outstanding contribution.

Each business and divisional area runs individual recognition
programmes to reflect their business and people achievements.

Health and Safety
The health and wellbeing of our employees is of utmost importance
to us. Every employee, whatever their position, needs to be
confident in their role and feel secure that the right procedures are
in place to protect them.

We try to take a holistic view of health and safety and to keeping
Sky a safe place to work, so while accident prevention and safety
training is essential, equally important is the long term wellbeing of
our employees.

Wellbeing
We support our people in keeping healthy, happy and productive by
taking a holistic approach to their wellbeing, providing access to
occupational health advice, support and facilities at all of our key
sites.

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BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

Principal risks and uncertainties
This section describes the principal risks and uncertainties that
could have a material adverse effect on the Group’s business,
financial condition, prospects, liquidity or results of operations.
These should be read in conjunction with our long-term operating
targets, which are set out in “Financial review – Financial and
operating review – Trends and other information”. Additional risks
and uncertainties of which we are not aware or which we currently
believe are immaterial may also adversely affect our business,
financial condition, prospects, liquidity or results of operations.

The Group’s business is heavily regulated and changes in
regulations, changes in interpretation of existing regulations or
failure to obtain required regulatory approvals or licences could
adversely affect the Group’s ability to operate or compete
effectively.

The Group is subject to regulation primarily under UK and European
Union legislation and it is currently and may be in the future subject
to proceedings, and/or investigation and enquiries from regulatory
authorities. The regimes which affect the Group’s business include
broadcasting, telecommunications, competition (antitrust),
gambling and taxation laws and regulations. Relevant authorities
may introduce additional or new regulations applicable to the
Group’s business. The Group’s business and business prospects
could be adversely affected by the introduction of new laws,
policies or regulations or changes in the interpretation or
application of existing laws, policies and regulations. Changes in
regulations relating to one or more of licensing requirements,
access requirements, programming transmission and spectrum
specifications, consumer protection, taxation, or other aspects of
the Group’s business, or that of any of the Group’s competitors,
could have a material adverse effect on the Group’s business
and/or the results of its operations.

The Group cannot be certain that it will succeed in obtaining all
requisite approvals and licences in the future for its operations
without the imposition of restrictions which may have an adverse
consequence to the Group, or that compliance issues will not be
raised in respect of the Group’s operations, including those
conducted prior to the date of this filing.

On 31 March 2010, Ofcom published its decision to impose
wholesale must-offer obligations on Sky (the “WMO Obligations”)
for the channels Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports 2, Sky Sports 1 HD and Sky
Sports 2 HD (the “Channels”). This decision brings to an end
Ofcom’s three year Pay TV Investigation. In June 2010, Sky appealed
Ofcom’s decision to the Competition Appeal Tribunal (“CAT”).

The WMO Obligations require Sky, amongst other things, to offer, on
a wholesale basis, the Channels to third parties which satisfy
various minimum qualifying criteria (including financial, technical
and security criteria).

The WMO Obligation specifies maximum prices that Sky may charge
for Sky Sports 1 and/or Sky Sports 2. Those prices will be increased
in September 2010 when Sky raises its retail prices (under the WMO
Obligations, the wholesale price is linked to Sky’s retail price).

The WMO Obligations do not specify a maximum price for Sky
Sports 1 HD and/or Sky Sports 2 HD. Rather, Sky is required to offer
these channels on a fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory basis.

In April 2010, Sky applied to the Competition Appeal Tribunal
(“CAT”) for a suspension of the implementation of the WMO
Obligations. On 29 April 2010, Sky’s application was resolved by way
of an agreed Order from the President of the CAT. The terms of the
Order result in the suspension of certain aspects of Ofcom’s
decision pending the outcome of Sky‘s substantive appeal. In
summary, the effect of the Order is as follows:
• Sky is required to offer Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2 to each of

BT, Top Up TV and Virgin Media for distribution via Digital
Terrestrial TV and Virgin Media for distribution via cable. Other
parties may apply to the CAT to be added to the list of persons
to whom Sky is required to offer its channels.

• In the event that BT, Top Up TV or Virgin Media enter into a

distribution agreement for Sky Sports 1 and/or Sky Sports 2, the
distributor is required to pay Sky the equivalent of the maximum
price Sky may charge for the channel(s) under the WMO
Obligation. The difference between that price and the relevant
rate card price will be paid into escrow.

• At the conclusion of Sky’s appeal, the CAT will determine the

distribution of the monies held in escrow.

On 1 June 2010, Sky submitted its appeal against Ofcom’s decision
to impose the WMO Obligations, on the following grounds:
• Ofcom had no jurisdiction to adopt its decision under its sectoral

powers;

• Ofcom erred in finding that Sky acted on an incentive to withhold

supply of the Channels;

• Ofcom erred in its assessment of the impact and proportionality

of the WMO Obligations; and

• Ofcom acted unlawfully in imposing the WMO Obligations.
In March 2010 Ofcom stated that the Group’s premium movie
channels are not, at this stage, to be subject to wholesale must-
offer obligations. However, Ofcom is currently consulting on a
market investigation reference to the Competition Commission
(“CC”) in relation to various markets related to premium movies. In
its consultation, Ofcom stated that it has concerns about alleged
restricted exploitation of subscription video-on-demand movies.

The Group is not yet able to assess whether, or the extent to which,
these matters will have a material effect on the Group.

The Group operates in a highly competitive environment that is
subject to rapid change and it must continue to invest and adapt
to remain competitive.

The Group faces competition from a broad range of companies
engaged in communications and entertainment services, including
cable operators, DSL providers, service providers making use of new
fibre optic networks (“fibre”), other DTH providers, digital and
analogue terrestrial television providers, telecommunications
providers, internet service providers, home entertainment products
companies, betting and gaming companies, companies developing
new technologies, and other suppliers of news, information, sports
and entertainment, as well as other providers of interactive
services. The Group’s competitors increasingly include
communication and entertainment providers that are offering
services beyond those with which they have traditionally been
associated, either through engaging in new areas or by reason of
the convergence of the means of delivery of communication and
entertainment services. The Group’s competitors include

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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continued

Principal risks and uncertainties
continued

organisations which are publicly funded, in whole or in part, and
which fulfil a public service broadcasting mandate. A change to
such mandate could lead to an increase in the strength of
competition from these organisations. Although the Group has
continued to develop its services through technological innovation
and by licensing, acquiring and producing a broad range of content,
the Group cannot predict with certainty the changes that may
occur in the future which may affect the competitiveness of its
businesses. In particular, the means of delivering various of the
Group’s (and/or competing) services may be subject to rapid
technological change. The Group’s competitors’ positions may be
strengthened by an increase in the capacity of, or developments in,
the means of delivery which they use to provide their services or by
the imposition of regulation.

The Group’s advertising revenue depends on certain external
factors which include the overall value of advertising placed with
broadcasters by third party advertisers as well as the amount of
such advertising that is placed with the Group and the channels on
whose behalf the Group sells advertising space. The Group’s
advertising revenue is also impacted by the audience viewing share
of the Sky Channels and the other channels on whose behalf the
Group sells advertising and, accordingly, such revenue is affected by
the distribution of such channels. These factors will not always be
favourable to the Group and developments in those areas may
therefore have a negative impact on the Group’s advertising
revenue. Advertising revenue may also be dependent on the
viewing behaviour of the television audience. The Group cannot be
certain that its advertising revenue will not be impacted negatively
by this behaviour or that advertising revenue for Sky Channels
currently offered on other platforms will not be impacted negatively
in the future by the offering of video-on-demand services by other
operators.

The Group’s ability to compete successfully will depend on its ability
to continue to acquire, commission and produce programme
content that is attractive to its customers. The programme content
and third party programme services the Group has licensed from
others are subject to fixed term contracts which will expire or may
terminate early. The Group cannot be certain that programme
content or third party programme services (whether on a renewal
or otherwise) will be available to it at all or on acceptable financial
or other terms (including in relation to technical matters such as
encryption, territorial limitation and copy protection). Similarly, the
Group cannot be certain that such programme content or
programme services will be attractive to its customers, even if so
available. The future demand and speed of take up of the Group’s
DTH service, and the Group’s broadband and telephony services will
depend upon the Group’s ability to offer such services to its
customers at competitive prices, pressures from competing
services (which include both paid-for and free-to-air offerings), and
its ability to create demand for its products and to attract and
retain customers through a wide range of marketing activities. The
future demand and speed of take up of the Group’s services will
also depend upon the Group’s ability to package its content
attractively. The effect of the recent slowdown in the rate of
economic growth and the recent decline in consumer confidence on
the Group’s ability to continue to attract and retain customers is

uncertain. Therefore, the Group cannot be certain that the current
or future marketing and other activities it undertakes will succeed
in generating sufficient demand to achieve its operating targets.

The Group’s business is reliant on technology which is subject to
the risk of failure, change and development.

The Group is dependent upon satellites which are subject to
significant risks that may prevent or impair their commercial
operations, including defects, destruction or damage, and incorrect
orbital placement. If the Group, or other broadcasters who
broadcast channels on the Group’s DTH platform, were unable to
obtain sufficient satellite transponder capacity in the future, or the
Group’s contracts with satellite providers were terminated, this
would have a material adverse effect on the Group’s business and
results of operations. Similarly, loss of the transmissions from
satellites that are already operational, or failure of the Group’s
transmission systems or up linking facilities, could have a material
adverse effect on its business and operations. 

The Group is dependent on complex technologies in other parts of
its business, including its customer relationship management
systems, broadcast and conditional access systems, advertising
sales, email platform, supply chain management systems and its
telecommunications network infrastructure, including wide area
network, LLU, CISCO core IP network, Marconi/Alcatel optical
network and complex application servers.

In terms of the delivery of the Group’s broadcast services, the
Group is reliant on a third party telecommunications infrastructure
to distribute the content between its head offices at Isleworth and
its primary and secondary uplink sites at Chilworth and Fair Oak.

In addition, the Group’s network and other operational systems are
subject to several risks that are outside the Group’s control, such
as the risk of damage to software and hardware resulting from fire
and flood, power loss, natural disasters, and general transmission
failures caused by a number of additional factors.

Any failure of the Group’s technologies, network or other
operational systems or hardware or software that results in
significant interruptions to the Group’s operations could have a
material adverse effect on its business.

There is a large existing population of digital satellite reception
equipment used to receive the Group’s services, including set-top
boxes and ancillary equipment, in which the Group has made a
significant investment and which is owned by its customers (other
than the smartcards, the hard disk capacity in excess of personal
storage capacity and the software in the set-top boxes, to which
the Group retains title). Were a significant proportion of this
equipment to suffer failure, or were the equipment to be rendered
either redundant or obsolete by other technology or other
requirements or by the mandatory imposition of incompatible
technology, or should the Group need to or wish to upgrade
significantly the existing population of set-top boxes and/or
ancillary equipment with replacement equipment, this could have a
material adverse effect on the Group’s business.

The deployed set-top boxes contain finite memory resources that
are used by the operating system and other software components
such as the conditional access system, EPG, and interactive
applications. The Group estimates that around two million
deployed standard definition set-top boxes have significant

24

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

memory constraints and as such it has been necessary to close the
EPG launch queue to standard definition channels (the launch
queue reopened for high definition and 3D channels in March
2010). Previously, the Group has been able to carry out software
downloads from time to time to reconfigure the memory utilisation
in standard definition set-top boxes and to accommodate
additional and increasingly complex services. In the event that the
implementation of such software downloads is no longer a course
of action available to the Group, it may be limited in its ability to
upgrade the services available via the standard definition set-top
boxes currently installed in customers’ premises.

The Group is reliant on encryption and other technologies to
restrict unauthorised access to its services.

Direct DTH access to the Group’s services is restricted through a
combination of physical and logical access controls, including
smartcards which the Group provides to its individual DTH
customers. Unauthorised viewing and use of content may be
accomplished by counterfeiting the smartcards or otherwise
overcoming their security features. A significant increase in the
incidence of signal piracy could require the replacement of
smartcards sooner than otherwise planned. Although the Group
works with its technology suppliers to ensure that its encryption
and other protection technology is as resilient to hacking as
possible, there can be no assurance that it will not be compromised
in the future. The Group also relies upon the encryption or
equivalent technologies employed by the cable and other platform
operators for the protection of access to the services which the
Group makes available to them. Failure of encryption and other
protection technology could impact the Group’s revenue from
those operators and from its own customers.

The Group’s network and other operational systems rely on the
operation and efficiency of its computer systems. Although the
Group’s systems are protected by firewalls, there is a risk that its
business could be disrupted by hackers or viruses gaining access to
its systems. Any such disruption, and any resulting liability to the
Group’s customers, could have a material adverse effect on the
Group’s business.

Failure of key suppliers could affect the Group’s ability to operate
its business.

The Group relies on a consistent and effective supply chain to meet
its business plan commitments and to continue to maintain its
network and protect its services. A failure to meet the Group’s
requirements or delays in the development, manufacture or delivery
of products from suppliers, the discontinuance of products or
services, or a deterioration in support quality, could adversely
affect the Group’s ability to deliver its products and services. No
assurance can be given that a broad economic failure or decline in
quality of equipment suppliers in the industry in which the Group
operates will not occur. Any such occurrence could have a material
adverse effect on the Group’s business.

Sky Talk relies on telecommunications services from network
operator BT and failure on the part of BT to meet the Group’s
requirements for whatever reason may affect the Group’s ability to
deliver its telephony services to Sky Talk customers.

The Group uses a series of products from Openreach (a BT group
business) within its LLU operations. These are the colocation space
and associated facilities to house the central office equipment

(co-mingling), backhaul circuits to connect that equipment to the
Group’s network (backhaul extension services) and finally individual
copper lines that go between the central office equipment and the
end user’s house (metallic path facility lines). The Group purchases
these products from Openreach at regulated prices set, from time
to time, by Ofcom, and under terms and conditions outlined in
legally binding undertakings given by BT and accepted by Ofcom in
lieu of a market investigation reference to the CC following Ofcom’s
Strategic Review of Telecommunications (the “BT Undertakings”).
These stipulate that the Group buys these products on a fully
equivalent basis when compared to other operators (including
other parts of BT) who supply broadband, telephony and network
products and services. Outside of the Group’s LLU areas the Group
uses BT Wholesale’s IP stream “bitstream” product to provide
broadband connectivity to end users. Failure by either Openreach
or BT Wholesale in fact to provide its products to the Group on a
fully equivalent basis, or changes to regulated prices, could have a
material adverse effect on the Group’s business.

Openreach is deploying next generation access networks to some
UK households based on fibre. Openreach is required by Ofcom to
sell wholesale fibre access services on a fully equivalent basis.
However, the price of these services is not regulated by Ofcom.
Should a significant proportion of customers wish to buy fibre
based broadband in future, changes in the availability, price or
terms of these wholesale fibre access services could have a
material adverse effect on the Group’s business.

The Group undertakes significant capital expenditure projects,
including technology and property projects.

The Group is currently involved in capital expenditure projects
including infrastructure projects. As is common with such projects,
there is a risk that the Group’s capital expenditure projects may not
be completed as envisaged, either within the proposed timescales
or budgets, or that the anticipated business benefits of the
projects may not be fully achieved.

The Group, in common with other service providers that include
third party services which the Group retails, relies on intellectual
property and proprietary rights, including in respect of
programming content, which may not be adequately protected
under current laws or which may be subject to unauthorised use.

The Group’s services largely comprise content in which it owns, or
has licensed, the intellectual property rights, delivered through a
variety of media, including broadcast programming, interactive
television services and the internet. The Group relies on trademark,
copyright and other intellectual property laws to establish and
protect its rights over this content. However, the Group cannot be
certain that its rights will not be challenged, invalidated or
circumvented or that it will successfully renew its rights. Third
parties may be able to copy, infringe or otherwise profit from the
Group’s rights or content which it owns or licenses, without the
Group’s, or the rights holder’s, authorisation. These unauthorised
activities may be more easily facilitated by the internet. In addition,
the lack of internet-specific legislation relating to trademark and
copyright protection creates an additional challenge for the Group
in protecting its rights relating to its online businesses and other
digital technology rights.

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT – BUSINESS REVIEW
continued

Principal risks and uncertainties
continued

The Group generates wholesale revenue principally from one
customer.

The Group currently derives its wholesale revenue principally from
one customer, VM. Economic or market factors, regulatory
intervention, or a change in strategy relating to the distribution of
the Group’s channels, may adversely influence the Group’s
wholesale revenue and other revenue which the Group receives
from VM in connection with supply of the Sky Premium and Basic
Channels which may negatively affect the Group’s business.

The Group is subject to a number of medium and long-term
obligations.

The Group is party to a number of medium and long-term
agreements and other arrangements (including in respect of
programming and transmission, for example, its transponder
agreements) which impose financial and other obligations upon the
Group. If the Group is unable to perform any of its obligations
under these agreements and/or arrangements, it could have a
material adverse effect on the Group’s business.

26

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT – FINANCIAL REVIEW

Introduction
The following discussion and analysis is based on, and should be
read in conjunction with, the consolidated financial statements,
including the related notes, included within this Annual Report.
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in
accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB and as adopted by
the EU.

Overview and recent developments
During the current year, total revenue increased by 10% to
£5,912 million, compared to the year ended 30 June 2009 (“the
prior year”). Operating profit for the current year was £1,096 million,
resulting in an operating profit margin of 19%, compared to 15% in
the prior year. Profit for the year was £878 million, generating basic
earnings per share of 50.4 pence, compared to a profit of
£259 million and earnings per share of 14.9 pence in the prior year.

At 30 June 2010, the total number of DTH customers in the UK and
Ireland was 9,860,000, representing a net increase of 418,000
customers in the current year. At 30 June 2010, the total number of
Sky+HD customers was 2,939,000, representing 30% of total DTH
customers. This represents growth in Sky+HD customers of 124% in
the current year. The number of Multiroom customers also
continued to grow, increasing by 286,000 in the current year to
2,121,000; 22% penetration of total DTH customers. Cable
subscribers to the Group’s channels increased to 4,312,000
compared to 4,271,000 in the prior year.

DTH churn for the current year was 10.3% which is in line with the
prior year (2009: 10.3%).

Sky Broadband continues to grow strongly, increasing by 421,000
customers in the current year to 2,624,000. By the end of the
current year, we had unbundled 1,227 telephone exchanges
(representing 74% network coverage). The number of Sky Talk
customers reached 2,367,000, representing an increase of 517,000
in the current year. The number of Line Rental customers increased
by 769,000 in the current year to 1,686,000 of which approximately
883,000 customers are on Metallic Path Facilities (“MPF”).

Corporate
The Board of Directors is proposing a final dividend of 11.525 pence
per ordinary share, resulting in a total dividend for the year of 19.40
pence, representing growth of 10% over the prior year full year
dividend. The ex-dividend date will be 20 October 2010 and, subject
to shareholder approval at the Company’s Annual General Meeting
(“AGM”), the dividend will be paid on 12 November 2010 to
shareholders of record on 22 October 2010.

On 26 January 2010, the Technology and Construction Court
(“TCC”) gave judgment in the litigation between Electronic Data
Systems (“EDS”) and the Group. The litigation related to EDS’ former
role as a supplier to the Group as part of the Group’s customer
relationship management project. On 7 June 2010, EDS and the
Group fully and finally settled the litigation between them and all
related claims (including for damages, costs and interest) for a total
amount of £318 million.

the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills relating to
the Group’s investment in ITV. The placing by the Group of
404 million ITV shares at 48.5 pence per share resulted in
aggregate consideration of £196 million. A profit of £115 million was
realised on disposal being the excess of the consideration above
the impaired value of the shares. The Group continues to hold just
under 7.5% of ITV.

On 31 March 2010, Ofcom published a statement regarding the
outcome of its investigation into the UK pay TV industry. In its
statement it confirmed the imposition of wholesale must-offer
obligations on the Group under its sectoral powers in relation to
Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2. The Group has appealed Ofcom’s
decision (for further details see “Directors’ report – Business review
– Review of the business”).

On 30 April 2010, the Group announced its intention to delist its
American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) from the New York Stock
Exchange and to terminate its registration and reporting
obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
“Exchange Act”). Each ADS represents four Sky ordinary shares,
evidenced by American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). On 19 May
2010, the listing of the Company’s ADSs on the New York Stock
Exchange terminated and on 21 May 2010, the Company filed a
certification on Form 15F with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”) to terminate the registration of its ordinary
shares under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and to terminate its
reporting obligations under Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act. The Company’s SEC reporting obligations are suspended upon
the filing, and the terminations are expected to become effective
on or about 18 August 2010 (90 days after the filing of Form 15F).
The Company has maintained its ADR facility as a Level 1 ADR
programme. This means that the Company’s ADSs are traded on
the US over-the-counter market and are quoted on OTCQX. The
Company’s ordinary shares will continue to trade on the London
Stock Exchange.

On 4 June 2010, the Group reached an agreement with VM for the
acquisition of Virgin Media Television (“VMtv”) which completed on
12 July 2010, following regulatory approval in the Republic of Ireland.
In completing the acquisition, the Group paid VM initial
consideration of £105 million and an additional amount of up to
£55 million will be paid on receipt of UK regulatory approval. VMtv
has now been renamed the “Living TV Group”.

On 15 June 2010, News Corporation announced a proposal relating
to a possible offer for the entire issued share capital of the
Company not already owned by News Corporation (“the Proposal”).
The Company announced on the same date that the Proposal,
which is not a formal offer, is subject to regulatory and financing
pre-conditions, which add considerable uncertainty to when and
whether any formal offer could be made and that the Independent
Directors of the Company, who have been so advised by Morgan
Stanley and UBS Investment Bank, unanimously considered the
terms of the Proposal to undervalue significantly the Company. For
further details see note 30 of the consolidated financial
statements.

On 27 January 2010, Daniel Rimer was appointed as a member of
the Remuneration Committee.

On 16 June 2010 Nicholas Ferguson was appointed Deputy
Chairman of the Company.

On 8 February 2010, the Group placed a shareholding of 10.4% in
ITV in accordance with the final undertakings given by the Group to

On 19 June 2009, the Company entered into a £750 million forward
starting syndicated credit facility available for drawing from 30 July

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT – FINANCIAL REVIEW
continued

Introduction
continued

2010 and expiring on 31 July 2012. This forward starting facility was
amended in June 2010. The facility was extended by one year to
31 July 2013 and the start date brought forward to June 2010. At
the same time the existing facility was cancelled.

On 21 July 2010 the Group announced that it had reached an
agreement over the sale of its business-to-business
telecommunications operation, Easynet Global Services (“Easynet”),
to Lloyds TSB Development Capital (“LDC”). LDC will pay the Group
£100 million for the business on completion of the transaction,
subject to regulatory approval. The Group will retain the UK network
assets that it acquired as part of the original acquisition of Easynet
Group in 2005. As part of the sale, the Group and LDC will enter into
a long-term supply agreement to grant Easynet continued access
to the Group’s fibre network and Easynet will also continue to be a
key supplier to the Group.

Operating results
Revenue
Our revenue is principally derived from retail subscription, wholesale
fees, advertising on our wholly-owned channels, the provision of
services by Easynet and installation, hardware and servicing.

Our retail subscription revenue is a function of the number of DTH
customers (residential and commercial), the mix of services
provided and the rates charged. Revenue from the provision of pay-
per-view services, which include Sky Box Office, is included within
retail subscription or wholesale subscription revenue, as
appropriate. Retail subscription revenue also includes retail
broadband subscription and Sky Talk revenue.

Our wholesale subscription revenue, which is currently revenue
derived from the supply of Sky Channels to cable and Internet
Protocol Television (“IPTV”) platforms, is a function of the number of
subscribers on cable and IPTV operators’ platforms, the mix of
services taken by those subscribers and the rates charged to those
cable operators. We are currently a leading supplier of premium pay
television programming to cable operators in the UK and Ireland for
re-transmission to cable subscribers, although not all cable
operators carry all Sky Channels.

Our advertising revenue is mainly a function of the number of
commercial impacts, defined as individuals watching one thirty
second commercial on our wholly owned channels, together with
the quality of impacts delivered and overall advertising market
conditions. Advertising revenue also includes net commissions
earned by us from the sale of advertising on those third-party
channels for which we act as sales representative.

Easynet revenue is derived from the provision of services for public
and private sector customers in the UK, Europe, Asia and the US.
The services provided include managed network services, managed
hosting (including co-location, dedicated complex hosting and
managed security services) and managed virtual meetings via high
definition telepresence suites.

Installation, hardware and service revenue includes income from
set-top box sales and installation (including the sale of Sky+HD,
Sky+ and Multiroom set-top boxes, and broadband), service calls
and warranties.

Other revenue includes income from betting and gaming activities,
online advertising and mobile TV services as well as conditional
access, access control and electronic programme guide fees from
customers on the Sky digital platform.

Operating expense
Our operating expense arises from programming, direct networks,
transmission, technology and fixed networks, marketing, subscriber
management and supply chain and administration costs.

Programming costs include payment for: (i) licences of television
rights from certain US and European film licensors including the
results of foreign exchange programme hedges; (ii) the rights to
televise certain sporting events; (iii) other programming acquired
from third party licensors; (iv) the production and commissioning of
original programming; and (v) the rights to retail the Sky
Distributed Channels to DTH customers and Sky Player customers.
The methods used to amortise programming inventories are
described in section (v) of note 1 to the consolidated financial
statements “Critical accounting policies and the use of judgment”.

Under our current pay television agreements with the US major
movie studios, we generally pay a US dollar-denominated licence
fee per current movie, calculated on a per movie subscriber basis.
During the year, we managed our US dollar/pound sterling exchange
risk primarily by the purchase of forward foreign exchange
contracts and currency options (collars) for up to five years ahead
(see note 24 to the consolidated financial statements).

Under the DTH distribution agreements for the Sky Distributed
Channels, we generally pay a monthly fee per subscriber for each
channel, the fee in some cases being subject to periodic increases,
or we pay a fixed fee or no such fee at all. A number of our
distribution agreements are subject to minimum guarantees, which
are linked to the proportion of the total number of customers
receiving specific packages. Our costs for carriage of the Sky
Distributed Channels will (where a monthly per subscriber fee is
payable) continue to be dependent on changes in the subscriber
base, contractual rates, viewing performance and/or the number of
channels distributed.

Direct network costs include costs directly related to the supply of
broadband and telephony services to our consumer and business-
to-business customers. This includes call costs, monthly wholesale
access fees and other variable costs associated with our network. 

Transmission, technology and fixed network costs include costs
that are dependent upon the number and annual cost of the
satellite transponders that we use. Our transponder capacity is
primarily supplied by the SES Astra and Eutelsat Eurobird satellites.
Transmission, technology and network costs also include the costs
associated with transmission, uplink and telemetry facilities.

Marketing costs include: (i) above-the-line spend (which promotes
our brand and range of products and services generally); (ii) below-
the-line spend (which relates to the growth and maintenance of
the customer base, including commissions payable to retailers and
other agents for the sale of subscriptions and the costs of our own
direct marketing to our existing and potential customers); and
(iii) the cost of providing and installing digital satellite reception
equipment to customers in excess of the relevant amount actually
received from customers for such equipment and installation.

Subscriber management and supply chain costs include customer
management costs, supply chain costs and associated

28

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

depreciation. Customer management costs are those associated
with managing new and existing customers, including customer
handling and customer bad debt costs. Supply chain costs relate to
systems and infrastructure and the installation costs of satellite
reception equipment and installation costs of new products
purchased by customers such as Sky+HD, Sky+ and Multiroom set-
top boxes, including smartcard costs. Customer management costs
and supply chain costs are largely dependent on DTH customer
levels and additions to customers in the year.

Administration costs include depreciation, channel management,
facilities, other central operational overheads and the expense
recognised for awards granted under our employee share option
schemes.

For certain trend information related to our revenue and operating
expense, see the “Trends and other information” section below.

Financial and operating review
2010 fiscal year compared to 2009 fiscal year
Revenue
The Group’s revenue can be analysed as follows:

For the year to 30 June

Retail subscription
Wholesale subscription
Advertising
Easynet
Installation, hardware and service
Other

2010
£m

4,761
238
319
203
174
217

5,912

2009
£m

4,177
206
308
202
235
231

%

81
4
5
3
3
4

%

78
4
6
4
4
4

100

5,359

100

To provide a more relevant presentation, management has chosen
to re-analyse the revenue categories from those previously
reported. Easynet revenue is shown separately and other revenue
now principally includes income from Sky Bet, technical platform
service revenue and our online portal.

The increase of £584 million in retail subscription revenue in the
current year was driven by a 5% increase in the average number of
DTH customers and a 9% increase in average retail revenue per
customer, reflecting the strong take up of Sky+HD, continued
growth in the penetration of broadband and telephony and the
September television package price increase.

The total number of UK and Ireland DTH customers increased by
418,000 in the current year, to 9,860,000. This was as a result of
gross customer additions of 1,416,000 in the current year and DTH
churn of 10.3%. 

Wholesale subscription revenue increased by £32 million in the
current year to £238 million benefiting from the carriage of Sky
Basic Channels on the VM platform throughout the fiscal year. At
30 June 2010, there were 4,312,000 (30 June 2009: 4,271,000) UK
and Ireland cable subscribers to Sky Channels.

Advertising revenue increased by £11 million in the current year,
primarily as a result of growth in the UK advertising sector. 

Easynet revenue increased by £1 million in the current year with
continued growth in corporate customers in the global networks
division.

Installation, hardware and service revenue decreased by £61 million
in the current year, with the increase in Sky+HD additions more
than offset by the decision to lower the price of Sky+HD set-top
boxes.

Other revenue of £217 million decreased by £14 million in the
current year. This decrease was due to the absence of third-party
set-top box sales associated with the former Amstrad business
and the loss of conditional access fees from Setanta, partially
offset by increased revenues in Sky Bet.

Operating expense
The Group’s operating expense can be analysed as follows:

For the year to 30 June

Programming
Direct networks
Transmission, technology and fixed 
networks
Marketing
Subscriber management and supply chain
Administration

2010
£m

1,902
518

374
1,118
655
518

2009
£m

1,750
373

353
907
662
501

%

37
10

7
22
13
11

%

38
8

8
20
15
11

5,085

100

4,546

100

To provide a more relevant presentation, management has chosen
to analyse further the operating expense categories from those
previously reported and has split Transmission, technology and
network costs into Direct network costs and Transmission,
technology and fixed network costs.
The increase of £152 million in programming expense was due to
increased investment across most categories, partially offset by
rate savings in movies. Sports costs accounted for two thirds of the
year on year increase reflecting additional Champions League
rights, new deals including the US PGA Tour golf and renewals for
Rugby Super League and the Football League. Third party channel
costs were also higher year on year reflecting the new retail
relationship with ESPN as well as the launch of a further nine HD
channels during the year and the full year impact of launches in the
prior year. Entertainment and News spend increased slightly on the
comparative period with increased investment in more original
commissions. Increases were partially offset by lower movie costs
which benefited from improved terms on recent renewals from
some of the major studios.

Direct network costs increased by £145 million in the current year
as a result of incremental broadband and telephony network costs
due to the increasing numbers of customers.

Transmission, technology and fixed network costs increased by
£21 million in the current year, reflecting higher IT costs and an
increase in transponder costs as a result of a stronger Euro.

Marketing costs increased by £211 million in the current year. This
increase primarily reflects the strong demand for Sky+HD
throughout the period and our decision to accelerate the take up
of Sky+HD through a lower retail box price.

Subscriber management and supply chain costs decreased by
£7 million in the current year to £655 million, with savings achieved
through greater in-sourcing of set-top box design and manufacture,
offsetting the upfront cost of fulfilling demand for HD, the
completion of our mailing of 11 million replacement viewing cards,
and a higher volume of calls handled in relation to the roll-out of

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT – FINANCIAL REVIEW
continued

Investment income and finance costs
Investment income decreased by £32 million to £3 million in the
current year. This was primarily due to lower interest rates received
on cash deposits and lower cash balances following bond
redemptions in July 2009.

Finance costs reduced by £98 million to £122 million in the current
year, primarily due to lower average gross debt following bond
redemptions in 2009 and interest saved due to lower interest rates
on floating rate debt.

Finance costs included £13 million of non-cash fair value gains on
derivative financial instruments not qualifying for hedge
accounting and hedge ineffectiveness, an increase of £37 million on
the prior year (2009: loss of £24 million).

Profit on disposal of available-for-sale investment and
impairment of available-for-sale investment
On 17 November 2006, the Group acquired 696 million shares in ITV
amounting to 17.9% of its issued share capital. The investment in
ITV is carried at fair value. The fair value is determined with
reference to its equity share price at the balance sheet date. 
An impairment in the carrying value was first recorded at
31 December 2007, due to the significant and prolonged decline in
the equity share price. In accordance with IFRS, the Group has
continued to review that carrying value and recognised a cumulative
impairment loss of £807 million in fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2009. In line
with IFRS, all subsequent increases in the fair value of the ITV
investment above this impaired value have been recorded in the
available-for-sale reserve. At 25 June 2010, the last trading day of the
Group’s financial year, ITV’s closing equity share price was 53.5 pence.

On 8 February 2010, the Group placed a shareholding of 10.4% in ITV
in accordance with the final undertakings given by the Group to the
Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills relating to the
Group’s investment in ITV. The placing by the Group of 404 million
ITV shares at 48.5p per share resulted in aggregate consideration of
£196 million. A profit of £115 million was realised on disposal being
the excess of the consideration above the impaired value of the
shares. The Group continues to hold just under 7.5% of ITV.

Taxation
The total tax charge for the current year of £295 million (2009:
£197 million) comprises a current tax charge of £282 million (2009:
£201 million) and a deferred tax charge of £13 million (2009: credit
of £4 million). The higher tax charge in the current year primarily
results from increased profit, including the EDS receipt.

Profit for the year and earnings per share
Profit for the year was £878 million, compared to £259 million in the
prior year. The increase in profit was primarily due to an increase in
operating profit of £283 million, which included litigation
settlement income from EDS, a profit of £115 million on the part
disposal of our available-for-sale investment and a reduction in the
impairment charge in respect of this investment of £191 million,
partly offset by an increase in taxation of £98 million.

Financial and operating review
continued

both our line rental product and the launch of ESPN and ESPN HD
to Sky customers. Subscriber management and supply chain costs
also included a £5 million credit for the cancellation of accounts
payable on settlement of the claim against EDS.

Administration costs increased by £17 million in the current year.
Included within administration expense is £1 million (2009:
£3 million) of expense relating to the legal costs incurred to date on
the Group’s claim against EDS and £10 million (2009: nil) relating to
a restructuring exercise. Excluding these items, administration
costs are broadly in line with the prior year.

Total restructuring costs recognised in the year were £32 million
(2009: nil), of which £22 million related to the impairment of assets
associated with Picnic (the potential launch of a subscription
television service on DTT) and were recorded within subscriber
management costs and £10 million of which related to
reorganisation costs and redundancy payments and were included
within administration costs.

Litigation settlement income and investment income
on litigation settlement
On 26 January 2010, the Technology and Construction Court
(“TCC”) gave judgment in the litigation between EDS and the 
Group. The litigation related to EDS’ former role as a supplier to 
the Group as part of the Group’s customer relationship
management project.

On 7 June 2010, EDS and the Group fully and finally settled the
litigation between them and all related claims (including for
damages, costs and interest) for a total amount of £318 million.

The Group has recognised £49 million of these payments in
investment income on litigation settlement. This allocation was
based on the Group’s estimate of the TCC’s likely award of interest
on its lost cash flows since the end of EDS’ role as a supplier to the
Group in March 2002.

The balance of £269 million has been recognised in litigation
settlement income representing settlement for costs and
damages.

Operating profit and operating margin
Operating profit increased by 35% to £1,096 million in the current
year, primarily driven by litigation settlement income, strong growth
in retail subscriptions and cost efficiencies in our operating
expenditure. Operating margin (calculated as total revenue less all
operating expense as a percentage of total revenue) for the current
year was 19%, compared to 15% in the prior year.

Joint ventures and associates
Joint ventures are entities in which we hold a long-term interest
and share control under a contractual arrangement with other
parties. Our equity share of the net operating results from joint
ventures and associates increased by £13 million to £32 million in
the current year. This increase was primarily due to the growth of
NGC Network International LLC and NGC Network Latin America
LLC in which the Group has a 21% stake, and a £3 million receipt on
the closure of a joint venture.

30

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

The Group’s earnings per share are as follows:

Earnings per share from profit for the year
Basic
Diluted
Adjusted earnings per share from adjusted profit 
for the year
Basic
Diluted

2010
pence

2009
pence

50.4
50.1

31.1
30.9

14.9
14.8

25.9
25.7

In order to provide a measure of underlying performance,
management has chosen to present an adjusted profit for the year
which excludes items that may distort comparability. See note 10 of
the consolidated financial statements for a detailed reconciliation
between profit and adjusted profit for the year.

Earnings per share increased from 14.9 pence in the prior year to
50.4 pence in the current year. This increase was primarily a result
of litigation settlement income from EDS, a profit of £115 million on
the part disposal of our available-for-sale investment and a
reduction in the impairment charge in respect of this investment.
Adjusted earnings per share increased as a result of a higher
adjusted profit for the year.

Balance sheet
Property, plant and equipment and intangible assets increased by
£91 million to £1,235 million at 30 June 2010, due to £455 million of
additions in the year, offset by depreciation, amortisation and
impairment of £362 million.

Investments in joint ventures and associates increased by 
£14 million to £149 million at 30 June 2010, primarily due to the
revaluation of our interests in NGC Network International LLC and
NGC Network Latin America LLC due to foreign exchange movements.

Available-for-sale investments decreased by £79 million to
£182 million at 30 June 2010, primarily due to the partial disposal of
the Group’s investment in ITV, offset by the effect of the increase in
the equity share price of ITV.

Non-current derivative financial assets have increased by
£180 million to £382 million at 30 June 2010, due to mark-to-
market movements on derivative instruments. 

Current assets increased by £49 million to £1,986 million at 30 June
2010, predominantly due to a £148 million net increase in short-
term deposits and cash and cash equivalents, offset by a
£75 million decrease in trade and other receivables and a
£43 million decrease in inventory. The net increase in short-term
deposits and cash and cash equivalents is due to significant
receipts on the settlement of litigation with EDS and the part
disposal of the Group’s investment in ITV and net cash generated
from operating activities, offset by the repayment of the Group’s
current borrowings and payment of dividends. The decrease in
trade and other receivables is primarily a decrease in programme
prepayments due to the timing of upfront payments for multi-year
rights packages and settlement of the VAT debtor by overseas VAT
authorities. Inventories have decreased primarily as a result of
holding lower volumes of physical inventory and the amortisation
of programme rights in excess of additions.

Current liabilities decreased by £495 million to £1,699 million at
30 June 2010, predominantly due to the repayment in July 2009 of

the Group’s current borrowings, being the £100 million Guaranteed
Notes and the remaining amounts payable for the US$650 million
Guaranteed Notes.

Non-current liabilities increased by £106 million to £2,545 million at
30 June 2010, which is primarily due to an increase of £179 million in
the fair value of the Group’s non-current borrowings. The fair value
of the US dollar-denominated loans has increased as pounds
sterling have weakened against the dollar. This has been partially
offset by a £65 million decrease in non-current derivative financial
liabilities, due to mark-to-market movements on derivative
instruments.

Movements in the balance sheet value of derivative financial
instruments are taken to the income statement to offset
movements in the underlying related hedged items, which also
impact the income statement. Where the underlying hedged item is
not yet recognised, movements in the balance sheet value of the
derivative are taken to the hedging reserve, to the extent that
hedge accounting is achieved. Movements in the balance sheet
value of derivatives not qualifying for hedge accounting are taken
to the income statement.

Foreign exchange
For details of the impact of foreign currency fluctuations on our
financial position and performance, see note 24 to the
consolidated financial statements.

Contingent liabilities
On 7 May 2008, the Nomenclature Committee of the European
Commission issued an Explanatory Note “EN” (0590/2007) to the
Combined Nomenclature setting out their view that set-top boxes
with a hard drive should be classified under Customs Tariff heading
8521 90 00 and so subject to a 13.9% ad valorem duty on
importation to the EU. As a consequence the Group is exposed to
potential retrospective Customs Duty liability in respect of such
set-top boxes imported by Amstrad (acquired in September 2007)
and for the reimbursement of certain suppliers in line with the
terms of contractual supply agreements.

Management’s opinion is that the retrospective application of the
Explanatory Note would be wrong as a matter of law. In addition,
management considers that the adoption of the EN puts the EU in
breach of the Information Technology Agreement of 1996, a view
which is shared by the US, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan, who have
instigated WTO proceedings against the EU on this matter. The
Group therefore is, in common with other affected importers,
defending its position on this matter and consequently has lodged
an appeal to the VAT & Duties Tribunal regarding classification of
these products.

This matter has been referred by the Tribunal to the European
Court of Justice. The Group has also lodged an appeal with HMRC
against the assessment for retrospective duty.

As a result of the potential remedies available under the
Community Customs Code, the Group considers that it is probable
that no outflow of economic benefit would be required to discharge
this obligation, and that as such at 30 June 2010 any liability should
be considered contingent.

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT – FINANCIAL REVIEW
continued

Financial and operating review
continued

Liquidity and capital resources
An analysis of the movement in our net debt (including related
fees) is as follows:

As at
1 July
2009
£m

465
2,279
2,744

(107)
(811)
(90)
1,736

Cash Non-cash
move-
ments
£m

move-
ments
£m

(465)
(12)
(477)

(17)
162
(310)
(642)

–
191
191

(209)
–
–
(18)

As at
30 June
2010
£m

–
2,458
2,458

(333)
(649)
(400)
1,076

Current borrowings
Non-current borrowings
Debt

Borrowings-related derivative
financial instruments
Cash and cash equivalents
Short-term deposits
Net debt

The Group refers to net debt in discussing its indebtedness and
liquidity position. Net debt is a non-GAAP measure that
management uses to provide an assessment of the overall
indebtedness of the Group. The most similar IFRS GAAP measures
are current and non-current borrowings.

Management uses net debt to calculate and track adherence to
the Group’s borrowing covenants, as disclosed in note 22 to the
consolidated financial statements. Management monitors the
Group’s net debt position because net debt is a commonly used
measure in the investment analyst community and net debt is a key
metric used by Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s in their assessment
of the Group’s credit rating. As such, management makes decisions
about the appropriate investing and borrowing activities of the
Group by reference to, amongst other things, net debt.

Our long-term funding comes primarily from our issued equity and
US dollar and sterling-denominated debt. For details of the Group’s
facilities, long-term funding, indebtedness position and the terms
of material debt arrangements, including compliance with
borrowing covenants, see note 22 of the consolidated financial
statements. For details of the Group’s treasury activities, see
note 24 of the consolidated financial statements.

Our principal source of liquidity is cash generated from operations,
combined with access to a £750 million committed RCF, which
expires in July 2013. At 30 June 2010, this facility was undrawn
(30 June 2009: undrawn).

Cash flows
During the current year, cash generated from operations was
£1,634 million, compared with an inflow of £1,205 million in the prior
year. This increase was due to an increase in operating profit of
£283 million, which included litigation settlement income from EDS
and working capital savings. Net cash generated from operating
activities was further impacted by an increase in taxation paid,
offset by an increase in interest received.

During the current year, the Group disposed of part of its available-
for-sale investment in ITV for consideration of £196 million and
payments for property, plant and equipment and intangible assets
were £444 million, compared with £400 million in the prior year. A
total of £118 million was invested in the broadband and telephony
infrastructure, £57 million was invested in the purchase of the

freehold land and buildings adjacent to the Group’s Osterley site,
which is currently being let back to the existing occupant on a
short-term basis and £48 million was invested to progress the
Group’s property and infrastructure projects. We also made
payments totalling £17 million in the year to a related party for
development of encryption technology, which have been
capitalised as an intangible asset. The remaining £204 million was
spent on a number of projects including information systems
infrastructure, broadcast equipment and the development of new
products and services.

Guaranteed Notes totalling $617 million and £100 million were
redeemed during the year. The sterling equivalent, including cash-
flows on related hedges, was a net cash outflow of £495 million. In
the prior year, the Group issued Guaranteed Notes consisting of
US$600 million and redeemed $50 million of the US$650 million
Guaranteed Notes repayable in July 2009, US$600 million of
Guaranteed Notes repayable in February 2009 and £35 million of
Loan Notes, which resulted in a net cash outflow of £36 million. The
Group did not receive any proceeds from a draw-down of the RCF in
either the current year or the prior year.

During the current year, interest payments were £156 million,
compared to £217 million in the prior year, primarily due to lower
interest rates.

During the current year, equity dividend payments were
£314 million, compared to £298 million in the prior year.

The total cash movements of £642 million, in addition to non-cash
movements of £18 million resulted in a decrease in net debt of
£660 million to £1,076 million.

Trends and other information
The significant trends and factors which have a material effect on
our financial performance are outlined below.

The number of DTH homes increased by 418,000 in the current year
to 9,860,000, compared to growth of 462,000 in the prior year. We
expect growth in customer numbers to continue as a result of the
implementation of our current marketing strategy, with the aim of
achieving our target of 10 million DTH customers in calendar 2010.
Sky+HD customers increased substantially in the current year – by
124% – representing a penetration of total DTH customers of 30%
and we expect penetration to continue to increase.

DTH churn for the current year was 10.3%, compared to 10.3% in the
prior year. Over the medium term we expect our DTH churn to
remain broadly at this level.

The number of Sky Broadband customers increased by 421,000 to
2,624,000. We expect continued growth in the number of retail
broadband connections activated in future years. The number of
Sky Talk customers increased by 517,000 in the current year to
2,367,000 and the number of Line Rental customers increased by
769,000 to 1,686,000. We expect growth in Sky Talk and Line Rental
customers to continue. The increased number of customers to our
Sky+HD, Sky Broadband and Sky Talk products is expected to
generate increased retail revenue on a per customer basis.

During the current year, the number of cable homes receiving Sky
Channels in the UK and Ireland increased by 41,000 to 4,312,000.
The wholesale supply of certain of the Sky Sports channels is
currently subject to must-offer obligations, following the outcome
of Ofcom’s pay TV industry investigation and an interim Order of

32

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

During the current year, the Group made purchases of goods and
services from joint ventures and associates totalling £55 million
(2009: £51 million) and supplied services to joint ventures and
associates totalling £13 million (2009: £15 million).

On 15 June 2010, News Corporation announced a proposal relating
to a possible offer for the entire share capital of the Company not
already owned by News Corporation.

For further details of transactions with related parties, see note 30
of the consolidated financial statements.

Events after the reporting period
On 4 June 2010, the Group signed an agreement to purchase 100%
of the shares of Virgin Media Television Limited, Virgin Media
Television Rights Limited, and the assets and liabilities of the Virgin
Media television channels (“VMtv”). This agreement was conditional
on obtaining merger control clearance in the Republic of Ireland. On
12 July 2010, the conditions to completion were fulfilled and the
Group completed the acquisition of VMtv. VMtv operates a
portfolio of television channels including Living, Bravo, Virgin1 and
Challenge which are distributed over various television platforms
and generate revenue principally from the sale of advertising
airtime and carriage fees paid by Pay-TV operators such as Virgin
Media and Sky. VMtv was acquired to complement the Group’s
existing content business and to deliver strategic and financial
benefits.

Total consideration comprises £160 million of cash, with
£105 million having been paid immediately upon completion. The
outstanding contingent consideration of £55 million is payable
upon receipt of UK regulatory clearance for the transaction. The
Group notified the transaction to the OFT on 9 July 2010. The OFT
has started its review of the transaction and issued its invitation to
third parties to comment on the transaction on 20 July 2010.

On 21 July 2010 the Group announced that it had reached an
agreement over the sale of its business-to-business
telecommunications operation, Easynet, to Lloyds TSB
Development Capital (“LDC”). LDC will pay the Group £100 million
for the business on completion of the transaction, subject to
regulatory approval. The Group will retain the UK network assets
that it acquired as part of the original acquisition of Easynet Group
in 2005. As part of the sale, the Group and LDC will enter into a
long-term supply agreement to grant Easynet continued access to
the Group’s fibre network and Easynet will also continue to be a key
supplier to the Group.

For further details of events after the reporting period, see note 32
to the consolidated financial statements.

the Competition Appeal Tribunal. The Group is currently appealing
these must-offer obligations (for further details see “Directors’
report – Business review – Review of the business”). Our wholesale
subscribers are also to some extent dependent on the strategies
of the relevant wholesale companies, generally and as they relate to
the distribution of our Channels (for further details see “Directors’
report – Business review – Principal risks and uncertainties”).

Advertising revenue increased by 4% in the current year. The UK
television advertising sector is expected to remain challenging in
the short term reflecting the continued wider economic
uncertainty and the ongoing growth of digital media.

The Group’s programming costs have increased in the current year.
In the short term, we expect that programming costs will continue
to increase as a result of contracts secured during the current and
prior year. In the medium term, the Group expects programming
costs to increase in line with the increase in revenues. 

Direct network costs increased during the current year, and are
expected to continue to increase in future years at a higher rate
than the growth in customers, resulting in an increased average
cost per customer. This expected increase reflects the cost of
operating our Sky Talk service, and the growth of broadband
services.

Marketing costs increased in the year due to our investment in
accelerating Sky+HD growth. Subscriber management and supply
chain costs decreased during the current year as the costs
associated with our larger subscriber base were offset by reduced
set-top box costs as we in-sourced a greater proportion of boxes
and achieved cost efficiencies throughout the supply chain. The
level of growth in both the total number of customers and the
number of additional services taken by our customers (for example
Sky+HD) will remain key drivers of these costs in future as will our
ability to deliver rate efficiency improvements across our contact
centre and supply chain operations.

Excluding legal costs in relation to EDS and costs associated with
restructuring activity, administration costs in the current year were
broadly in line with the prior year, as a result of our focus on
managing our central costs. Going forward, our aim is to hold the
rate of growth in administration costs below that of revenue
growth.

The Board of Directors is proposing a final dividend of 11.525 pence
per share, which, combined with the interim dividend of 7.875 pence
per share, will result in total dividend growth of 10% on the prior
year total dividend.

Off-balance sheet arrangements
At 30 June 2010, the Group did not have any undisclosed
off-balance sheet arrangements that require disclosure as defined
under the applicable rules of IFRS.

Related party transactions
The Group conducts all business transactions with companies which
are part of the News Corporation group (“News Corporation”), a
major shareholder, on an arm’s length basis. During the current year,
the Group made purchases of goods and services from News
Corporation totalling £197 million (2009: £212 million) and supplied
services to News Corporation totalling £32 million (2009:
£40 million).

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT – GOVERNANCE

Board of Directors

James Murdoch (age 37)
Non-Executive Director and Chairman
James Murdoch was appointed as a
Director of the Company on 13 February
2003 and Chairman on 7 December
2007. Between November 2003 and
December 2007 he was Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) of the Company, a role he
relinquished on his appointment as
Non-Executive Chairman. Mr Murdoch is
Chairman and CEO, Europe and Asia, at
News Corporation and is a member of
News Corporation’s Board of Directors
and Executive Committee. Between May
2000 and November 2003, he was
Chairman and CEO of Star Group
Limited. Mr Murdoch was appointed
a Non-Executive Director of
GlaxoSmithKline plc in May 2009 and as
a Non-Executive Director of Sotheby’s in
May 2010.

Nicholas Ferguson (age 61)
Deputy Chairman and Senior
Independent Non-Executive Director
Remuneration Committee Chairman
Nicholas Ferguson was appointed as
a Director of the Company on
15 June 2004, Senior Independent
Non-Executive Director on 12 June 2007
and Deputy Chairman on 16 June 2010.
Mr Ferguson is Chairman of SVG Capital
plc, a publicly-quoted private equity
group, and was formerly Chairman of
Schroder Ventures. He is also Chairman
of the Courtauld Institute of Art and the
Institute of Philanthropy.

Jeremy Darroch (age 48)
Executive Director and Chief Executive
Officer
Jeremy Darroch was appointed as a
Director of the Company on 16 August
2004. He was appointed CEO on
7 December 2007, having previously
been Chief Financial Officer (CFO) since
2004. Prior to joining the Company,
Mr Darroch was Group Finance Director
of DSG International plc (DSG), formerly
Dixons Group plc. Prior to DSG, Mr
Darroch spent 12 years at Procter &
Gamble in a variety of roles in the UK and
Europe. Mr Darroch is a Non-Executive
Director and the Chairman of the Audit
Committee of Marks & Spencer plc.
He is also a Board Member of the
charity Youth Sport Trust and a Council
Member of the Council for Industry and
Higher Education.

David F. DeVoe (age 63)
Non-Executive Director
David F. DeVoe was appointed as a
Director of the Company on
15 December 1994. Mr DeVoe has been a
Director of News Corporation and its
CFO since October 1990. Mr DeVoe has
served as Senior Executive Vice
President of News Corporation since
January 1996. Mr DeVoe has been a
Director of NDS Group Limited since
October 1996.

David Evans (age 70)
Independent Non-Executive Director
David Evans was appointed as a Director
of the Company on 21 September 2001.
Mr Evans was President and CEO of
Crown Media Holdings, Inc. and its
predecessor company, Hallmark
Entertainment Networks, from March
1999 to October 2007. Prior to that,
Mr Evans was President and CEO of
Tele-Communications International, Inc.
(TINTA) from January 1998. Prior to
joining TINTA, from July 1996, Mr Evans
held various senior roles at News
Corporation. He is currently a Director
of Village Roadshow Ltd, Village
Roadshow Entertainment Group and
Concord Music.

Andrew Griffith (age 39)
Executive Director and Chief Financial
Officer
Andrew Griffith was appointed as CFO
and a Director of the Company on
7 April 2008. Mr Griffith joined Sky in
October 1999 and held a number of
finance roles prior to his appointment
as CFO. Mr Griffith previously worked
at the investment bank Rothschild,
where he advised a range of clients
in the technology, media and
telecommunications sectors. Mr Griffith
is a member of the 100 Group of Finance
Directors.

Andrew Higginson (age 53)
Independent Non-Executive Director
Audit Committee Chairman
Andrew Higginson was appointed as
a Director of the Company on
1 September 2004. Mr Higginson is
Chief Executive of Retailing Services and
Group Strategy Director of Tesco plc
(Tesco). Mr Higginson was appointed to
the Board of Tesco in 1997, having
previously been the Group Finance
Director of the Burton Group plc.

Allan Leighton (age 57)
Independent Non-Executive Director
Allan Leighton was appointed as a
Director of the Company on
15 October 1999. Mr Leighton joined
ASDA Stores Limited as Group Marketing
Director in March 1992 and was
appointed CEO in September 1996.
In November 1999 he was appointed
President and CEO of Wal-Mart Europe.
Mr Leighton resigned from all of these
positions in September 2000.
Mr Leighton is currently Deputy
Chairman of Selfridges & Co. Limited,
George Weston Limited and Loblaws
Companies Limited. Mr Leighton was a
Director of Bhs Limited until January
2008 and was Chairman of The Royal
Mail Group until March 2009.

34

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

Thomas Mockridge (age 55)
Non-Executive Director
Thomas Mockridge was appointed as
a Director of the Company on
10 February 2009. Mr Mockridge is the
CEO of Sky Italia and Chief Executive,
European Television of News
Corporation where he oversees News
Corporation’s television operations in
Europe, outside the UK. Prior to joining
Sky Italia, Mr Mockridge held various
roles at Star Group Limited and was
previously CEO of Foxtel, News
Corporation’s Pay-TV joint venture
with Telstra.

Jacques Nasser (age 62)
Independent Non-Executive Director
Jacques Nasser was appointed as a
Director of the Company on
8 November 2002. Mr Nasser served as
a Member of the Board of Directors, and
as President and CEO of Ford Motor
Company from 1998 to 2001. Mr Nasser
is the Chairman of BHP Billiton, and a
Partner of One Equity Partners. He also
serves on the International Advisory
Board of Allianz A.G. Until January 2008,
Mr Nasser served on the Board of
Brambles Limited and Quintiles
Transnational Corporation.

Dame Gail Rebuck (age 58)
Independent Non-Executive Director
The Bigger Picture Committee Chairman
Dame Gail Rebuck was appointed as
a Director of the Company on
8 November 2002. Dame Gail is
Chairman and CEO of The Random
House Group Limited (Random House),
one of the UK’s leading trade publishing
companies. Dame Gail is a Director of
Skillset, a Trustee of the National
Literacy Trust, and sits on the Council of
the Royal College of Art. Dame Gail was
awarded a CBE in the 2000 New Year’s
Honours List and was made a Dame in
the 2009 Queen’s Birthday Honours
List. Dame Gail was also named 2009
Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of
the Year.

Daniel Rimer (age 39)
Independent Non-Executive Director
Daniel Rimer was appointed as a
Director of the Company on 7 April 2008.
Mr Rimer is a General Partner of the
venture capital firm Index Ventures
Management Limited (Index Ventures)
and established the firm’s London office.
He currently serves on a number of
boards including RightScale Inc., Oanda
Corporation, FON Wireless Limited,
Stardoll Inc. and Viagogo Limited. Prior to
joining Index Ventures, Mr Rimer was a
General Partner of The Barksdale Group
and, previously, Managing Director of
Hambrecht & Quist’s (now JP Morgan)
Equity Research Group.

Arthur Siskind (age 71)
Non-Executive Director
Arthur Siskind was appointed as a
Director of the Company on
19 November 1991. Mr Siskind has been
the Senior Advisor to the Chairman of
News Corporation since January 2005.
Mr Siskind has been an Executive
Director of News Corporation since 1991
and was Group General Counsel of News
Corporation from March 1991 until
December 2004. Mr Siskind has been
a member of the Bar of the State of
New York since 1962.

Lord Wilson of Dinton (age 67)
Independent Non-Executive Director
Corporate Governance and
Nominations Committee Chairman
Lord Wilson of Dinton was appointed
as a Director of the Company on
13 February 2003. Lord Wilson was
appointed Secretary to the Cabinet and
Head of the Home Civil Service in
January 1998. Lord Wilson retired from
the Civil Service in 2002 after serving
36 years in a number of UK Government
departments. Since his retirement
in September 2002, Lord Wilson has
been Master of Emmanuel College,
Cambridge. In October 2006, he became
Non-Executive Chairman of C. Hoare and
Co, Bankers. From April 2003 until
October 2007, Lord Wilson was a
Non-Executive Director of Xansa plc.
Lord Wilson was made a peer in
November 2002.

Committee Membership

Audit Committee

Remuneration Committee

Corporate Governance and
Nominations Committee

The Bigger Picture Committee

Alternate Directors
A Director may appoint any other
Director or any other person to act as
his Alternate. An Alternate Director shall
be entitled to receive notice of and
attend meetings of the Directors and
committees of Directors of which his
appointer is a member and not able to
attend. The Alternate Director shall be
entitled to vote at such meetings and
generally perform all the functions of his
appointer as a Director in his absence.

On the resignation of the appointer for
any reason the Alternate Director shall
cease to be an Alternate Director. The
appointer may also remove his Alternate
Director by notice to the Company
Secretary signed by the appointer
making or revoking the appointment.
An Alternate Director shall not be
entitled to fees for his service as an
Alternate Director.

James Murdoch, David DeVoe, Arthur
Siskind and Thomas Mockridge have
appointed each of the others to act as
their Alternate Director. David Evans has
appointed Allan Leighton as his
Alternate Director.

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT – GOVERNANCE
continued

Corporate governance report
The Company is committed to maintaining high standards of
corporate governance in its management of the Group and when
accounting to shareholders. The management of the Company
values an effective long-term outlook and sees itself as responsible
to the wider range of stakeholders, whilst being accountable for the
pursuit of its objectives for the benefit of the Company’s members
as a whole.

The Combined Code on Corporate Governance 2008 (“Combined
Code”) sets out the standards of good practice in the form of
principles and provisions on how companies should be directed and
controlled to follow good governance practice. The Financial
Services Authority requires listed companies to disclose, in relation
to section 1 of the Combined Code, how they have applied its main
principles and whether they have complied with its provisions
throughout the financial year.

The Board considers that throughout the year ended 30 June 2010,
and as at the date of this Annual Report, the Company was
compliant with the provisions of section 1 of the Combined Code.
This section of the Annual Report along with the report on
Directors’ remuneration on pages 46 to 54 and other governance
and statutory disclosures on pages 43 to 45 provide details of how
the Company has applied the main principles during the year ended
30 June 2010. Further information on the Combined Code is
publicly available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website
www.frc.org.uk.

The Board
The Board currently comprises fourteen Directors, made up of two
Executive Directors and twelve Non-Executive Directors. A majority
of eight Non-Executive Directors are determined to be
independent in compliance with the Combined Code. They bring a
wide range of experience and expertise to the Group’s affairs, and
carry significant weight in the Board’s decisions. The Independent
Non-Executive Directors provide a strong independent element and
a foundation for good corporate governance. Biographies of each
of the Directors are set out on pages 34 to 35 and identify those
Directors who are, in the view of the Board, independent within the
meaning of the Combined Code. Prior to appointment, and on an
annual basis, each board member receives and completes a
questionnaire to determine factors that may affect independence
according to the Combined Code. The responses to the
questionnaire assist the Board in ascertaining whether a director is
independent in character and judgment, and whether there are
relationships or circumstances which are likely to affect, or could
appear to affect, the Director’s judgment.

The Company recognises that all Directors are equally and
collectively accountable under the law for the proper stewardship
of the Company’s affairs. The Company maintains a directors’ and
officers’ liability insurance policy which meets defence costs when
the Director is not proved to have acted fraudulently.

Executive Directors are not allowed to take on the chairmanship of
a FTSE 100 company, but are allowed to take up one external non-
executive FTSE 100 appointment and retain any payments in
respect of such appointments.

The roles of the Chairman and CEO are separate and have been so
since the Company’s shares were admitted to listing in 1994.

36

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

The full schedule of matters reserved for decision making by the
Board, can be found on the Company’s corporate website at
www.sky.com/corporate.

The Chairman
The Chairman is responsible for leadership of the Board, ensuring
its effectiveness on all aspects of its role and setting its agenda.
This includes ensuring, via the Company Secretary, that the
Directors receive accurate, timely and clear information. The duties
of the Chairman include the following:

• to encourage and ensure effective communication with

shareholders, and ensure shareholder views are communicated
to the Board as a whole;

• to facilitate a structure to allow the effective contribution of all

Directors, and of Non-Executive Directors in particular;
• to create an environment which engenders constructive

relations between Executive and Non-Executive Directors;
• to organise the business of the Board so that it can be carried

out effectively and efficiently;

• to lead the Board in discussions regarding the Company’s

strategy and in the achievement of its objectives;

• to ensure Board committees are properly established, composed

and operated; and

• to enhance the Company’s public standing and image overall.

Deputy Chairman and Senior Independent Director
The Board has appointed one Non-Executive Director, Nicholas
Ferguson, to act as Senior Independent Director. The Senior
Independent Director meets with institutional shareholders and
representative bodies throughout the year and is available to
assist shareholders in resolving concerns should alternative
channels be inappropriate. Nicholas Ferguson, the Senior
Independent Director, was also appointed Deputy Chairman of the
Board with effect from 16 June 2010.

The Chief Executive Officer
The CEO is responsible for the daily operation of the Company,
advancing long-term shareholder value, supported by the
management team. He is accountable and responsible to the Board
for the management and operation of the Company. He is also
involved in the management of the social and environmental
responsibilities of the Company. The duties of the CEO include the
following:

• to be responsible and accountable to the Board for the

management and operation of the Group;

• to prepare and implement plans and programmes for the

attainment of approved objectives and to recommend such
plans and programmes to the Board as appropriate;

• to provide leadership in the Group’s commitment to attaining

high business standards generally;

• to create the conditions within the Group for the efficient

operation of all business units;

• to establish and maintain relationships with shareholders and

potential shareholders, and major external bodies;
• to keep the Board informed on all matters of material

importance; and

• to chair meetings of the Executive Committee.

Non-Executive Directors
The dates on which the Non-Executive Directors’ initial service
agreements/letters of appointment commenced and current expiry
dates are as follows:

David DeVoe(ii)
David Evans(ii)
Nicholas Ferguson
Andrew Higginson
Allan Leighton(ii)
Thomas Mockridge
James Murdoch(i)
Jacques Nasser
Dame Gail Rebuck
Daniel Rimer(i)
Arthur Siskind(ii)
Lord Wilson of Dinton

Commencement date

15 December 1994
21 September 2001
15 June 2004
1 September 2004
15 October 1999
10 February 2009
7 December 2007
8 November 2002
8 November 2002
7 April 2008
19 November 1991
13 February 2003

Expiry date of current
letter of appointment

22 October 2010
22 October 2010
October 2012*
October 2012*
22 October 2010
October 2012*
22 October 2010
October 2012*
October 2012*
22 October 2010
22 October 2010
October 2011*

* 

These letters of appointment will expire on the day of the Company’s AGM in either
2011 or 2012. The date of the 2011 and 2012 AGMs are yet to be agreed.

Non-Executive Directors serve for an initial term of three years,
subject to reappointment by shareholders following appointment,
subsequent reappointment by shareholders, and Companies Act
provisions relating to the removal of Directors. In addition,
reappointment for a further term is not automatic, but may be
mutually agreed. The Company’s articles of association require that
one third of the Board retires by rotation each year and stands for
reappointment by shareholders.

Notes:

(i)  Non-Executive Directors retiring by rotation and offering themselves for

reappointment by shareholders at the Company’s next AGM to be held on
22 October 2010.

(ii)  David DeVoe, Allan Leighton and Arthur Siskind are subject to annual

reappointment by shareholders in accordance with requirement A.7.2 of the
Combined Code as they have served as Non-Executive Directors for longer than
nine years. David Evans will have served as a Non-Executive Director for nine years
in September 2010, and will therefore be subject to annual reappointment from the
Company’s forthcoming AGM to be held on 22 October 2010.

Non-Executive Directors’ letters of appointment do not contain a
notice period. The letters of appointment are available for
inspection at the Company’s registered office address during
normal business hours.

The Company Secretary
The Company Secretary is available to advise all Directors and is
responsible for ensuring the Board is supplied with all necessary
information in a reliable, timely manner. The Company Secretary
ensures good communication between the Board, Board
committees and senior management. He facilitates Directors’
induction and training.

News Corporation proposal
Following an approach by News Corporation on 10 June 2010
relating to a possible offer for the entire issued share capital of the
Company that it does not already own, the Board passed a
resolution to appoint a committee comprising the Independent
Directors and the Executive Directors (the “Offer Committee”) with
authority to exercise all powers of the Board in relation to a
possible offer and any matters relevant to the News Corporation
proposal (the “Proposal”). The Offer Committee is chaired by
Nicholas Ferguson.

These Directors, who constitute a majority of the Board, intend to
exercise their rights and powers to manage the governance of the
Board during this period in the best interests of all shareholders.
This includes taking such steps within their power as they consider
appropriate to regulate the attendance of Directors connected
with News Corporation at meetings of the Board (or any committee
of the Board) and receipt of information relating to the Company by
those Directors that are deemed relevant to the Proposal. These
arrangements will continue for the duration of the Proposal or until
the successful completion of any transaction contemplated by the
Proposal (the “Offer Period”). The Offer Committee met on six
occasions between 10 June and 15 June 2010.

Board Practices
The Board met five times during the year to review appropriate
strategic, operational and financial matters. Attendance of the
current Directors at Board meetings and committee members at
meetings of the committees on which they served during the year
is set out in the table below:

The
and Bigger
Board Audit Remuneration Nominations Picture

Corporate
Governance

5

Number of meetings 
held in year
Director
James Murdoch, Chairman(iv)(v) 5
5
Jeremy Darroch, CEO
5
Andrew Griffith, CFO
5
David DeVoe
5
David Evans(i)(vi)
5
Nicholas Ferguson(i)(ii)
4
Andrew Higginson(iii)(vii)
5
Allan Leighton(iii)
5
Thomas Mockridge
4
Jacques Nasser(i)(viii)
5
Dame Gail Rebuck(iii)(iv)
5
Daniel Rimer(i)
5
Arthur Siskind(ii)
5
Lord Wilson of Dinton(ii)(iv)

4

–
–
–
–
–
–
3
4
–
–
4
–
–
–

4

–
–
–
–
3
4
–
–
–
3
–
2
–
–

1

–
–
–
–
–
1
–
–
–
–
–
–
1
1

2

1
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
2
–
–
2

Notes:
(i)

Remuneration Committee member.

(ii)

Corporate Governance and Nominations Committee member.

(iii) Audit Committee member.

(iv)  The Bigger Picture Committee member.

(v)

James Murdoch was unable to attend a meeting of The Bigger Picture Committee
due to a prior News Corporation business engagement.

(vi) David Evans was unable to attend a Remuneration Committee meeting due to the 

volcanic ash disruption.

(vii) Andrew Higginson was unable to attend a Board meeting and an Audit Committee 

meeting due to a family bereavement.

(viii) Jacques Nasser was unable to attend a Board meeting and a Remuneration

Committee meeting due to a meeting of the BHP Billiton Board, of which he is
Chairman.

In accordance with best practice, the independent Non-Executive
Directors of the Board held separate meetings during the year.

Board role
A schedule of matters reserved for the full Board’s determination
and/or approval is in place, which includes:

• approval of the annual budget and any changes to it;

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT – GOVERNANCE
continued

Corporate governance report
continued

• a major change in the nature, scope or scale of the business of

the Group;

• approval of the interim and final results;
• approval of any dividend policy;
• changes relating to the Group’s capital structure, including

reductions of capital and share buy-backs;

• the entering into by the Group of a commitment or arrangement
(or any series of related commitments or arrangements) which,
whether budgeted or unbudgeted, involves or could reasonably
involve, the payment or receipt by the Group of amounts equal to
or in excess of £100 million in aggregate value;

• the entering into by the Group of a commitment or arrangement
(or any series of related commitments or arrangements) with
News Corporation, any of its subsidiaries, or a related party
which involves, or could reasonably involve, the payment or
receipt by the Group of amounts equal to or in excess of
£25 million in aggregate value;

• approval of resolutions to be put forward to shareholders at a

general meeting;

• changes to the structure, size and composition of the Board,

following, if applicable, recommendations from any committee to
which the Board delegates consideration of such issues;

• appointment and removal of the Chairman of the Board and the

CEO; and

• determining the independence of Non-Executive Directors.

The Board has also delegated specific responsibilities to Board
committees, notably the Audit, Remuneration, Corporate
Governance and Nominations and The Bigger Picture committees,
as set out below. Directors receive Board and committee papers
several days in advance of Board and committee meetings. In
addition, the Board members have access to external professional
advice at the Company’s expense.

A committee of senior management generally meets on a weekly
basis to allow prompt discussion of relevant business issues. It is
chaired by the CEO and comprises the CFO and other Senior
Executives from within the Group.

Following appointment to the Board, all new Directors receive an
induction tailored to their individual requirements. The induction
process involves meeting with all of the Company’s Executive
Directors and Senior Executives. This facilitates their
understanding of the Group and the key drivers of the business’
performance. The Directors are also provided with copies of the
Company’s corporate governance practices and procedures.

Directors regularly receive additional information from the
Company between Board meetings, including a monthly report
updating the Directors on the performance of the Group. Where
appropriate additional training and updates on particular issues
are arranged.

All of the Directors are required to retire and offer themselves for
reappointment at least once in every three years. Non-Executive
Directors who have served for more than nine years on the Board

38

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

are subject to annual reappointment in accordance with the
Combined Code.

During the year, the Directors carried out a full evaluation of the
performance of the Board, its committees and individual Directors.
The evaluation consists of each Director meeting individually with
the Chairman of the Corporate Governance and Nominations
Committee. The evaluation confirmed that the Board was satisfied
with the Board’s overall performance. The Non-Executive Directors
also meet separately without the Chairman and Executive Directors
present to evaluate the performance of the Chairman.

Following this year’s review, the Corporate Governance and
Nominations Committee and Board have confirmed that all
Directors standing for reappointment at the forthcoming AGM
continue to perform effectively and demonstrate commitment to
their roles.

Jeremy Darroch, Andrew Griffith, James Murdoch and Daniel Rimer
retire from the Board by rotation, and being eligible, offer
themselves for reappointment at the Company’s AGM on
22 October 2010. David DeVoe, Allan Leighton and Arthur Siskind
are subject to annual reappointment in accordance with
requirement A.7.2 of the Combined Code, as they have served as
Non-Executive Directors for longer than nine years. David Evans
will have served as a Non-Executive Director for nine years in
September 2010 and will therefore be subject to annual
reappointment from the Company’s 2010 AGM.

Board Committees
Terms of reference for the governance of the Board committees can
be found on the Company’s corporate website.

Remuneration Committee
The members of the Remuneration Committee are Nicholas
Ferguson (Chairman), David Evans, Jacques Nasser and Daniel
Rimer, all of whom are Independent Non-Executive Directors, in
compliance with the Combined Code. Daniel Rimer was appointed
as a member of the committee by the Board on 27 January 2010.

The Remuneration Committee has clearly defined terms of
reference, meets at least twice a year, and takes advice from the
CEO and independent consultants as appropriate in carrying out its
work. Following publication of the annual report, meetings and
round-table discussions are arranged between the Remuneration
Committee and institutional shareholders to discuss remuneration
policy and aspects of the Committee’s report on Directors’
remuneration. The Remuneration Committee Chairman reports
regularly to the Board on its activities.

James Murdoch and David DeVoe have a standing invitation to
attend meetings of the Remuneration Committee. Their
attendance at these meetings is as observers only and in a non-
voting capacity.

The report on Directors’ remuneration can be found on pages 46 to
54. The report on Directors’ remuneration will be put forward for an
advisory shareholder vote at the 2010 AGM.

Corporate Governance and Nominations Committee
The Corporate Governance and Nominations Committee is chaired
by Lord Wilson of Dinton and its other members are Nicholas
Ferguson and Arthur Siskind. The majority of the members of the
committee are Independent Non-Executive Directors in compliance
with the Combined Code. The Chairman reports regularly to the
Board on its activities. Its main duties include:

• the identification and nomination, for approval by the Board, of

candidates to fill Board vacancies as they arise;

• the drafting of requirements for a particular appointment to the
Board, taking into consideration the present balance of skills,
knowledge and experience on the Board;

• the regular review of the structure, size and composition of the

Board and to recommend any changes to the Board or
succession planning;

• the provision of a formal letter of appointment, setting out
clearly what is expected of new appointees to the Board, in
terms of time commitment, term of office and committee service
as well as their duties and liabilities as a Director, including
details of the Company’s corporate governance policies and
directors’ and officers’ liability insurance cover; and

• the monitoring of the Company’s compliance with applicable
Corporate Governance Codes and other similar requirements.

The Corporate Governance and Nominations Committee led the
evaluation of the Board that was completed during the year as
discussed earlier in this report.

The Committee assists the Board by keeping the composition of
the Board under review. The Committee also keeps under review
the Board’s balance of skills, knowledge, experience and length of
service. Following the Proposal from News Corporation the
Committee has decided that a period of stability is required and
that the current Independent Non-Executive Directors have the
appropriate balance of skills, knowledge and experience required to
manage the Board through the Offer Period in the best interests of
all shareholders.

The Committee also reviewed the independence of the Non-
Executive Directors and recommended to the Board that there be
no changes to the independent status of the current Non-
Executive Directors. The Non-Executive Directors who are
considered by the Board to be independent are clearly identified on
pages 34 to 35. The Board’s criteria for determining whether a Non-
Executive Director is independent are set out in the Memorandum
on Corporate Governance which can be found on the Company’s
corporate website. The Committee’s review took into consideration
the fact that Allan Leighton had served on the Board for nine years
in October 2008 and David Evans will have served on the Board for
nine years in September 2010. Provision A.3.1 of the Combined Code
suggests that serving more than nine years could be relevant to the
determination of a Non-Executive Director’s independence. The
Committee concluded that Mr Leighton and Mr Evans continued to
demonstrate the essential characteristics of independence
expected by the Board and that there are no relationships or
circumstances that are likely to affect, or could appear to affect,
their judgment. In accordance with requirement A.7.2. of the
Combined Code, Mr Leighton and Mr Evans will be subject to annual
reappointment at the Company’s AGM in 2010.

The Bigger Picture Committee
On 16 June 2009, the Board established The Bigger Picture
Committee as a Committee of the Board. The Bigger Picture
Committee (the “Committee”) manages the Company’s corporate
responsibility and community engagement programme which the
Company has named “The Bigger Picture”.

The Committee is chaired by Dame Gail Rebuck, and its other
members include Lord Wilson of Dinton and James Murdoch. The
Committee replaced the Bigger Picture Steering Group and met
twice during the financial year. The Chairman of the Committee
reports regularly to the Board on its activities. The main duties of
the Committee include:

• reviewing and approving the Bigger Picture strategy;
• reviewing the reputational risk register and assigning clear roles

and responsibilities for ensuring effective mitigation of identified
risks;

• seeking external stakeholders’ views on the Bigger Picture

strategy and performance;

• reviewing and approving the annual reporting of Bigger Picture

activities;

• monitoring progress in achieving Bigger Picture objectives and

key performance indicators;

• ensuring the resources and skills are available to implement the

Bigger Picture strategy; and

• providing the Board with an overview of the social, environmental
and ethical impacts of the Company’s activities and how they are
being managed.

An overview of the Company’s corporate responsibility policies,
activities and Bigger Picture approach is provided on pages 18 to 21
of the “Directors’ report – Business review – Corporate
responsibility”.

Audit Committee
The Audit Committee (the “Committee”), which consists exclusively
of Independent Non-Executive Directors in compliance with the
Combined Code, has clearly defined terms of reference as laid down
by the Board. The composition of the Committee is currently Allan
Leighton, Dame Gail Rebuck and Andrew Higginson. Allan Leighton
resigned as Chairman and Andrew Higginson assumed the role with
effect from 29 July 2009. Allan Leighton remains a member of the
Committee and there have been no other changes to the
composition of the Committee during the year. The CFO and
representatives from the external auditor and the internal audit
department attend meetings at the request of the Committee. The
CEO and other business and finance executives attend meetings
from time to time. The Committee Chairman reports regularly to the
Board on its activities.

David DeVoe and Arthur Siskind have a standing invitation to
attend meetings of the Committee. Their attendance at these
meetings is as observers only and in a non-voting capacity. The
Committee’s duties include:

• making recommendations to the Board in relation to the
appointment, reappointment and removal of the external
auditors and discussing with the external auditors the nature,
scope and fees for the external auditors’ work;

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT – GOVERNANCE
continued

Corporate governance report
continued

• reviewing and making recommendations to the Board regarding
the approval, or any amendment to, the quarterly, half year and
annual financial statements of the Group;

• reviewing the Group’s significant accounting policies;
• reviewing the Group’s systems of internal control;
• reviewing the Group’s treasury policies;
• recommending the appointment of the Group’s Director of

Internal Audit;

Internal control 
• considered the effectiveness of the Group’s internal controls

over financial reporting; 

• reviewed the internal audit department’s resources and annual

audit plan;

• reviewed quarterly reports from internal audit on the results of

its audit work and management’s implementation of its
recommendations;

• reviewed quarterly reports from internal audit on the status of

the 2009/10 Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 assessment
programme; 

• reviewing the audit plan and findings of the Group’s internal

• evaluated the effectiveness of the internal audit department. 

audit function;

• monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of the Group’s

internal audit function;

• approving all non-audit services provided by the Group’s external

auditors in accordance with the Group’s policy;
• monitoring the Group’s whistle-blowing policy;
• News UK Nominees Limited, a subsidiary of News Corporation, is
a major shareholder in the Group. The Audit Committee receives,
on a quarterly basis, a schedule of all transactions between
companies within the News Corporation Group and the Group,
and any other related party transactions, showing all
transactions which have been entered into during the year and
which cumulatively exceed £100,000 in value;

External Audit Matters
• received regular reports from the external auditor; 
• reviewed and approved the 2009/10 audit work plan;
• received regular updates on the use of non-audit services

provided by the external auditor and ensured that all fees were
approved in accordance with the Group’s policy; 

• reviewed the effectiveness and independence of the external

auditor; 

• approved the re-appointment, remuneration and engagement

letter of the external auditor.

Other 
• reviewed quarterly security updates which include whistle-

• Committee approval is required for the entering into by the Group

blowing;

of a commitment or arrangement (or any series of related
commitments or arrangements) with News Corporation or any of
its subsidiaries, or any other related party which involves or could
reasonably involve the payment or receipt by the Group of
amounts equal to or in excess of £10 million, but not exceeding
£25 million in aggregate value with News Corporation. Any
transaction in excess of £25 million in aggregate value must be
submitted to the Committee and, if approved by the Committee,
must also be submitted to the full Board for approval.

The Committee members have considerable financial and business
experience and the Board considers that the membership as a
whole has sufficient recent and relevant financial experience to
discharge its functions. In addition, the Board has determined that
each member of the Committee has sufficient accounting or
related financial management expertise as required by the UK
Listing Authority’s Disclosure Rules and Transparency Rules.

The Committee met four times during the financial year. Meeting
agendas were organised around the Company’s financial reporting
cycle and items covered are as follows: 

Financial management and reporting
• received regular updates from the CFO on the financial
performance and financial management of the Group;

• reviewed the Company’s Annual Report, half-yearly results and

interim management statements;

• reviewed the Group’s accounting policies;
• received quarterly reports from the treasury function on the

funding, liquidity and operational capabilities of the Group and
compliance with treasury policies. 

• reviewed quarterly related party transactions reports; 
• reviewed the Company’s US listing and recommended

deregistration to the Board; 

• reviewed the Group’s Risk Register. 

The Committee also received updates from finance departments
across the Group, the Director of Group Taxation, the Chairman of
the Data Governance Committee and the Group Head of Health
and Safety during the year.

The external auditors have attended all meetings of the Committee
during the year. The Director of Audit and Risk Management has
direct access to the Committee Chairman and the external audit
partner. 

Internal control and risk management
The Directors have overall responsibility for establishing and
maintaining the Group’s systems of internal control and risk
management and for reviewing their effectiveness. These systems
are designed to manage, and where possible eliminate, the risk of
failure to achieve business objectives and to provide reasonable,
but not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss.
An ongoing process for identifying, evaluating and managing the
significant risks faced by the Group has been established, in
accordance with the guidance of the Turnbull Committee on
internal control issued in September 1999 and updated by the
Financial Reporting Council in October 2005. This process has been
in place for the year ended 30 June 2010 and up to the date on
which the financial statements were approved.

The Committee, on behalf of the Board, considers the effectiveness
of the operation of the Group’s systems of internal control and risk

40

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

management during the year and this review has been carried out
for the year ended 30 June 2010 and up to the date on which the
financial statements were approved. This review relates to the
Company and its subsidiaries and does not extend to joint
ventures. The Committee meets on at least a quarterly basis with
the Group’s Director of Audit and Risk Management and the
external auditors.

There is a comprehensive budgeting and forecasting process, and
the annual budget, which is regularly reviewed and updated, is
approved by the Board. Performance is monitored against budget
through weekly and monthly reporting cycles. Monthly reports on
performance are provided to the Board and the Group reports to
shareholders each quarter. Each area of the Group carries out risk
assessments of its operations and ensures that the key risks are
addressed.

The internal audit team provides objective assurance as to the
effectiveness of the Group’s systems of internal control and risk
management to the Group’s operating management and to the
Committee.

Disclosure controls and procedures
The Company maintains disclosure controls, procedures and
systems that are designed to ensure that information required to
be disclosed as part of the Company’s UK listing obligations is
accumulated and communicated to management, including the
CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding
required disclosures.

The Company has established a disclosure committee. The
committee is chaired by the Company Secretary and its members
consist of senior managers from group finance, legal and investor
relations. It has responsibility for considering the materiality of
information (including inside information) and, on a timely basis,
determination of the disclosure and treatment of such information.
The committee also has responsibility for overseeing the process
for the formal review of the contents of the Company’s Annual
Report.

The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and
with the participation of the Company’s management, including the
CEO and CFO, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of
these disclosure controls, procedures and systems at 30 June 2010.
Based on that evaluation, the CEO and CFO of the Company have
concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures
are effective.

Changes in internal controls
No change in the Group’s internal control over financial reporting
has occurred during the year ended 30 June 2010 that has
materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the
Group’s internal control over financial reporting.

Use of external auditors
The Group has a policy on the provision by the external auditors of
audit and non-audit services, which categorises such services
between:

• those services which the auditors are not permitted to provide;
• those services which are acceptable for the auditors to provide
and the provision of which has been pre-approved by the Audit
Committee; and

• those services for which the specific approval of the Audit

Committee is required before the auditors are permitted to
provide the service.

The policy defines the types of services falling under each category
and sets out the criteria which need to be met and the internal
approval mechanisms required to be completed prior to any
engagement. An analysis of all services provided by the external
auditors is reviewed by the Committee on a quarterly basis.

For the year ended 30 June 2010, the Committee has discussed the
matter of audit independence with Deloitte LLP, the Group’s
external auditors, and has received and reviewed confirmation in
writing that, in Deloitte LLP’s professional judgment, Deloitte LLP is
independent within the meaning of all UK regulatory and
professional requirements and the objectivity of the audit
engagement partner and audit staff is not impaired.

The Committee was satisfied throughout the year that the
objectivity and independence of Deloitte LLP was not in any way
impaired by either the nature of the non-audit related services
undertaken during the year, the level of non-audit fees charged, or
any other facts or circumstances. There were no services provided
during the year that were not either pre-approved by the Audit
Committee or for acceptable services up to the value of £50,000,
approved by the CFO with subsequent approval by the Audit
Committee, in accordance with the Group’s policy.

The appointment of Deloitte LLP as the Group’s external auditors
(incumbents since 2002) is kept under review. The Committee has
approved the external auditors’ remuneration and terms of
engagement and is fully satisfied with the performance, objectivity
and independence of the external auditors. The Committee has
recommended that a resolution to reappoint the external auditors
as the Company’s statutory auditors be proposed at the
Company’s forthcoming AGM. The external auditors are required to
rotate the audit partner responsible for the engagement every five
years. The current lead partner will be standing down after the
2009/10 audit and a new lead partner will be in place for the
2010/11 financial year.

Conflicts of Interest
Under UK company law, all Directors must seek authorisation
before taking up any position with another company that conflicts,
or may possibly conflict, with the Company’s interests. The
Company’s articles of association contain provisions to allow the
Directors to authorise situations of potential conflicts of interest
so that a Director is not in breach of his duty under company law.
All existing external appointments for each Director have been
authorised by the Board and each authorisation is set out in a
Conflicts Register. Directors are required to notify the Board of
potential conflicts so that they can be considered, and if
appropriate, authorised by the Board. In addition the Corporate
Governance and Nominations Committee conducts an annual
review of Directors’ conflicts and reports its findings to the Board.

The Corporate Governance and Nominations Committee reviewed
the Board’s conflicts during the financial year and concluded that
conflicts had been appropriately authorised and that the process
for authorisation is operating effectively. The Corporate
Governance and Nominations Committee and the Board will
continue to monitor and review potential conflicts of interest on a
regular basis.

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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practice and allows the Company to count all votes rather than just
those of shareholders attending the meeting. As recommended by
the Combined Code, all resolutions were voted separately and the
voting results, which included all votes cast for, against and those
withheld, together with all proxies lodged prior to the meeting, were
indicated at the meeting and the final results were released to the
London Stock Exchange as soon as practicable after the meeting.
The announcement was also made available on the Company’s
corporate website. As in previous years, the proxy form and the
announcement of the voting results made it clear that a ‘vote
withheld’ is not a vote in law and will not be counted in the
calculation of the proportion of the votes for or against the
resolution.

Directors’ responsibilities
The responsibilities of the Directors are set out on page 55.

DIRECTORS’ REPORT – GOVERNANCE
continued

Corporate governance report
continued

Data Governance
The Company established a Data Governance Committee (the
“Committee”) during the 2008/09 financial year. The Committee
reports to the Audit Committee and a committee of senior
management, which is chaired by the CEO. The Committee has the
role of ensuring that appropriate procedures and controls are in
place to ensure that the Group processes personal data in
accordance with Data Protection laws, and that individuals are able
to exercise their rights under such laws. A set of policies has been
updated and further developed under the Committee to outline
and promote consistent standards and practices in the collection
and use of personal data across the Group. The policies also set out
the responsibilities of employees in managing personal data and
the escalation process to be followed, should employees become
aware of any breach of policy.

Communication with shareholders
Presentations and webcasts on the development of the business
are available to all shareholders on the Company’s corporate
website. The Company also uses email alerts and actively promotes
downloading of all reports enhancing speed and equality of
shareholder communication. The Company has taken full
advantage of the provisions within the Companies Act 2006
allowing the website to be used as the primary means of
communication with shareholders where they have not requested
hard copy documentation. The shareholder information section on
pages 114 to 115 contains further details on electronic shareholder
communications together with more general information of
interest to shareholders which is also included on the Company’s
corporate website.

The Company is committed to maintaining and improving dialogue
with shareholders in order to ensure that the objectives of both the
Group and the shareholders are understood.

A programme of meetings with institutional shareholders, fund
managers and analysts takes place each year. The Company also
makes presentations to analysts and investors around the time of
the half-year and full-year results announcement; conference calls
are held with analysts and investors following the announcement
of the first quarter and third quarter results, and on occasion,
following the announcement of the fourth quarter results, and
presentations are made during the year to many existing or
potential shareholders. During the year, in particular following the
proposal from News Corporation, various members of the Board,
including the Senior Independent Director, met with institutional
shareholders and representative bodies, reinforcing the
continuation of open dialogue and discussion of strategy between
the Board and its shareholders. Non-Executive Directors are offered
the opportunity to attend meetings with major shareholders and
are expected to attend if required.

The Board views the AGM as an opportunity to communicate with
private investors and sets aside time at these meetings for
shareholders to ask questions of the Board. At the AGM, the
Chairman provides a brief summary of the Company’s activities for
the previous year to the shareholders. All resolutions at the 2009
AGM were voted by way of an electronic poll. This follows best

42

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

Other governance and statutory disclosures
Business review
The Companies Act 2006 requires the Company to set out in the
Directors’ Report a fair review of the business of the Group during
the financial year ended 30 June 2010 including an analysis of the
position of the Group at the end of the financial year, and a
description of the principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group
(known as a ‘Business Review’). The purpose of the Business Review
is to enable shareholders to assess how the Directors have
performed their duty under section 172 of the Companies Act 2006.

The information that fulfils the Business Review requirements can
be found in the following sections of the Directors’ Report.

• Chief Executive Officer’s statement on page 4
• Performance KPIs on pages 6 to 7
• Review of the business on pages 8 to 17
• Financial review on pages 27 to 33
• Principal risks and uncertainties that face the Group are

described on pages 23 to 26

• Significant trends that could have a material effect on the
performance of the Group are described on pages 32 to 33

• People matters on pages 21 to 22
• Community and environmental matters on pages 18 to 21.

Pages 4 to 54 inclusive (together with the sections incorporated by
reference) consist of a Directors’ Report that has been drawn up
and presented in accordance with and in reliance upon applicable
English company law and the liabilities of the Directors in
connection with that report shall be subject to the limitations and
restrictions provided by the law.

Principal activities
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is the holding company of the
British Sky Broadcasting group of companies (the “Group”). The
Group’s principal activities are detailed in the Review of the
business on pages 8 to 17.

Results and dividends
The profit for the year ended 30 June 2010 was £878 million (2009:
£259 million). The Directors recommend a final dividend for the year
ended 30 June 2010 of 11.525 pence per ordinary share which,
together with the interim dividend of 7.875 pence paid to
shareholders on 20 April 2010, will make a total dividend for the
year of 19.40 pence (2009: 17.6 pence). Subject to approval at the
AGM, the final dividend will be paid on 12 November 2010 to
shareholders appearing on the register at the close of business on
22 October 2010.

Interests in voting rights
Information provided to the Company pursuant to the UK Listing
Authority’s Disclosure and Transparency Rules (DTRs) is published
on a Regulatory Information Service and on the Company’s website.
As at 28 July 2010, the Company had been notified under DTR5 of
the following significant holdings of voting rights in its shares. 

Identity of person or group

Amount
owned

News UK Nominees Limited(i)
686,021,700
Capital Research and Management Company(ii) 88,008,696
55,977,854
The Capital Group Companies, Inc.(ii)

Percent
of class

39.14
5.02
3.10

(i)

Direct holding which is subject to restrictions on its voting rights (please see
“Voting rights" below).

(ii)

Indirect holding.

At 28 July 2010, 39.14% of the Company’s shares are held by News
UK Nominees Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of
England and Wales which is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
News Corporation. As a result of Rupert Murdoch’s ability to
appoint certain members of the Board of Directors of the corporate
trustee of the Murdoch Family Trust, which beneficially owns less
than 1% of News Corporation’s Class A Common Stock and 38.4% of
its Class B Common Stock, Rupert Murdoch may be deemed to be a
beneficial owner of the shares beneficially owned by the Murdoch
Family Trust. Rupert Murdoch, however, disclaims any beneficial
ownership of those shares. Also, Rupert Murdoch beneficially owns
less than 1% of News Corporation’s Class A Common Stock and an
additional 1.3% of its Class B Common Stock. Thus, Rupert Murdoch
may be deemed to beneficially own in the aggregate less than 1% of
News Corporation’s Class A Common Stock and 39.7% of its Class B
Common Stock.

The ESOP was established to satisfy awards made to participants
of the Company’s employee share plans. The trustees of the ESOP
have waived the right to dividends payable in respect of the shares
held by it, except to the extent of 0.0001% of the dividend payable
on each share. At 30 June 2010, the ESOP had an interest in
8,515,344 of the Company’s ordinary shares. The Trustees, who are
independent of the Company, have full discretion how they vote
the ordinary shares held by the ESOP.

Voting rights
The Company’s articles of association provide that subject to any
rights or restrictions attached to any shares, on a show of hands
every member present in person or by proxy shall have one vote,
and on a poll every member shall have one vote for every share of
which he is a holder. On a poll votes may be given either personally
or by proxy or (in the case of a corporate member) by a duly
authorised representative.

Share capital
The Company’s issued ordinary share capital at 30 June 2010
comprised one class of ordinary shares. All of the issued ordinary
shares are fully paid and rank equally in all respects. Further details
of the Company’s share capital is disclosed in notes 25 and 26 to
the consolidated financial statements.

A shareholder entitled to attend and vote at a general meeting may
appoint one or more proxies to attend and vote instead of him. If a
member appoints more than one proxy he must specify the number
of shares which each proxy is entitled to exercise rights over. A
proxy need not be a shareholder of the Company. Holders of the
Company’s ordinary shares do not have cumulative voting rights.

A voting agreement dated 21 September 2005 was entered into
between the Company, BSkyB Holdco Inc, News Corporation and
News UK Nominees Limited which became unconditional on
4 November 2005 and caps News UK Nominees Limited’s voting

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT – GOVERNANCE
continued

Other governance and statutory disclosures
continued

rights at any general meeting at 37.19%. The provisions of the voting
agreement cease to apply on the first to occur of a number of
circumstances which include the date on which a general offer is
made by an independent person (as defined in the voting
agreement) for the ordinary share capital of the Company.

Restrictions on transfer of securities
There are no specific restrictions on the transfer of securities in the
Company, which is governed by the articles of association and
prevailing legislation, nor is the Company aware of any agreements
between holders of securities that may result in restrictions on the
transfer of securities or that may result in restrictions on voting
rights.

Variation of rights
Subject to the Companies Act 2006, rights attached to any class of
shares maybe varied with the consent in writing of the holders of
three-quarters in nominal value of the issued shares of the class or
with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate
general meeting of the shareholders.

Board of Directors
The names and biographical details of the Directors of the
Company are given on pages 34 to 35. There were no changes to
the Board of Directors during the financial year. Details of the
Directors retiring at the Company’s AGM on 22 October 2010 are
disclosed within the corporate governance report on page 38.

The Directors’ interests in the ordinary shares and options of the
Company are disclosed within the report on Directors’
remuneration on pages 46 to 54.

Appointment and retirement of Directors
The Directors may from time to time appoint one or more Directors.
Any such Director shall hold office only until the next AGM and shall
then be eligible for reappointment by the Company’s shareholders.
In accordance with the Company’s current articles of association,
one-third of the Directors must retire by rotation each year. In
accordance with the Combined Code, any Director who has served
more than three three-year terms (other than those holding an
executive position) is subject to annual reappointment.

Directors’ powers in relation to the Company issuing
its own shares
The Directors were granted authority at the 2009 AGM to allot
relevant securities up to a nominal amount of £289,000,000. This
authority will apply until the conclusion of this year’s AGM. An
ordinary resolution to renew the Directors’ authority will be
proposed at the 2010 AGM. A special resolution will also be
proposed to renew the Directors’ powers to make non-pre-emptive
issues for cash in connection with rights issues and otherwise up to
a nominal amount of £43,500,000.

Significant agreements
Details of any significant agreements that take effect, alter or
terminate on a change of control of the Company, are disclosed in
the review of the business on pages 16 and 17.

44

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

Payment policy
The policy of the Group is to agree terms of payment with suppliers
prior to entering into a contractual relationship. In the absence of a
specific agreement, it is the policy of the Group to pay suppliers in
accordance with its standard payment terms of 45 days. The Group
had below 45 days’ purchases outstanding at 30 June 2010 (2009:
below 45 days), based on the total amount invoiced by non-
programme trade suppliers during the year ended 30 June 2010.
Programme creditors include significant balances which are not yet
contractually due. In respect of amounts both contractually due
and invoiced, the outstanding number of days’ purchases is below
45 days (2009: below 45 days).

Financial instruments
Details of the Group’s use of financial instruments, together with
information on our risk management objectives and policies, and
our exposure to price risks, credit risks, liquidity risks and cash flow
risks, can be found in notes 23 and 24 to the consolidated financial
statements.

Charitable contributions and community and
environmental activities
The Bigger Picture Review, which does not form part of the Annual
Report, will be made available online in September 2010, and will
provide further information on the Group’s commitment to
corporate responsibility, including community and environmental
activities (see www.sky.com/thebiggerpicture). An overview of the
Group’s Bigger Picture approach, including community and
environmental activities is also provided in the review of the
business on pages 18 to 21.

During the financial year the Group gave a total of £3,840,454
(2009: £2,598,015) in charitable donations in the form of cash.
These donations were for the purpose of supporting Bigger Picture
activities focusing on responsibility, environment, sport and arts.

• Responsibility: as a responsible business Sky wants to play its

part in the communities where it operates and where its
employees live and work. The Group gave a total of £552,094 to
support community activities during the year. This figure
includes matched employee fundraising activities and matched
payroll giving;

• Environment: the Group gave a total of £1,673,161 to activities
that help protect the environment and tackle climate change
through charitable donations to organisation such as WWF and
Global Action Plan;

• Arts: the Group gave £1,089,324 to activities which make the

arts more accessible through charitable donations to
organisations such as Artichoke and English National Ballet;
• Sport: the Group gave £525,875 to encourage participation in

sport through the Youth Sport Trust. 

The Group’s total community investment (cash, time and
management costs) will be published in the Bigger Picture Review
referred to above.   

Political contributions
Political contributions of the Group in the UK during 2010
amounted to £3,800 (2009: nil).

The Company hosted a drinks reception at the Conservative Party
Conference in October 2009 with the Conservative Creative

Auditors
Deloitte LLP, the auditors of the Company, have expressed their
willingness to continue in office. A resolution to reappoint them as
the Company’s auditors and to authorise the Directors to
determine their remuneration will be proposed at the forthcoming
AGM.

Annual General Meeting
The notice convening the AGM, to be held at The Queen Elizabeth II
Conference Centre, Broad Sanctuary, Westminster, London SW1P
3EE on 22 October 2010 at 11.00am, is available for download from
the Company’s corporate website at www.sky.com/corporate.

By order of the Board,
Dave Gormley
Company Secretary
28 July 2010

Industries Network to enable Members of Parliament, peers and
journalists to meet leaders from the creative industries. The
Company does not consider that this was a political donation but
due to the wide interpretation of what constitutes a political
donation under the Companies Act 2006 it was felt that it was
prudent to make a disclosure.  

Going concern
The Group’s business activities, together with the factors likely to
affect its future development, performance and position are set
out in the review of the business on pages 8 to 17. The financial
position of the Group, its cash flows and liquidity position are
described in the financial review on pages 27 to 33. In addition,
notes 22, 23 and 24 to the consolidated financial statements
include details of the Group’s treasury activities, long term funding
arrangements, financial instruments and hedging activities and
exposure to financial risk.

As set out above, the Group has sufficient financial resources
which, together with internally generated cash flows, will continue
to provide sufficient sources of liquidity to fund its current
operations, including its contractual and commercial commitments
as set out on pages 95 to 96, its approved capital expenditure and
any proposed dividends, and the Group is well placed to manage its
business risks successfully, despite the current economic outlook.

After making enquires, the Directors have formed the judgment, at
the time of approving the consolidated financial statements, that
there is a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate
resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable
future. For this reason, the Directors continue to adopt the going
concern basis in preparing the consolidated financial statements.

Disclosure of information to auditors
In accordance with the provisions of Section 418 of the Companies
Act 2006, each of the persons who are Directors of the Company at
the date of approval of this report confirms that:

• so far as the Director is aware, there is no relevant audit

information (as defined in the Companies Act 2006) of which the
Company’s auditors are unaware; and

• the Director has taken all the steps that he/she ought to have

taken as a Director to make himself/herself aware of any relevant
audit information (as defined) and to establish that the
Company’s auditors are aware of that information.

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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3. Remuneration Committee
Role of the Remuneration Committee and terms of
reference
The Committee is responsible for recommendations to the Board
regarding:
• the design and implementation of incentive compensation

arrangements including share-based schemes;

• remuneration packages for Executive Directors of the Company
including basic salary, performance-based bonus and long-term
incentives, pensions and other benefits;

• the Company’s policy on remuneration for Board Directors. It also

reviews the proposals made by the CEO for other Senior
Executives;

• any payments or benefits offered to employees in excess of
£250,000 which do not form part of an employee’s expected
remuneration or benefits require the approval of the Committee.

The full terms of reference for the Committee are available on the
Company’s corporate website.

DIRECTORS’ REPORT – GOVERNANCE
continued

Report on Directors’ remuneration
Remuneration policy overview

– The objective of our pay policy across the Company is to

reward people fairly and competitively, in line with
performance and in order to attract and retain the best
people. For Executive Directors, remuneration is heavily geared
to the achievement of challenging objectives and targets that
directly align executive and shareholder interests.

– Currently the ratio of fixed pay to variable pay remains one of
the lowest in the FTSE 100. Following the appointment of both
the CEO and CFO on compensation lower than their respective
predecessors, a commitment was given by the Committee to
move their fixed pay closer to market norms for their positions
over time.

– In light of the uncertain external environment that has

prevailed over the last two years, and notwithstanding the
Company’s own very strong performance, the Committee has
judged that the time is not right to award increases in fixed
pay other than nominal increases. 

– In reviewing remuneration levels in general, the Committee
notes that the other major element of fixed pay, namely
pension provision, remains significantly below market norms. 

– As a direct consequence of weighting total remuneration
heavily on variable pay and in alignment with shareholder
return, shareholders should note that in circumstances in
which there is significant share price outperformance,
reported compensation in a single period may appear higher
than market norms.

1. Membership of the Remuneration Committee
During the year ended 30 June 2010, the Remuneration Committee
(the “Committee”) met four times and was comprised of the
following Independent Non-Executive Directors:
• Nicholas Ferguson (Chairman)
• David Evans
• Jacques Nasser
• Daniel Rimer ( joined the Committee on 27 January 2010.)

2. Advisors
Hewitt New Bridge Street (HNBS) has been appointed by the
Committee to act as the advisors. HNBS advises on all aspects of
senior executive remuneration and has no other connection with
the Company other than in the provision of advice on executive and
employee remuneration. No executive was present when matters
affecting his remuneration were considered.

The Chief Executive and the Director for People provide information
to the Committee on remuneration but not in respect of their own
remuneration. The Committee was supported by the Company
Secretary, Finance and Human Resources functions. From time to
time, the Company holds consultation meetings with a range of
institutional investors, concerning aspects of the Committee’s
policy, and has taken their advice into account in arriving at
remuneration decisions.

46

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

4. Elements of Executive Director and Senior Executive pay
4.1 Remuneration paid to the Executive Directors is made up as follows:

Fixed Pay

Basic salary
(see section 4.2)

Pension and other benefits
(sections 4.3 and 4.4)

Variable Pay

Annual bonus
(section 4.5)

Payable against achievement of 
short-term objectives set during 
the year

1 year

Long Term Incentive Plan 
(LTIP) award
(section 4.6) 

Payable against achievement of 
stretching long-term objectives

3 years

Co-Investment LTIP award
(section 4.6) 

Only operates if employee invests
own money to buy shares. Company 
matches shares with an LTIP award 
which vests after 3 years if 
performance conditions are met

3 years

Performance Period

Conditions

Salaries reviewed annually

Salaries reviewed against external 
benchmarks and against individual 
performance. 

Not applicable

Not applicable

Targets set by the Committee for
• Operating profit
• Free cash flow
• Customer growth

30% subject to TSR performance vs.
the FTSE 100 over three years.

70% subject to 3 year targets
• EPS
• Operating cash flow
• Revenue growth

The number of invested shares is
matched up to a maximum of 1.5
shares for every 1 invested, subject
to a three-year EPS performance
condition. The investment eligible to
receive matching awards is limited to
an amount equivalent to 50% of an
individual’s  gross annual bonus.

Remuneration mix
The charts below show the relative weight of the elements making
up the remuneration mix.

TARGET REMUNERATION
Average of Executive Directors

MAXIMUM REMUNERATION
Average of Executive Directors

Fixed Pay

Fixed Pay

Maximum
Bonus

LTIP

Target
Bonus

LTIP

Notes to chart:
•

Target performance assumes target annual bonus and minimum level of vesting
under the LTIP.

•

•
•

Maximum performance assumes maximum annual bonus and maximum vesting
under the LTIP.

The LTIP assumes maximum investment into the co-investment element.

The LTIP ignores share price growth.

Fixed Pay
Fixed pay is at below market norms for Executive Directors.
Following the salary increases awarded on 1 July 2010 the Executive
Directors’ fixed pay remains in the lower quartile of the comparator
benchmark data.

4.2 Basic salary
Basic salaries for Executive Directors and Senior Executives are
reviewed by the Committee by benchmarking data from external
sources relative to industry sectors/companies of a similar size. The
Company uses a subset of the FTSE 100 as its benchmark. It also
takes into consideration the pay principles applied elsewhere in the
Company. 

Executive Directors’ salaries remain at below market levels. The
Committee has reviewed salary levels for 2010, and awarded Jeremy
Darroch an increase of 2.5% to £888,000 and Andrew Griffith an
increase of 4% to £546,000 from 1 July 2010.

4.3 Pensions
The Group provides pensions to eligible employees through a single
pension plan, the BSkyB Pension Plan (“Pension Plan”), which is a
defined contribution plan. Executive Directors contribute 4% of
pensionable salary (basic salary less the pension offset) into the
Pension Plan each year and the Company matches this with a
contribution of 8% of pensionable salary. For Executive Directors

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT – GOVERNANCE
continued

Report on Directors’ remuneration
continued

this contribution rate is well below market norms. There is no other
additional top up arrangement and the Group has no legacy
defined benefit plans.

The Plan has income protection of up to two thirds salary, or
£300,000 and insured death in service of up to one third salary,
which can be taken entirely as pension, 50% lump sum and 50%
pension or entirely as a lump sum, subject to the lifetime allowance.

4.4 Other benefits
Executive Directors are entitled to the use of a company car and
along with all employees, private medical insurance and life
assurance cover equal to two times base salary, increased to four
times base salary if they become members of the Pension Plan.

Variable Pay 
The Committee’s intention is that performance-related elements of
pay continue to represent a higher proportion of remuneration
than market norms. This, combined with the fact that the
Company’s pension arrangements for Executive Directors are
considerably less generous than those found at comparable
companies, means that a large amount of pay is at risk. Pay is
competitive only if the Company’s stretching targets are delivered.

4.5 Annual bonus
For the CEO, the maximum bonus that may be awarded is 200% of
salary, while for the CFO, the maximum bonus that may be awarded
is 125% of salary, and for on-target performance he would receive
100% of salary.

Performance during the year ended 30 June 2010 was very strong
across the board and exceeded each of the targets for adjusted
operating profit (2009/10 achievement: £855m), adjusted free
cash flow (2009/10 achievement: £626m) and DTH customer
growth (2009/10 achievement: 418,000). The CEO and CFO were
awarded the following bonus payments:

Jeremy Darroch
Andrew Griffith

Bonus amount
(£)

As a
% of salary

1,732,500
656,250

200%
125%

For the year ending 30 June 2011 the operational measures that
govern bonus payouts will continue to be: operating profit, free
cash flow and DTH customer growth.

The Committee retains the discretion to adjust payouts either up
or down as an exception, if they feel that an important aspect of
performance has not been reflected.

4.6 LTIP
The Company operates an LTIP for Executive Directors and Senior
Executives. Awards are:
• subject to stretching performance and TSR measures.
• made to any employee or full-time Executive Director of the

Group at the discretion of the Committee.

• normally made as a nil priced option.
• not transferable or pensionable.
• made over a number of shares in the Company, determined by

the Committee.

48

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

• usually satisfied using shares purchased by the Company in the

market.

The Committee believes that conditional (performance) share
awards continue to be the best long-term incentive vehicle for
Executive Directors and Senior Executives. The Committee
approved the facility to award matching shares through the LTIP
(Co-Investment awards) in 2009. The Committee believes that the
introduction of the Co-Investment facility will further align
executives with shareholders by promoting the ownership of shares
within the executive population. Awards were first granted
following the payment of the 2008/09 annual bonus and it is
intended to be operated annually thereafter.

Design of LTIP plan
(i) LTIP award
Grants are made every year and vesting occurs every two years. In
the first year, an Executive may be granted an award of shares that
vests at the end of the three year performance cycle subject to
performance conditions. In the second year a further discretionary
award of up to normally no more than 100% of the year one award
can be made. This award vests at the same time as the first award.
The grant is made in terms of a number of shares as opposed to a
monetary value and therefore values in relation to salary may vary
with share price movements.

(ii) Co-Investment LTIP award
Executive Directors who participate in the plan by investing their
own money in the Company’s shares will be granted a conditional
award of BSkyB shares based on the amount they have invested in
the Group. These matching shares will vest three years later only if
three year EPS targets are met, up to a maximum of 1.5 shares for
every 1 invested on a pre-tax basis. The investment eligible to
receive matching awards will be limited to an amount equivalent to
50% of the individual’s gross annual bonus.

How the LTIP operates
Performance conditions for LTIP
The Committee reviews the performance conditions for the LTIP
from time to time to ensure that they remain appropriate. 

(i) Vesting of LTIP awards
The awards vest, in full or in part, dependent on points gained for
satisfying performance targets measured over three years.
Performance targets are calibrated to ensure the achievement of
Sky’s stretching long-term goals, and the cumulative total points
achieved governs vesting.

Vesting of 70% of the award is dependent on operational measures,
while 30% is governed by TSR performance. The specifics of the
measures and targets are as follows:

i) 70% based on operational targets

In the event of a change of control the Committee has the
discretion on how awards will vest under the plan.

For awards made in 2008 and 2009 (i.e. awards which will vest in
2011) and for awards to be made in 2010, (i.e. awards which will vest
in 2013) the operational performance conditions should be subject
to EPS, operating cash flow and revenue growth. EPS is generally
defined as adjusted EPS, however, the Committee will review the
measure and may amend the definition at its discretion. Measuring
operating cash flow encourages the conversion of profit into cash
flow and gives a better indication of the underlying health of the
business than free cash flow per share (“FCF”). Revenue growth

recognises the growth opportunity or the contribution existing
customers make to the financial performance, through the number
of different products now offered by the Company. Awards made
prior to July 2008 were subject to EPS, FCF and DTH customer
growth.

Points are awarded for performance on three operational measures
as follows:

CONDITIONS FOR AWARDS VESTING IN 2011

TSR calculations are conducted independently by HNBS, employing
a methodology which averages share prices over the three months
prior to the start and the three months prior to the end of the
three-year performance period.

CONDITIONS FOR AWARDS VESTING IN 2009
The TSR performance of the Company in relation to the awards that
vested in 2009 came in at above median at 54% meaning that 13%
of this element of the award vested. 

EPS growth

Performance Conditions
Operating cash flow

Revenue growth

Performance
achieved

Performance
achieved
awarded (% of target)

Points

Performance
achieved
awarded (% of target)

Points

Points
awarded

EPS growth

Actual Points Awarded
FCF

DTH customer growth

Actual points awarded

Actual points awarded

Actual points awarded

4.34

10.00

9.29

RPI + 8% pa
RPI +7% pa
RPI +6% pa
RPI +5% pa
RPI +4% pa
RPI +3% pa
Less than
RPI + 3% pa

105%
or more
100%
95%
90%
85%
75%
Less than
75%

10
8
6
4
2
1

0

105%
or more
100%
95%
90%
85%
75%
Less than
75%

10
8
6
4
2
1

0

10
8
6
4
2
1

0

The number of points awarded exceeded 21; therefore, 100% of the
operational portion of the LTIP vested.

As the 70% portion of the award relative to the operational
performance conditions were met in full this meant that 83% of the
total award vested.

The TSR performance targets will not be applicable to awards made
in 2010.

The total number of points awarded governs the extent of vesting
of the operational portion, according to a straight-line vesting
schedule:

Total points achieved

Less than 1
1
1-21

21 or more

Resulting vesting

% of
operational portion

% of
overall award

0%
10%
10% – 100% on a

0%
7%
7% – 70% on a
straight-line basis straight-line basis
70%

100%

ii) 30% based on TSR Performance 

The Company’s TSR performance is measured relative to the
constituents of the FTSE 100. If the Company’s TSR performance is
below median, the TSR element of the award lapses with no vesting.
For median performance, one third of the TSR portion of the award
vests. For performance in the upper quartile, the whole TSR portion
of the award vests. For performance between median and upper
quartile, vesting is on a straight-line basis, as shown in the chart
below:

TSR VESTING SCHEDULE

Payout
(% of grant)

30

10

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U

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Median

50

55

60

65

70

75

80

Final TSR rank (%)

TSR
Performance

Payout

Below Median

50%

55%

60%

65%

70%

75%

100%

0%

10%

14%

18%

22%

26%

30%

30%

(ii) Co-Investment LTIP award
Awards are subject to EPS growth targets. EPS is generally defined
as adjusted EPS, however, the Committee will review the measure
and may amend the definition at its discretion. For the awards
made in 2009 EPS growth of RPI +3% p.a. is required for vesting at
target (1x match) with growth of RPI +6% for maximum (11/2 x
match), straight line vesting will apply for achievement levels
between 3% and 6%. The match is based on an investment of up to
an amount equivalent to 50% of gross bonus.

The performance conditions for the co-investment LTIP awards
reflect the fact that participants invest their own money in the
Company’s shares and are exposed to downside risk throughout
the three year period.

5. Other share plans
5.1 Management Long-Term Incentive Plan
(“Management LTIP”)
The Company also operates a Management LTIP, which has replaced
options granted under the Executive Share Option Scheme.
Selected employees will participate in the Management LTIP, but
this will not include any Executive Directors or Senior Executives
who participate in the LTIP. Awards under this scheme are made at
the discretion of the CEO. To date, the Management LTIP has
mirrored the LTIP for Senior Executives and Executive Directors, with
the same performance conditions.

5.2 Sharesave Scheme
The Sharesave Scheme is open to all UK and Irish employees.
Options are normally exercisable after either three or five years
from the date of grant. The price at which options are offered is not
less than 80% of the middle-market price on the dealing day
immediately preceding the date of invitation. It is the policy of the
Group to make an invitation to employees to participate in the
scheme following the announcement of the year-end results.

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT – GOVERNANCE
continued

Report on Directors’ remuneration
continued

5.3 20 Year Award Plan
A one-off grant was made to all employees in 2009 to celebrate the
Company’s 20th anniversary. These shares will be delivered in
3 years time. They are not subject to any further performance
condition other than continued employment. 

5.4 Executive Share Option Schemes (“Executive
Schemes”)
The Company has in place Approved and Unapproved Executive
Share Option Schemes under HMRC guidelines. Executive Directors
and Senior Executives who participate in the LTIP do not
participate in the Executive Schemes. No options have been
granted since 2004.

6. Service agreements
Policy
The Committee’s stated policy is that Executive Directors’ service
agreements will contain a maximum notice period of one year. The
Committee will also consider, where appropriate to do so, reducing
remuneration to a departing Director. However, the Committee will
consider such issues on a case-by-case basis and will consider the
terms of employment of a departing Director. A large proportion of
each Executive Director’s total direct remuneration is linked to
performance and therefore will not be payable to the extent that
the relevant targets are not met.

Jeremy Darroch
Jeremy Darroch’s initial service contract as CFO with the Company
commenced on 16 August 2004 and his service contract was
revised with effect from 7 December 2007 when he became CEO.
The new agreement shall continue unless, or until, terminated by
either party giving to the other not less than 12 months’ notice in
writing. Jeremy Darroch will be paid a bonus amount depending
upon the performance criteria adopted by the Committee for each
financial year during the continuance of his service agreement with
the Company.

Jeremy Darroch is also entitled to other benefits, namely pension
benefits, company car, life assurance equal to four times base
salary, medical insurance and an entitlement to participate in the
LTIP.

Jeremy Darroch has a non-compete clause in his service agreement
specifying that he shall not be able to work for any business or
prospective business carried on within the UK, which wholly or
partially competes with the Group’s businesses at the date of
termination of his agreement. Such restriction will be for a period of
12 months.

On termination of the agreement, Jeremy Darroch will be entitled to
one year’s salary, pension and life assurance benefits from the date
of termination and a pro-rata bonus up to the date of termination.
In the instance of the termination of Jeremy Darroch’s employment
for cause, he would be paid salary and benefits up to the date of
termination but this would not include any pro-rata bonus.

Jeremy Darroch is a Non-Executive Director of Marks & Spencer
Group plc and retained fees for this appointment of £73,000 for
the year ended 30 June 2010.

50

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

Andrew Griffith
Andrew Griffith has a service agreement with the Company that
commenced on 7 April 2008 and shall continue unless, or until,
terminated by either party giving to the other not less than 12
months’ notice in writing. Andrew Griffith will be paid a bonus
amount depending upon the performance criteria adopted by the
Committee for each financial year during the continuance of his
service agreement with the Company.

Andrew Griffith is also entitled to other benefits, namely pension
benefits, company car, life assurance equal to four times base
salary, medical insurance and an entitlement to participate in the
LTIP.

Andrew Griffith has a non-compete clause in his service agreement
specifying that he shall not be able to work for any business or
prospective business carried on within the UK, which wholly or
partially competes with the Group’s businesses at the date of
termination of his agreement. Such restriction will be for a period of
12 months.

On termination of the agreement, Andrew Griffith will be entitled to
one year’s salary, pension and life assurance benefits from the date
of termination and a pro-rata bonus up to the date of termination.
In the instance of the termination of Andrew Griffith’s employment
for cause, he would be paid salary and benefits up to the date of
termination but this would not include any pro-rata bonus.

7. Non-Executive Directors
There has been a 2.5% increase in the basic fees payable to the
Non-Executive Directors and the Chairman set by the Board of
Directors for the financial year ending 30 June 2011; basic fees are
£53,800 (2010: £52,500). Furthermore, the Non-Executive
Directors will be paid an additional £10,000 (2010: £10,000) per
annum each for membership of the Audit Committee, the
Remuneration Committee, the Corporate Governance and
Nominations Committee and The Bigger Picture Committee. The
Chairman and the Chairmen of the Audit Committee, the
Remuneration Committee, the Corporate Governance and
Nominations Committee and The Bigger Picture Committee each
receives an additional £25,000 per annum (2010: £25,000). The
Senior Independent Director will receive an additional fee of
£20,000 per annum (2010: £20,000). Each Non-Executive Director
is engaged by the Company for an initial term of three years.
Reappointment for a further term is not automatic, but may be
mutually agreed.

Following the proposal received from News Corporation, the Board
established an Offer Committee of the Board comprising the
Independent Non-Executive and Executive Directors of the Board. It
has been agreed that the Non-Executive Directors be paid
additional fees of £10,000 per annum for membership of the
Committee, plus £25,000 per annum for the Chairman of the
Committee inclusive of the role of Deputy Chairman. These fees will
be paid for the duration of the proposal.

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8. Performance graph
The following graph shows the Company’s performance measured
by TSR in the five years to 30 June 2010. This graph shows the
growth in the value of a hypothetical £100 holding in the
Company’s ordinary shares over five years, relative to three indices,
which are considered to be the most relevant broad equity market
indices for this purpose. The graph is included to meet a legislative
requirement and is not directly relevant to the performance criteria
approved by shareholders for the Company’s long-term incentive
plans.

BREAKDOWN OF SHAREHOLDER RETURN FROM 1 JULY 2005 TO 
30 JUNE 2010

Breakdown of shareholder return from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2008

Except as disclosed in this report, no other Director held any
interest in the share capital, including options, of the Company, or
of any subsidiary of the Company, during the year. All interests at
the date shown are beneficial.

During the year ended 30 June 2010, the share price traded within
the range of 454.8 to 705.0p per share. The middle-market closing
price on 25 June 2010, the last trading day of the financial year, was
701.0p.

180

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0
Jun-05

BSkyB
FTSE 100
FTSE 350 Media
NYSE TMT

Jun-06

Jun-07

Jun-08

Jun-09

Jun-

9. Share interests
The Company encourages the Non-Executive Directors to build up a
holding in the Company’s shares and has introduced a facility
whereby Non-Executive Directors can elect to receive a portion of
their fees in Sky shares. Shares are purchased on a monthly basis in
the market.

The Directors who are deemed to be affiliated with News
Corporation (James Murdoch, David DeVoe, Thomas Mockridge and
Arthur Siskind) are not allowed to participate in the facility due to
the fact that under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code they would be
deemed to be acting in concert with News Corporation if they were
to purchase shares in the Company and this would place News
Corporation under an obligation to make a mandatory offer for all
of the issued share capital of the Company.

The interests of the Directors in the ordinary share capital of the
Company during the year and as at 28 July 2010 were:

Name of Director

Jeremy Darroch
David Evans
Nicholas Ferguson
Andrew Griffith
Andrew Higginson
Allan Leighton
Jacques Nasser
Dame Gail Rebuck
Daniel Rimer
Lord Wilson of Dinton

This table is audited.

At
28 July
2010

170,379
17,770(i)
11,313
34,492
3,520
4,972
1,716
1,307
4,657
1,820

At
30 June
2010

170,379
17,651(i)
11,224
34,492
3,447
4,673
1,607
1,234
4,359
1,730

At
30 June
2009

60,000
16,000(i)
10,000
5,000
2,248
–
–
–
–
486

(i)

16,000 ordinary shares held in the form of 4,000 ADSs, one ADS is equivalent to
four ordinary shares.

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ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

51

 
 
 
 
 
 
DIRECTORS’ REPORT – GOVERNANCE
continued

Report on Directors’ remuneration
continued

10. Directors’ remuneration
The emoluments of the Directors for the year are shown below:

Salary and
fees
£

Bonus
scheme
£

Benefits
£

Total
emoluments
before
pension
2010
£

Total
emoluments
including
pension
2010
£

Total
emoluments
including
pension
2009
£

Employers
pensions
£

866,250
525,000

1,732,500
656,250

11,090
13,055

2,609,840
1,194,305

68,904
41,604

2,678,744
1,235,909

2,336,570
1,058,035

87,500
52,500
62,500
117,500
87,500
87,500
52,500
62,500
97,500
56,782
62,500
97,500

–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–

87,500
52,500
62,500
117,500
87,500
87,500
52,500
62,500
97,500
56,782
62,500
97,500

–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–

87,500
52,500
62,500
117,500
87,500
87,500
52,500
62,500
97,500
56,782
62,500
97,500

75,000
50,000
60,000
110,000
60,000
85,000
21,875
60,000
60,000
50,000
60,000
85,000

–
–

30,512
17,500

2,315,532

2,388,750

24,145

4,728,427

110,508

4,838,935

4,219,492

Executive
Jeremy Darroch
Andrew Griffith

Non-Executive
James Murdoch
David Devoe
David Evans
Nicholas Ferguson
Andrew Higginson
Allan Leighton
Thomas Mockridge(i)
Jacques Nasser
Gail Rebuck
Daniel Rimer
Arthur Siskind
Lord Wilson of Dinton

Former Directors
Chase Carey(ii)
Lord Rothschild(iii)

Total emoluments

This table is audited.

Notes:
(i)

Thomas Mockridge was appointed as a Director of the Company on 10 February 2009.

(ii)

(iii)

Chase Carey resigned as a Director of the Company on 10 February 2009.

Lord Rothschild resigned as a Director of the Company on 26 September 2008.

52

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

11. Long Term Incentive Plan
Details of all outstanding awards held under the LTIP are shown below:

Number of shares under award

At
30 June
2009

550,000
550,000

290,000
290,000
295,000
600,000
–

100,000(iv)
50,000(iv)
125,000
125,000
320,000
–

Granted
during
the year

Exercised
during
the year

–
–

–
–
–

600,000(vi)

–
–
–
–
–
320,000(vi)

–
–

240,700(iii)
240,700(iii)
244,850(iii)

–
–

83,000
41,500
103,750
103,750
–
–

Lapsed
during
the year

550,000(ii)
550,000(ii)

49,300
49,300
50,150
–
–

17,000
8,500
21,250
21,250
–
–

At
30 June
2010

Exercise
price

Market price
at date
of exercise

Date from
Date of
which
Award exercisable

Expiry date

–
–

–
–
–
600,000
600,000

–
–
–
–
320,000
320,000

n/a
n/a

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

n/a 03.08.06
30.07.07
n/a

£5.33 03.08.06
£5.33
30.07.07
£5.33 06.02.08
31.07.08
n/a
n/a 26.08.09

£5.33 03.08.06
£5.33 30.05.07
£5.33
30.07.07
£5.33 30.04.08
n/a
31.07.08
n/a 26.08.09

n/a
n/a

n/a
n/a
n/a
31.07.11
31.07.11

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
31.07.11
31.07.11

n/a
n/a

n/a
n/a
n/a
31.07.12
31.07.12

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
31.07.12
31.07.12

Name of Director

James Murdoch

Jeremy Darroch

Andrew Griffith

This table is audited.

Notes:
(i)

The aggregate value received by the Directors on exercise of the LTIP before tax was £10,506,763 (2009: nil).

(ii) Under the terms of James Murdoch’s service agreement as CEO of the Company, the Company elected to pay him in cash an amount equal to the then market price of the

913,000 shares that vested. The market value of the shares at the time of the payment was 533p. James Murdoch was paid an amount of £4,866,290. Furthermore, upon the
payment made to James Murdoch, the awards lapsed.

(iii)

Jeremy Darroch exercised in total 726,250 shares of which 700,000 were sold and 26,250 shares were retained as a personal interest.

(iv)  These awards were made under the Company’s Management LTIP plan, prior to Andrew Griffith’s appointment as a Director of the Company on 7 April 2008.

(v)

(vi)

See performance conditions for LTIP on page 47.

The market price of the shares at the time the shares were awarded was 546.5p.

12. Co-Investment Plan
Details of all outstanding awards held under the Co-Investment Plan are shown below:

Number of shares under award

At
30 June
2009

–

–

Granted
during
the year

204,425(ii)

75,506(iii)

Exercised
during
the year

–

–

Lapsed
during
the year

–

–

At
30 June
2010

204,425

75,506

Exercise
price

Market price
at date
of exercise

Date from
Date of
which
Award exercisable

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

27.08.09

27.08.09

27.08.12

27.08.12

Expiry date

27.08.13

27.08.13

Name of Director

Jeremy Darroch

Andrew Griffith

This table is audited.

Notes:
(i)

See performance conditions for the Co-Investment Plan on page 47.

(ii)

Jeremy Darroch holds 79,848 shares as a match under the plan.

(iii) Andrew Griffith holds 29,492 shares as a match under the plan.

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT – GOVERNANCE
continued

Report on Directors’ remuneration
continued

13. Executive Share Options
Details of all outstanding options held under the Executive Schemes are shown below:

At
30 June
2009

3,030(ii)
25,222
40,025
44,184
19,819(ii)

Number of shares under option

Granted
during
the year

Exercised
during
the year

Lapsed
during
the year

–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–

At
30 June
2010

3,030
25,222
40,025
44,184
19,819

Exercise
price

£9.90
£9.90
£7.94
£6.62
£5.03

Market price
at date
of exercise

n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a

Date from
which
exercisable

23.11.03
23.11.03
06.11.04
01.09.07
06.08.08

Expiry date

23.11.10
23.11.10
06.11.11
01.09.13
06.08.14

Name of Director

Andrew Griffith(i)

This table is audited.

Notes:
(i)

These are all awards that are outstanding following Andrew Griffith’s appointment as a Director on 7 April 2008. As a reminder, the Company has not made any Executive Share
Option awards to any employee since 2004.

(ii)

These options vested following the achievement of the performance target, being the growth in Sky’s EPS being equal to or greater than the increase in RPI plus 3% per annum.

14. Sharesave Scheme Options
Details of all outstanding awards held under the Sharesave Scheme are shown below:

Number of shares under option

At
30 June
2009

4,281
–

2,580

Granted
during
the year

–
3,591

–

Exercised
during
the year

4,281
–

–

At
30 June
2010

–
3,591

2,580

Exercise
price

£3.86
£4.33

£3.72

Market price
at date
of exercise

£5.39
n/a

n/a

Date from
which
exercisable

n/a
01.02.15

01.02.12

Expiry date

n/a
01.08.15

01.08.12

Name of Director

Jeremy Darroch

Andrew Griffith

This table is audited.

Options under the Company’s Sharesave Scheme are not subject to performance conditions.

15. 20 Year Award Plan
Details of all outstanding awards held under the 20 Year Award Plan are shown below:

Number of shares under award

At
30 June
2009

100

100

Granted
during
the year

–

–

Exercised
during
the year

–

–

At
30 June
2010

100

100

Exercise
price

n/a

n/a

Market price
at date
of exercise

n/a

n/a

Date from
which
exercisable

05.02.12

05.02.12

Expiry date

05.04.12

05.04.12

Name of Director

Jeremy Darroch

Andrew Griffith

This table is audited.

Shares granted under the 20 Year Award Plan are not subject to performance conditions.

Signed on behalf of the Board
Nicholas Ferguson
Remuneration Committee Chairman
28 July 2010

54

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Directors’ responsibility statement
The Directors confirm that to the best of their knowledge:

1. The financial statements, prepared in accordance with

International Financial Reporting Standards, give a true and fair
view of the assets, liabilities financial position and profit or loss
of the Company and the undertakings included in the
consolidation taken as a whole; and

2. The management report, which is incorporated into the

Directors’ report, includes a fair review of the development and
performance of the business and the position of the Company
and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a
whole, together with a description of the principal risk and
uncertainties that they face.

By order of the Board

Jeremy Darroch
Chief Executive Officer
28 July 2010

Andrew Griffith
Chief Financial Officer
28 July 2010

Statement of Directors’ responsibility
The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and
the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and
regulations.

Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial
statements for each financial year. Under that law, the Directors are
required to prepare the group financial statements in accordance
with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as
adopted by the European Union and Article 4 of the IAS Regulation
and have also chosen to prepare the Parent Company financial
statements under IFRSs as adopted by the EU. Under Company law,
the Directors must not approve the accounts unless they are
satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of
the Company and of the profit or loss of the Company for that
period. In preparing these financial statements, International
Accounting Standard 1 requires that Directors:

• properly select and apply accounting policies;
• present information, including accounting policies, in a manner

that provides relevant, reliable, comparable and understandable
information;

• provide additional disclosures when compliance with the specific

requirements in IFRSs are insufficient to enable users to
understand the impact of particular transactions, other events
and conditions on the entity’s financial position and financial
performance; and

• make an assessment of the Company’s ability to continue as a

going concern.

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting
records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company’s
transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the
financial position of the Company and enable them to ensure that
the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006.
They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the
Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention
and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of
the corporate and financial information included on the Company’s
website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the
preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ
from legislation in other jurisdictions.

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

55

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Independent Auditors’ report to the
members of British Sky Broadcasting plc
We have audited the financial statements of British Sky
Broadcasting Group plc for the year ended 30 June 2010 which
comprise the Group and Parent Company Income Statements, the
Group and Parent Company Statements of Comprehensive Income,
the Group and Parent Company Balance Sheets, the Group and
Parent Company Cash Flow Statements, the Group and Parent
Company Statements of Changes in Equity and the related notes 1
to 33. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in
their preparation is applicable law and International Financial
Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union.

This report is made solely to the company’s members, as a body, in
accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006.
Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the
Company’s members those matters we are required to state to
them in an auditors’ report and for no other purpose.  To the fullest
extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility
to anyone other than the Company and the Company’s members
as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we
have formed.

Respective responsibilities of directors and auditors
As explained more fully in the Directors’ Responsibilities Statement,
the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial
statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair
view.  Our responsibility is to audit the financial statements in
accordance with applicable law and International Standards on
Auditing (UK and Ireland).  Those standards require us to comply
with the Auditing Practices Board’s (APB’s) Ethical Standards for
Auditors.

Scope of the audit of the financial statements
An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and
disclosures in the financial statements sufficient to give reasonable
assurance that the financial statements are free from material
misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error.  This includes an
assessment of: whether the accounting policies are appropriate to
the Group’s and the Parent Company’s circumstances and have
been consistently applied and adequately disclosed; the
reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by the
directors; and the overall presentation of the financial statements.

Opinion on financial statements
In our opinion:

• the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of
the Group’s and of the Parent Company’s affairs as at 30 June
2010 and of the Group’s and the Parent Company’s profit for the
year then ended;

• the financial statements have been properly prepared in

accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union; and
• the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with
the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and, as regards the
group financial statements, Article 4 of the IAS Regulation.

Separate opinion in relation to IFRSs as issued by the
IASB
As explained in note 1 to the Group financial statements, the Group
in addition to complying with its legal obligation to apply IFRSs as
adopted by the European Union, has also applied IFRSs as issued
by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).

In our opinion the Group financial statements comply with IFRSs as
issued by the IASB.

Opinion on other matters prescribed by the
Companies Act 2006
In our opinion:

• the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited
has been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies
Act 2006; and

• the information given in the Directors’ Report for the financial

year for which the financial statements are prepared is
consistent with the financial statements.

Matters on which we are required to report by
exception
We have nothing to report in respect of the following:

Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you if,
in our opinion:

• adequate accounting records have not been kept by the Parent
Company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been
received from branches not visited by us; or

• the Parent Company financial statements and the part of the

Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited are not in
agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

• certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law

are not made; or

• we have not received all the information and explanations we

require for our audit.

Under the Listing Rules we are required to review:

• the directors’ statement contained within the Annual Report in

relation to going concern on page 45; and

• the part of the Corporate Governance Statement relating to the
Company’s compliance with the nine provisions of the June 2008
Combined Code specified for our review.

Timothy Powell (Senior Statutory Auditor)

For and on behalf of Deloitte LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors
London, United Kingdom
28 July 2010

56

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

Consolidated Income Statement
for the year ended 30 June 2010

Revenue
Operating expense
Litigation settlement income
Operating profit

Share of results of joint ventures and associates
Investment income on litigation settlement
Investment income
Finance costs
Impairment of available-for-sale investment
Profit on disposal of available-for-sale investment
Profit before tax

Taxation
Profit for the year attributable to equity shareholders of the parent company

Earnings per share from profit for the year (in pence)
Basic
Diluted

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this consolidated income statement.

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
for the year ended 30 June 2010

Profit for the year attributable to equity shareholders of the parent company

Other comprehensive income
Amounts recognised directly in equity
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations
Gain on revaluation of available-for-sale investments
Gain on cash flow hedges
Tax on cash flow hedges

Amounts reclassified and reported in the income statement
Cash flow hedges
Tax on cash flow hedges
Transfer to income statement on disposal of available-for-sale investment

Other comprehensive income for the year (net of tax)

Total comprehensive income for the year attributable to equity shareholders of the parent company

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

All results relate to continuing operations.

Notes

2
3
4

15
4
5
5
6
6
7

9

10
10

2010
£m

5,912
(5,085)
269
1,096

32
49
3
(122)
–
115
1,173

(295)
878

50.4p
50.1p

2010
£m

878

8
117
160
(45)
240

(89)
25
(115)
(179)

61

939

2009
£m

5,359
(4,546)
–
813

19
–
35
(220)
(191)
–
456

(197)
259

14.9p
14.8p

2009
£m

259

19
96
377
(105)
387

(351)
98
–
(253)

134

393

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Consolidated Balance Sheet
as at 30 June 2010

Non-current assets
Goodwill
Intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Investments in joint ventures and associates
Available-for-sale investments
Deferred tax assets
Trade and other receivables
Derivative financial assets

Current assets
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
Short-term deposits
Cash and cash equivalents
Derivative financial assets

Total assets

Current liabilities
Borrowings
Trade and other payables
Current tax liabilities
Provisions
Derivative financial liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Borrowings
Trade and other payables
Provisions
Derivative financial liabilities
Deferred tax liability

Total liabilities

Share capital
Share premium
Reserves

Total equity (deficit) attributable to equity shareholders of the parent company

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity (deficit)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this consolidated balance sheet.

Notes

12
13
14
15
16
17
19
23

18
19
23
23
23

22
20

21
23

22
22
21
23
17

25
26
26

26

2010
£m

852
336
899
149
182
–
18
382
2,818

343
538
400
649
56
1,986

4,804

–
1,526
136
27
10
1,699

2,458
52
11
17
7
2,545

4,244

876
1,437
(1,753)

560

4,804

2009
£m

852
345
799
135
261
17
21
202
2,632

386
613
90
811
37
1,937

4,569

465
1,492
173
18
46
2,194

2,279
66
12
82
–
2,439

4,633

876
1,437
(2,377)

(64)

4,569

These consolidated financial statements of British Sky Broadcasting Group plc, registered number 2247735, have been approved by the
Board of Directors on 28 July 2010 and were signed on its behalf by:

Jeremy Darroch

Andrew Griffith

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Financial Officer

58

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
for the year ended 30 June 2010

Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from operations
Interest received
Taxation paid
Net cash from operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities
Dividends received from joint ventures and associates
Net funding to joint ventures and associates
Proceeds on disposal of an investment
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Purchase of intangible assets
Purchase of available-for-sale investments
Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment
(Increase) decrease in short-term deposits
Net cash used in investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from borrowings
Repayment of borrowings
Proceeds from disposal of shares in Employee Share Ownership Plan (“ESOP”)
Purchase of own shares for ESOP
Interest paid
Dividends paid to shareholders
Net cash used in financing activities

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this consolidated cash flow statement.

Notes

27

2010
£m

1,634
57
(320)
1,371

30
(1)
196
(261)
(183)
–
1
(310)
(528)

–
(495)
16
(56)
(156)
(314)
(1,005)

(162)

811
649

2009
£m

1,205
47
(178)
1,074

20
(3)
–
(261)
(139)
(19)
2
95
(305)

398
(434)
1
(40)
(217)
(298)
(590)

179

632
811

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ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

59

 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity 
for the year ended 30 June 2010

Share
capital
£m

Share
premium
£m

ESOP
reserve
£m

Hedging
reserve
£m

Available-
for-sale
reserve
£m

Other
reserves
£m

Retained
earnings
£m

Total
shareholders’
(deficit)
equity
£m

At 1 July 2008
Profit for the year
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations
Revaluation of available-for-sale investment
Recognition and transfer of cash flow hedges
Tax on items taken directly to equity
Total comprehensive income for the year

Share-based payment
Tax on items taken directly to equity
Dividends
At 30 June 2009

Profit for the year
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations
Revaluation of available-for-sale investment
Transfer to income statement on disposal of 
available-for-sale investment
Recognition and transfer of cash flow hedges
Tax on items taken directly to equity
Total comprehensive income for the year

Share-based payment
Tax on items taken directly to equity
Dividends
At 30 June 2010

876
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
876

–
–
–

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
876

1,437
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
1,437

–
–
–

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
1,437

(37)
–
–
–
–
–
–

(36)
–
–
(73)

–
–
–

–
–
–
–

26
–
–
(47)

7
–
–
–
26
(7)
19

–
–
–
26

–
–
–

–
71
(20)
51

–
–
–
77

–
–
–
96
–
–
96

–
–
–
96

–
–
117

(115)
–
–
2

–
–
–
98

335
–
19
–
–
–
19

–
–
–
354

–
8
–

–
–
–
8

–
–
–
362

(2,786)
259
–
–
–
–
259

48
(3)
(298)
(2,780)

878
–
–

–
–
–
878

(36)
9
(314)
(2,243)

(168)
259
19
96
26
(7)
393

12
(3)
(298)
(64)

878
8
117

(115)
71
(20)
939

(10)
9
(314)
560

For a description of the nature and purpose of each equity reserve, see note 26.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this consolidated statement of changes in equity.

60

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
1. Accounting policies
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc (the “Company”) is a limited
liability company incorporated in England and Wales, and domiciled
in the United Kingdom (“UK”). The consolidated financial
statements include the Company and its subsidiaries (together,
the “Group”) and its interests in associates and jointly-controlled
entities.

a) Statement of compliance
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in
accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards
(“IFRS”) as adopted by the European Union (“EU”), the Companies
Act 2006 and Article 4 of the International Accounting Standard
(“IAS”) Regulations. In addition, the Group also complied with IFRS
as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”).

b) Basis of preparation
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a
going concern basis (as set out in the Directors’ Report) and on an
historical cost basis, except for the remeasurement to fair value of
financial instruments as described in the accounting policies below.

The Group maintains a 52 or 53 week fiscal year ending on the
Sunday nearest to 30 June in each year. In fiscal year 2010, this
date was 27 June 2010, this being a 52 week year (fiscal year 2009:
28 June 2009, 52 week year). For convenience purposes, the Group
continues to date its consolidated financial statements as at
30 June. The Group has classified assets and liabilities as current
when they are expected to be realised in, or intended for sale or
consumption in, the normal operating cycle of the Group.

At the beginning of the current year, the Group adopted the
following accounting pronouncements that are relevant to its
operations, none of which had any significant impact on its results
or financial position:

IFRS 8 “Operating Segments”
IAS 1 Revised (2007) “Presentation of Financial Statements”
IAS 23 Revised (2007) “Borrowing Costs”
IFRS 3 Revised (2008) “Business Combinations”
IAS 27 Revised (2008) “Consolidated and Separate Financial
Statements”
Amendment to IFRS 2 “Share-based Payment – Vesting Conditions
and Cancellations”
Amendments to IFRS 7 “Financial Instruments: Disclosures –
Improving Disclosures about Financial Instruments”
Amendment to IAS 39 “Financial Instruments: Recognition and
Measurement – Eligible Hedged Items”

c) Basis of consolidation
i. Subsidiaries
Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Company. Control exists
when the Company has the power, directly or indirectly, to govern
the financial and operating policies of an entity so as to obtain
benefits from its activities. Subsidiaries are included in the
consolidated financial statements of the Company from the date
control of the subsidiary commences until the date that control
ceases. Intra-group balances, and any unrealised gains and losses
or income and expenses arising from intra-group transactions, are
eliminated in preparing the consolidated financial statements.

ii. Associates and joint ventures
Associates are entities where the Group has significant influence,
but not control or joint control, over the financial and operating
policies of the entity. Joint ventures are those entities which are
jointly controlled by the Group under a contractual agreement with
another party or parties.

These consolidated financial statements include the Group’s share
of the total recognised gains and losses of associates and joint
ventures using the equity method, from the date that significant
influence or joint control commences to the date that it ceases,
based on present ownership interests and excluding the possible
exercise of potential voting rights, less any impairment losses (see
accounting policy j). When the Group’s interest in an associate or
joint venture has been reduced to nil because the Group’s share of
losses exceeds its interest in the associate or joint venture, the
Group only provides for additional losses to the extent that it has
incurred legal or constructive obligations to fund such losses, or
where the Group has made payments on behalf of the associate or
joint venture. Where the disposal of an investment in an associate
or joint venture is considered to be highly probable, the investment
ceases to be equity accounted and, instead, is classified as held for
sale and stated at the lower of carrying amount and fair value less
costs to sell.

d) Goodwill
Business combinations that have occurred since 1 July 2004, the
date of transition to IFRS (the “Transition Date”), are accounted for
by applying the purchase method of accounting. Following this
method, goodwill is initially recognised on consolidation,
representing the difference between the fair value cost of the
business combination and the fair value of the identifiable assets,
liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed.

In respect of business combinations that occurred prior to the
Transition Date, goodwill has been included at the amounts
recognised under the Group’s UK Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles (“UK GAAP”) accounting policies on the Transition Date.
On disposal of a subsidiary, associate or joint venture, the
attributable amount of goodwill is included in the determination of
profit or loss on disposal, except for goodwill written off to reserves
under UK GAAP prior to the Transition Date, which is not reinstated
and is not included in determining any subsequent gain or loss on
disposal.

Goodwill is stated at cost less any impairment losses and is tested,
at least annually, for impairment, based on the recoverable
amounts of the cash generating unit to which the goodwill has
been allocated. Any impairment identified is recognised
immediately in the income statement and is not subsequently
reversed. The carrying amount of goodwill in respect of associates
and joint ventures is included in the carrying amount of the
investment in the associate or joint venture. Goodwill is tested for
impairment in line with accounting policy j below.

e) Intangible assets and property, plant and equipment
(“PPE”)
i. Intangible assets
Research expenditure is recognised in operating expense in the
income statement as the expenditure is incurred. Development
expenditure (relating to the application of research knowledge to
plan or design new or substantially improved products for sale or

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
continued

qualifying assets). This is then applied to the expenditures on the
asset.

1. Accounting policies (continued)
use within the business) is recognised as an intangible asset from
the point at which it is probable that the Group has the intention
and ability to generate future economic benefits from the
development expenditure, that the development is technically
feasible and that the subsequent expenditure can be measured
reliably. Any other development expenditure is recognised in
operating expense as incurred.

Other intangible assets, which are acquired by the Group
separately or through a business combination, are initially stated at
cost or fair value, respectively, less accumulated amortisation and
impairment losses, other than those that are classified as held for
sale, which are stated at the lower of carrying amount and fair value
less costs to sell.

Amortisation of an intangible asset begins when the asset is
available for use, and is charged to the income statement through
operating expense on a straight-line basis over the intangible
asset’s estimated useful life, principally being a period between
three and ten years, unless the asset life is judged to be indefinite.
If the useful life is indefinite or the asset is not yet available for use,
no amortisation is charged and an impairment test is carried out at
least annually. Other intangible assets are tested for impairment in
line with accounting policy j below.

ii. Property, plant and equipment
Owned PPE is stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and
any impairment losses, (see accounting policy j), other than those
items that are classified as held for sale, which are stated at the
lower of carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell. When an
item of PPE comprises major components having different useful
economic lives, the components are accounted for as separate
items of PPE.

Assets held under finance leases, which confer rights and
obligations similar to those attached to owned assets, are treated
as PPE (see accounting policy o).

The cost of PPE, less estimated residual value, is depreciated in
operating expense on a straight-line basis over its estimated useful
life. Land, and assets that are not yet available for use, are not
depreciated. Principal useful economic lives used for this purpose
are:

Freehold buildings
Equipment, furniture and fixtures 3 to 15 years
Assets under finance leases and Lesser of lease term and the
leasehold improvements

useful economic life of the asset

25 years

Borrowing costs directly attributable to the acquisition,
construction or production of qualifying assets, which are assets
that necessarily take a substantial period of time to get ready for
their intended use or sale, are added to the cost of those assets
until such time as the assets are substantially ready for their
intended use or sale.

To the extent that the financing for a qualifying asset is part of the
Group’s general borrowings, the interest cost to be capitalised is
calculated based upon the weighted average cost of borrowing to
the Group (excluding the interest on any borrowings specific to any

62

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

All other borrowing costs are recognised in profit or loss in the
period to which they relate.

f) Derivative financial instruments and hedging
activities
The Group uses a number of derivative financial instruments to
hedge its exposure to fluctuations in interest and foreign exchange
rates.

Derivatives are held at fair value from the date on which a derivative
contract is entered into. Fair value is defined as the amount for
which an asset could be exchanged, or a liability settled, between
knowledgeable, willing parties in an arm’s length transaction. The
fair value of derivative financial instruments is estimated with
reference to the contracted value and the appropriate market
value prevailing at the balance sheet date. Certain derivatives held
by the Group which relate to highly probable forecast transactions
(“hedged items”), which meet qualifying criteria under IAS 39
“Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement” (“IAS 39”),
are designated as cash flow hedges or fair value hedges, and are
subject to cash flow hedge accounting or fair value hedge
accounting respectively. In certain circumstances, only the intrinsic
value of a derivative has been designated as a cash flow hedge,
with the remaining fair value not designated as a cash flow hedge.
Certain other derivatives held by the Group do not meet the
qualifying criteria for recognition for accounting purposes as
hedges, despite this being their economic function. Changes in the
fair values of these derivatives are recognised immediately in the
income statement. The Group does not hold or issue derivatives for
speculative purposes.

i. Derivatives that qualify for cash flow hedge accounting
Changes in the fair values of derivatives that are designated as
cash flow hedges (“cash flow hedging instruments”) are initially
recognised in the hedging reserve. In circumstances in which the
derivative used is a currency option, only changes in the intrinsic
value of the option are designated under the cash flow hedging
relationship, with all other movements being recorded immediately
in the income statement. Amounts accumulated in the hedging
reserve are subsequently recognised in the income statement in
the periods in which the related hedged items are recognised in the
income statement.

At inception, the effectiveness of the Group’s cash flow hedges is
assessed through a comparison of the principal terms of the
hedging instrument and the underlying hedged item. The ongoing
effectiveness of the Group’s cash flow hedges is assessed using
the dollar-offset approach, with the expected cash flows of
hedging instruments being compared to the expected cash flows of
the hedged items. This assessment is used to demonstrate that
each hedge relationship is expected to be highly effective on
inception, has been highly effective in the period and is expected to
continue to be highly effective in future periods. The measurement
of hedge ineffectiveness for the Group’s hedging instruments is
calculated using the hypothetical derivative method, with the fair
values of the hedging instruments being compared to those of the
hypothetical derivative that would result in the designated cash
flow hedge achieving perfect hedge effectiveness. The excess of
the cumulative change in the fair value of the actual hedging

instrument compared to that of the hypothetical derivative is
deemed to be hedge ineffectiveness, which is recognised in the
income statement.

The Group uses a range of 80% to 125% for hedge effectiveness, in
accordance with IAS 39, and any relationship which has
effectiveness outside this range is deemed to be ineffective and
hedge accounting is suspended.

When a cash flow hedging instrument expires, is terminated or is
exercised, or if a hedge no longer meets the qualifying criteria for
hedge accounting, any cumulative gain or loss existing in the
hedging reserve at that time remains in the hedging reserve and is
recognised when the forecast transaction is ultimately recognised
in the income statement, provided that the underlying transaction
is still expected to occur. When a forecast transaction is no longer
expected to occur, the cumulative gain or loss that was reported in
the hedging reserve is immediately recognised in the income
statement and all future changes in the fair value of the cash flow
hedging instruments are immediately recognised in the income
statement.

ii. Derivatives that qualify for fair value hedge accounting
The Group has designated certain derivatives as fair value hedges
as defined under IAS 39. Any changes in the fair value of the
derivatives are recognised immediately in the income statement.
The carrying values of the underlying hedged items are adjusted for
the change in the fair value of the hedged risks, with the gains or
losses recognised immediately in the income statement, offsetting
the fair value movement on the derivative.

Prospective effectiveness is assessed quarterly, through a
comparison of the principal terms of the hedging instrument and
the underlying hedged item, including the likelihood of default by
the derivative counterparty. The retrospective effectiveness of the
Group’s fair value hedges is calculated quarterly using the
cumulative dollar-offset approach, with movements in the fair value
of the hedged item being compared to movements in the fair value
of the hedging instrument. The Group uses a range of 80% to 125%
for hedge effectiveness and any relationship which has
effectiveness outside this range is deemed to be ineffective and
hedge accounting is suspended.

iii. Embedded derivatives
Derivatives embedded in other financial instruments or other host
contracts are treated as separate derivatives when their risks and
characteristics are not closely related to those of the host
contracts and the host contracts are not carried at fair value, with
unrealised gains or losses reported in the income statement.
Embedded derivatives are carried on the balance sheet at fair value
from the inception of the host contract. Changes in fair value are
recognised within the income statement during the period in which
they arise.

g) Inventories
i. Acquired and commissioned television programme inventories
Programme inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net
realisable value (“NRV”), including, where applicable, estimated
subscriber escalation payments, and net of the accumulated
expense charged to the income statement to date.

Programming rights are included as inventories when the legally
enforceable licence period commences and all of the following
conditions have been met: (a) the cost of each programme is

known or reasonably determinable; (b) the programme material has
been accepted by the Group in accordance with the conditions of
the rights, and (c) the programme is available for its first showing.
Prior to being included in inventories, the programming rights are
classified as television programme rights not yet available for
transmission and not recorded as inventories on the Group’s
balance sheet and are instead disclosed as contractual
commitments (see note 28). Payments made upon receipt of
commissioned and acquired programming, but in advance of the
legal right to broadcast the programmes, are treated as
prepayments.

The cost of television programme inventories is recognised in the
operating expense line of the income statement, primarily as
described below:

Sports – 100% of the cost is recognised in the income statement on
the first broadcast or, where the rights are for multiple seasons or
competitions, such rights are principally recognised on a straight-
line basis across the seasons or competitions.

News – 100% of the cost is recognised in the income statement on
first broadcast.

Movies – The cost is recognised in the income statement on a
straight-line basis over the period of broadcast rights.

General entertainment – The cost is recognised in the income
statement based on the expected value of each planned
broadcast.

Where programme rights are surplus to the Group’s requirements,
and no gain is anticipated through a disposal of the rights, or where
the programming will not be broadcast for any other reason, a
write-down to the income statement is made. Any reversals of
inventory write-downs are recognised as reductions in operating
expense.

ii. Set-top boxes, routers and related equipment
Set-top boxes, routers and related equipment are valued at the
lower of cost and NRV, the latter of which reflects the value that the
business expects to realise from the set-top boxes and related
equipment in the hands of the customer, and are recognised
through the operating expense line of the income statement. Any
subsidy is expensed on enablement, which is the process of
activating the viewing card during installation, so as to enable a
viewer to view encrypted broadcast services, and effectively
represents the completion of the installation process for new
subscribers. The amount recognised in the income statement is
determined on a weighted average cost basis, in accordance with
IAS 2 “Inventory”.

iii. Raw materials, consumables and goods held for resale
Raw materials, consumables and goods held for resale are valued at
the lower of cost and NRV. The cost of raw materials, consumables
and goods held for resale is recognised through the operating
expense line of the income statement on a first in first out
(FIFO) basis.

h) Financial assets and liabilities
Financial assets and liabilities are initially recognised at fair value
plus any directly attributable transaction costs. At each balance
sheet date, the Group assesses whether there is any objective
evidence that any financial asset is impaired. Financial assets and
liabilities are recognised on the Group’s balance sheet when the

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
continued

at amortised cost through the income statement less any
allowance for impairment losses.

1. Accounting policies (continued)
Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the
financial asset or liability. Financial assets are derecognised from
the balance sheet when the Group’s contractual rights to the cash
flows expire or the Group transfers substantially all the risks and
rewards of the financial asset. Financial liabilities are derecognised
from the Group’s balance sheet when the obligation specified in
the contract is discharged, cancelled or expires.

i. Available-for-sale investments
Equity investments intended to be held for an indefinite period of
time are classified as available-for-sale investments. They are
carried at fair value, where this can be reliably measured, with
movements in fair value recognised directly in the available-for-sale
reserve. Where the fair value cannot be reliably measured, the
investment is carried at cost.

Any impairment losses in equity investments classified as available-
for-sale investments are recognised in the income statement and
are not reversible through the income statement, and are
determined with reference to the closing market share price at the
balance sheet date. Any subsequent increase in the fair value of
the available-for-sale investment above the impaired value will be
recognised within the available-for-sale reserve.

Available-for-sale investments are included within non-current
assets unless the carrying value is expected to be recovered
principally through sale rather than continuing use, in which case
they are included within current assets. On disposal, the difference
between the carrying amount and the sum of the consideration
received and any cumulative gain or loss that had previously been
recognised directly in reserves is recognised in the income
statement.

ii. Trade and other receivables
Trade and other receivables are non-derivative financial assets with
fixed or determinable payments and, where no stated interest rate
is applicable, are measured at the original invoice amount, if the
effect of discounting is immaterial. Where discounting is material,
trade and other receivables are measured at amortised cost using
the effective interest method. An allowance account is maintained
to reduce the carrying value of trade and other receivables for
impairment losses identified from objective evidence, with
movements in the allowance account, either from increased
impairment losses or reversals of impairment losses, being
recognised in the income statement.

iii. Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, bank accounts,
deposits receivable on demand and deposits with maturity dates
of three months or less from the date of inception. Bank overdrafts
that are repayable on demand and which form an integral part of
the Group’s cash management are also included as a component of
cash and cash equivalents where offset conditions are met.

iv. Short-term deposits
This includes short-term deposits and commercial paper which
have maturity dates of more than three months from inception.
These deposits are initially recognised at fair value, and then carried

v. Trade and other payables
Trade and other payables are non-derivative financial liabilities and
are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest
method. Trade and other payables with no stated interest rate are
measured at the original invoice amount if the effect of discounting
is immaterial.

vi. Borrowings
Borrowings are recorded as the proceeds received, net of direct
issue costs. Finance charges, including any premium payable on
settlement or redemption and direct issue costs, are accounted for
on an accruals basis in the income statement using the effective
interest method and are added to the carrying amount of the
underlying instrument to which they relate, to the extent that they
are not settled in the period in which they arise.

i) Transponder rental prepayments
Payments made in respect of future satellite broadcast capacity
have been recorded as prepaid transponder costs. These payments
are recognised in the income statement on a straight-line basis
over the term of the agreement.

j) Impairment
At each balance sheet date, in accordance with IAS 36 “Impairment
of Assets”, the Group reviews the carrying amounts of all its assets
excluding inventories (see accounting policy g), non-current assets
classified as held for sale, financial assets (see accounting policy h)
and deferred taxation (see accounting policy p) to determine
whether there is any indication that any of those assets have
suffered an impairment loss.

An impairment, other than an impairment of an investment in a
joint venture or associate, is recognised in the income statement
whenever the carrying amount of an asset or its cash generating
unit exceeds its recoverable amount. An impairment of an
investment in a joint venture or associate is recognised within the
share of profit from joint ventures and associates. The recoverable
amount is the greater of net selling price, defined as the fair value
less costs to sell, and value in use. In assessing value in use, the
estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value
using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market
assessments of the time value of money and risks specific to the
asset. Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount
of an individual asset, the Group estimates the recoverable amount
of the cash generating unit to which the asset belongs. Impairment
losses recognised in respect of cash generating units are allocated
first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to
those units, and then to reduce the carrying amount of other
assets in the unit on a pro-rata basis.

An impairment loss for an individual asset or cash generating unit
shall be reversed if there has been a change in estimates used to
determine the recoverable amount since the last impairment loss
was recognised and is only reversed to the extent that the asset’s
carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would
have been determined, net of depreciation or amortisation, if no
impairment loss had been recognised. Impairment of goodwill is not
reversed.

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BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

k) Provisions
Provisions are recognised when the Group has a probable, present
legal or constructive obligation to make a transfer of economic
benefits as a result of past events where a reliable estimate is
available. The amounts recognised represent the Group’s best
estimate of the transfer of benefits that will be required to settle
the obligation as of the balance sheet date. Provisions are
discounted if the effect of the time value of money is material using
a pre-tax market rate adjusted for risks specific to the liability.

l) ESOP reserve
Where the Company or its subsidiaries purchase the Company’s
own equity shares, the cost of those shares, including any
attributable transaction costs, is presented within the ESOP
reserve as a deduction in shareholders’ equity in the consolidated
financial statements.

m) Revenue recognition
Revenue, which excludes value added tax and transactions
between Group companies, represents the gross inflow of
economic benefit from Sky’s operating activities. The Group’s main
sources of revenue are recognised as follows:

– Retail subscription revenue, including subscriptions for Sky TV,

Sky Broadband and Sky Talk services, is recognised as the goods
or services are provided, net of any discount given. Pay-per-view
revenue is recognised when the event or movie is viewed.

– Wholesale revenue is recognised as the services are provided to
the cable retailers and is based on the number of subscribers
taking the Sky channels, as reported to the Group by the cable
retailers, and the applicable rate card or contract.

– Advertising sales revenue is recognised when the advertising is

broadcast. Revenue generated from airtime sales, where Sky acts
as an agent on behalf of third parties, is recognised on a net
commission basis.

– Easynet revenue is recognised when it is probable that the

economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to
the Group and the amount of revenue can be measured reliably.
Revenue from separable installation and connection services is
recognised when it is earned upon activation. Revenue from the
provision of leased lines and private circuits is recognised evenly
over the period to which the charges relate. Revenue from the
provision of Hosting is recognised evenly over the period to
which the charge relates except additional charges for power
based on usage.

– Installation, hardware and service revenue is recognised in the
income statement when the goods and services are delivered.
– Other revenue principally includes income from Sky Active, Sky
Mobile TV, technical platform services, Sky Bet and third-party
set-top box sales. With the exception of Sky Bet revenue, other
revenue is recognised, net of any discount given, when the
relevant goods or service are provided. Sky Bet revenue is
recognised in accordance with IAS 39 and represents income in
the period for betting and gaming activities, defined as amounts
staked by customers less winnings paid out.

Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received
or receivable. When the Group sells a set-top box, installation or
service and a subscription in one bundled transaction, the total
consideration from the arrangement is allocated to each element

based on their relative fair values. The fair value of each individual
element is determined using vendor specific or third party
evidence. The amount of revenue the Group recognises for
delivered elements is limited to the cash received.

n) Employee benefits
Wages, salaries, social security contributions, bonuses payable and
non-monetary benefits for current employees are recognised in the
income statement as the employees’ services are rendered.

The Group provides pensions to eligible employees through defined
contribution schemes. The amount charged to the income
statement in the year represents the cost of contributions payable
by the Group to the schemes in exchange for employee services
rendered in that year. The assets of the schemes are held
independently of the Group.

Termination benefits are recognised as a liability when, and only
when, the Group has a demonstrable commitment to terminate the
employment of an employee or group of employees before the
normal retirement date or as the result of an offer to encourage
voluntary redundancy.

The Group issues equity-settled and cash-settled share-based
payments to certain employees which must be measured at fair
value and recognised as an expense in the income statement, with
a corresponding increase in equity in the case of equity-settled
payments, and liabilities in the case of cash-settled awards. The fair
values of equity-settled payments are measured at the dates of
grant using option-pricing models, taking into account the terms
and conditions upon which the awards are granted. Cash-settled
share-based payments are measured at their fair value as at the
balance sheet date. The fair value is recognised over the period
during which employees become unconditionally entitled to the
awards, subject to the Group’s estimate of the number of awards
which will be forfeited, either due to employees leaving the Group
prior to vesting or due to non-market based performance
conditions not being met. Where an award has market-based
performance conditions, the fair value of the award is adjusted for
the probability of achieving these via the option pricing model. The
total amount recognised in the income statement as an expense is
adjusted to reflect the actual number of awards that vest, except
where forfeiture is due to the failure to meet market-based
performance measures. In the event of a cancellation, whether by
the Group or by a participating employee, the compensation
expense that would have been recognised over the remainder of
the vesting period is recognised immediately in profit or loss.

o) Leases
Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the
lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to
ownership of the asset to the lessee. All other leases are classified
as operating leases.

When the Group is lessor, sublease income from operating leases is
recognised on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

When the Group is lessee, assets held under finance leases are
recognised as assets of the Group at their fair value on the date of
acquisition, or, if lower, at the present value of the minimum lease
payments. The corresponding liability to the lessor is included in
the balance sheet as a finance lease obligation. Lease payments
are apportioned between finance charges and reductions of the

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
continued

1. Accounting policies (continued)
lease obligation so as to achieve a constant rate of interest on the
remaining balance of the liability.

The lease expense arising from operating leases is charged to the
income statement on a straight line basis over the term of the
lease. Benefits received and receivable as incentives to enter into
operating leases are recorded on a straight line basis over the lease
term.

p) Taxation, including deferred taxation
The Group’s liability for current tax is based on taxable profit for
the year, and is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted
or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognised using the balance
sheet liability method, providing for temporary differences between
the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the balance sheet
and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of
taxable profit. Temporary differences arising from goodwill and the
initial recognition of assets or liabilities that affect neither
accounting profit nor taxable profit are not provided for. Deferred
tax liabilities are recognised for taxable temporary differences
arising on investments in subsidiaries and associates, and interests
in joint ventures, except where the Group is able to control the
reversal of the temporary difference and it is probable that the
temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future. The
amount of deferred tax provided is based on the expected manner
of realisation or settlement of the carrying amount of assets and
liabilities, using tax rates that have been enacted or substantially
enacted at the balance sheet date.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each
balance sheet date and adjusted to reflect an amount that is
probable to be realised based on the weight of all available
evidence. Deferred tax is calculated at the rates that are expected
to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset is
realised. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are not discounted.
Deferred tax is charged or credited in the income statement, except
where it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in
which case the deferred tax is also included within equity. Deferred
tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally
enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current tax
liabilities and when they relate to income taxes levied by the same
taxation authority and the Group intends to settle its current tax
assets and liabilities on a net basis.

q) Distributions to equity shareholders
Dividends are recognised in the retained earnings reserve in the
year in which they are declared.

The cost of repurchasing the Group’s own equity shares for
cancellation (“share buy-backs”) is recorded in retained earnings. In
addition, the nominal cost of shares repurchased is deducted from
share capital and a matching credit is recorded in the capital
redemption reserve.

r) Earnings per share
Basic earnings or loss per share represents the profit or loss for the
year, divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in

issue during the year, excluding the weighted average number of
ordinary shares purchased by the Group and held in the Group’s
ESOP during the year to satisfy employee share awards.

Diluted earnings or loss per share represents the profit or loss for
the year, divided by the weighted average number of ordinary
shares in issue during the year, excluding the weighted average
number of ordinary shares purchased by the Group and held in the
Group’s ESOP during the year to satisfy employee share awards,
plus the weighted average number of dilutive shares resulting from
share options where the inclusion of these would not be
antidilutive.

s) Foreign currency translation
The Group’s functional currency and presentational currency is
pounds sterling. Trading activities denominated in foreign
currencies are recorded in pounds sterling at the applicable
monthly exchange rates. Monetary assets, liabilities and
commitments denominated in foreign currencies at the balance
sheet date are reported at the rates of exchange at that date. Non-
monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies
are translated to pounds sterling at the exchange rate prevailing at
the date of the initial transaction. Gains and losses from the
retranslation of assets and liabilities are included net in profit for
the year, except for exchange differences arising on non-monetary
assets and liabilities where the changes in fair value are recognised
directly in equity.

The assets and liabilities of the Group’s foreign operations are
translated at exchange rates prevailing on the balance sheet date.
Income and expense items are translated at the applicable monthly
average exchange rates. Any exchange differences arising are
classified as equity and transferred to other reserves.

t) Reportable segments
IFRS 8 “Operating Segments” requires the segment information
presented in the financial statements to be that which is used
internally by the chief operating decision maker to evaluate the
performance of the business and decide how to allocate resources.
The Group has identified the Board of Directors as its chief
operating decision maker and as the internal reporting reviewed by
the Board focuses on the operations of the Group as a whole and
does not identify individual operating segments, the Group has only
one reportable segment.

u) Accounting Standards, interpretations and
amendments to existing standards that are not yet
effective
The Group has not yet adopted certain new standards,
amendments and interpretations to existing standards, which have
been published but are only effective for our accounting periods
beginning on or after 1 July 2010 or later periods. These new
pronouncements are listed below:

– Improvements to IFRSs 2009 – various standards (effective

1 January 2010)

– Amendments to IFRS 2 “Share Based Payment – Group Cash-

settled Share-based Payment Transactions” (effective 1 January
2010)

– Amendment to IAS 32 “Financial Instruments: Presentation –
Classification of Rights Issues” (effective 1 February 2010)

66

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

– IFRIC 19 “Extinguishing Financial Liabilities with Equity

Instruments” (effective 1 July 2010)

recognition of the benefit on the basis of the likely resolution of
the issue through negotiation and/or litigation.

– Improvements to IFRSs 2010 – various standards (effective 1 July

– The amounts recognised in the consolidated financial

2010 and 1 January 2011)

– IAS 24 Revised (2009) “Related Party Disclosures” (effective

1 January 2010)

– Amendment to IFRIC 14 “IAS 19 – The Limit on a Defined Benefit
Asset, Minimum Funding Requirements and their Interaction”
(effective 1 January 2011)

– IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments” (effective 1 January 2013)
The Directors are currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of
these standards, amendments and interpretations in future
periods.

v) Critical accounting policies and the use of judgment
Certain accounting policies are considered to be critical to the
Group. An accounting policy is considered to be critical if its
selection or application materially affects the Group’s financial
position or results. The Directors are required to use their judgment
in order to select and apply the Group’s critical accounting policies.
Below is a summary of the Group’s critical accounting policies and
details of the key areas of judgment that are exercised in their
application.

(i)Revenue (see note 2)
– Selecting the appropriate timing for, and amount of, revenue to

be recognised requires judgment. This may involve estimating the
fair value of consideration before it is received. When the Group
sells a set-top box, installation or service and a subscription in
one bundled transaction, the total consideration from the
arrangement is allocated to each element based on its relative
fair value. The fair value of each individual element is determined
using vendor specific or third party evidence. The amount of
revenue the Group recognises for delivered elements is limited to
the cash received.

– Judgment is also required in evaluating the likelihood of

collection of customer debt after revenue has been recognised.
This evaluation requires estimates to be made, including the level
of provision to be made for amounts with uncertain recovery
profiles. Provisions are based on historical trends in the
percentage of debts which are not recovered, or on more detailed
reviews of individually significant balances.

(ii)Taxation (see note 9)
– The Group’s tax charge is the sum of the total current and

deferred tax charges. The calculation of the Group’s total tax
charge necessarily involves a degree of estimation and judgment
in respect of certain items whose tax treatment cannot be finally
determined until resolution has been reached with the relevant
tax authority or, as appropriate, through a formal legal process.

– Accruals for tax contingencies require management to make
judgments and estimates in relation to tax audit issues and
exposures. Amounts accrued are based on management’s
interpretation of country-specific tax law and the likelihood of
settlement. Tax benefits are not recognised unless it is probable
that the tax positions will be sustained. Once considered to be
probable, management reviews each material tax benefit to
assess whether a provision should be taken against full

statements in respect of each matter are derived from the
Group’s best estimation and judgment, as described above.
However, the inherent uncertainty regarding the outcome of
these items means the eventual resolution could differ from the
provision and in such event the Group would be required to make
an adjustment in a subsequent period which could have a
material impact on the Group’s profit and loss and/or cash
position.

(iii)Goodwill (see note 12)
– Judgment is required in determining the fair value of identifiable
assets, liabilities and contingent assets assumed in a business
combination. Calculating the fair values involves the use of
significant estimates and assumptions, including expectations
about future cash flows, discount rates and the lives of assets
following purchase.

– Judgment is also required in evaluating whether any impairment
loss has arisen against the carrying amount of goodwill. This may
require calculation of the recoverable amount of cash generating
units to which the goodwill is associated. Such a calculation may
involve estimates of the net present value of future forecast
cash flows and selecting an appropriate discount rate.
Alternatively, it may involve a calculation of the fair value less
costs to sell of the applicable cash generating unit.

(iv)Intangible assets and property, plant and equipment (see

notes 13 and 14)

– The assessment of the useful economic lives of these assets

requires judgment. Depreciation and amortisation is charged to
the income statement based on the useful economic life
selected. This assessment requires estimation of the period over
which the Group will benefit from the assets.

– Determining whether the carrying amount of these assets has
any indication of impairment also requires judgment. If an
indication of impairment is identified, further judgment is
required to assess whether the carrying amount can be
supported by the net present value of future cash flows forecast
to be derived from the asset. This forecast involves cash flow
projections and selecting the appropriate discount rate.

– Assessing whether assets meet the required criteria for initial

capitalisation requires judgment. This requires a determination
of whether the assets will result in future benefits to the Group.
In particular, internally generated intangible assets must be
assessed during the development phase to identify whether the
Group has the ability and intention to complete the
development successfully.

(v)Available-for-sale investments (see note 16)
– The key areas of judgment in respect of available-for-sale

investments are the assessment of whether there is objective
evidence that a loss event has occurred after initial recognition
of an available-for-sale investment, and whether such a loss
event has a reliably measurable impact on the estimated future
cash flows of the investment. At each balance sheet date,
management considers whether there is objective evidence that
a loss event has occurred and whether it has had an impact on
the estimated future cash flows of the available-for-sale

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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The alternative programming available to the Group for scheduling
within this period. This consideration provides the most
appropriate information in order to estimate how frequently
individual programmes will be shown during the period in which
the Group holds their Broadcast rights.
The potential benefits associated with scheduling programming.
Certain high-profile or high-quality programming titles have
additional value to the Group, as they attract new customers
and encourage retention of existing customers. As such, these
programmes are able to retain more value throughout their
broadcast runs than would be indicated when considering the
expected viewing numbers alone.
Expectations as to the number of viewers a programme is likely to
achieve for each individual broadcast over the contractual
broadcast period. The number of viewers per broadcast directly
influences advertising revenue for channels, although this
consideration is partly influenced by the Group’s assessment of
the potential impact of the publicly available information on its
competitors’ scheduling intentions against planned broadcasts.

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
continued

1. Accounting policies (continued)

investment. If a loss event has occurred, management would
then consider whether an impairment loss has occurred and the
quantum of that loss.

– As at 30 June 2010, the Group’s available-for-sale investments
included a material investment in ITV plc (“ITV”) which was
impaired in previous periods. The factors management
considered in determining whether an impairment loss in ITV had
occurred included observable data about the estimated future
cash flows of ITV based on ITV’s publicly available financial
reporting and announcements, publicly available information
from financial commentators about ITV and the market in which
it operates, the historical performance of ITV’s share price, and
the regulatory environment affecting ITV and the Group. The ITV
impairment losses accounted for have been determined with
reference to ITV’s closing equity share price at 27 March 2009,
the last trading day of the Group’s third fiscal quarter in fiscal
2009. All subsequent increases in the fair value of the ITV
investment above this impaired value have been recorded in the
available-for-sale reserve (see accounting policy h).

(vi)Deferred tax (see note 17)
– The key area of judgment in respect of deferred tax accounting is

the assessment of the expected timing and manner of
realisation or settlement of the carrying amounts of assets and
liabilities held at the balance sheet date. In particular,
assessment is required of whether it is probable that there will
be suitable future taxable profits against which any deferred tax
assets can be utilised.

(vii)Programming inventory (see note 18)

– The Group has several main types of programming inventory:

Sport, News, Movies and General entertainment, as detailed in
accounting policy (g)(i).

– The cost of acquired Sport and News rights is recognised in the
income statement on first broadcast or, where Sports rights are
for multiple seasons or competitions, Sports rights are
amortised on a straight-line basis across the season or
competition. Acquired movie rights are amortised on a straight-
line basis over the period of the transmission rights. These
treatments best represent our estimate of the benefits received
from the acquired rights.

– The key area of accounting for programming inventory requiring
judgment is the assessment of the appropriate profile over
which to amortise general entertainment programming. This
assessment requires the Group to form an expectation of the
number of times a programme will be broadcast, and the relative
value associated with each broadcast.

– In order to perform this assessment, the Group considers the

following factors:
The period over which the programme is expected to be shown on
the Group’s channels. This is usually based on a combination of
the actual period specified in the contract for the programme
rights, and the initial expectation of when repeat broadcasts will
be scheduled.

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BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

2. Revenue

Retail subscription(i)
Wholesale subscription
Advertising
Easynet
Installation, hardware and service
Other

2010
£m

4,761
238
319
203
174
217
5,912

2009
£m

4,177
206
308
202
235
231
5,359

(i)

Included within retail subscription revenue for the year ended 30 June 2009 is £36 million of additional revenue representing amounts invoiced in prior years, which did not
meet revenue recognition criteria under IFRS until March 2009.

To provide a more relevant presentation, management has chosen to re-analyse the revenue categories from those previously reported.
Easynet revenue is shown separately and other revenue now principally includes income from Sky Bet, technical platform service revenue
and our online portal.

Revenue arises from goods and services provided to the UK, with the exception of £483 million (2009: £443 million) which arises from
services provided to other countries.

3. Operating expense

Programming
Direct networks
Transmission, technology and fixed networks
Marketing
Subscriber management and supply chain(i)(ii)
Administration(i)(iii)

2010
£m

1,902
518
374
1,118
655
518
5,085

2009
£m

1,750
373
353
907
662
501
4,546

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

Included within operating expense for the year ended 30 June 2010 is £32 million (2009: nil) of expense relating to a restructuring exercise of which £22 million was recorded
within subscriber management and supply chain costs and related to the impairment of assets associated with Picnic (the potential launch of a subscription television service
on DTT) and £10 million was recorded within administration costs and related to restructuring costs which comprise principally redundancy payments.

Included within subscriber management and supply chain costs for the year ended 30 June 2010 is a £5 million credit (2009: nil) related to the cancellation of accounts payable
on settlement of the claim against EDS.

Included within administration costs for the year ended 30 June 2010 is £1 million (2009: £3 million) of expense relating to legal costs incurred on the Group’s claim against
EDS.

To provide a more relevant presentation, management has chosen to analyse further the operating expense categories from those
previously reported and has split Transmission, technology and network costs into Direct network costs (costs directly related to the
supply of broadband and telephony services to our consumer and business-to-business customers) and Transmission, technology and
fixed network costs.

4. Litigation settlement income and investment income on litigation settlement
On 26 January 2010, the Technology and Construction Court (“TCC”) gave judgment in the litigation between Electronic Data Systems
(“EDS”) and the Group. The litigation related to EDS’ former role as a supplier to the Group as part of the Group’s customer relationship
management (“CRM”) project.

On 7 June 2010, EDS and the Group fully and finally settled the litigation between them and all related claims (including for damages, costs
and interest) for a total amount of £318 million.

The Group has recognised £49 million of these payments in investment income on litigation settlement. This allocation was based on the
Group’s estimate of the TCC’s likely award of interest on its lost cash flows since the end of EDS’ role as a supplier to the Group in March
2002.

The balance of £269 million has been recognised in litigation settlement income representing settlement for costs and damages.

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
continued

5. Investment income and finance costs

Investment income
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term deposits
Dividends receivable from available-for-sale investments

Finance costs
– Interest payable and similar charges
£750 million/£1 billion Revolving Credit Facilities (“RCF”)
Guaranteed Notes (see note 22)
Finance lease interest

– Other finance income (expense) 
Remeasurement of borrowings and borrowings-related derivative financial instruments (not qualifying for hedge accounting)
Remeasurement of programming-related derivative financial instruments (not qualifying for hedge accounting)
Gain arising on derivatives in a designated fair value hedge accounting relationship
Loss arising on adjustment for hedged item in a designated fair value hedge accounting relationship

2010
£m

3
–
3

2010
£m

(11)
(116)
(8)
(135)

16
(1)
36
(38)
13

(122)

2009
£m

30
5
35

2009
£m

(3)
(186)
(7)
(196)

(21)
(3)
46
(46)
(24)

(220)

Borrowing costs included in the cost of qualifying assets during the year arose on the general borrowing pool and are calculated by
applying a capitalisation rate of 5.3% to expenditure on such assets. The amount capitalised in the current year amounted to less than
£1 million.

6. Impairment of available-for-sale investment and profit on disposal of available-for-sale investment
The Group’s investment in ITV is carried at fair value. The fair value of ITV is determined with reference to its equity share price at the
balance sheet date. An impairment in the carrying value was first recorded at 31 December 2007, due to the significant and prolonged
decline in the equity share price. In accordance with IFRS, the Group has continued to review that carrying value and recognised an
impairment loss of £191 million in the year ended 30 June 2009. This impairment loss was determined with reference to ITV’s closing
equity share price of 20.0 pence at 27 March 2009, the last trading day of the Group’s third fiscal quarter in fiscal 2009. In line with IFRS,
all subsequent increases in the fair value of the ITV investment above this impaired value have been recorded in the available-for-sale
reserve.

On 8 February 2010 the Group placed a shareholding of 10.4% in ITV in accordance with the final undertakings given by the Group to the
Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills relating to the Group’s investment in ITV. The placing by the Group of 404,362,095
ITV shares at 48.5p per share resulted in aggregate consideration of £196 million. A profit of £115 million was realised on disposal being the
excess of the consideration above the impaired value of the shares. The Group continues to hold just under 7.5% of ITV.

At 25 June 2010, the last trading day of the Group’s financial year, ITV’s closing equity share price was 53.5 pence. In accordance with IAS
39, the effect of any further decline in the value of the equity share price of ITV below the price of 20.0 pence as at 27 March 2009 will be
recognised in the income statement at the relevant future balance sheet date.

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BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

7. Profit before taxation
Profit before taxation is stated after charging (crediting):

Cost of inventories recognised as an expense
Depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment
Amortisation and impairment of intangible assets
Rentals on operating leases and similar arrangements
Sub-lease rentals received on operating leases

2010
£m

1,716
173
189
47
(1)

2009
£m

1,547
173
118
47
(1)

Consolidated non-current assets outside the UK were £29 million (2009: £33 million).

Foreign exchange
Foreign exchange losses recognised in the income statement during the year amounted to £3 million (2009: £10 million).

Audit fees
An analysis of auditors’ remuneration is as follows:

Fees payable to the Company’s auditors for the audit of the Company’s annual accounts
Fees payable to the Company’s auditors for other services:
The audit of the Company’s subsidiaries pursuant to legislation
Total audit fees

Other services pursuant to legislation
Total non-audit fees

Total auditor remuneration

2010
£m

2009
£m

1

1
2

1
1

3

1

1
2

1
1

3

Amounts paid to auditors for non audit-related fees include tax fees of £0.2 million (2009: £0.5 million), the interim review fee of £0.2 million
(2009: £0.2 million) and other audit related services of £0.2 million (2009: £0.3 million).

8. Employee benefits and key management compensation
a) Group employee benefits

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Costs of employee share option schemes(i)
Contributions to the Group’s pension schemes(ii)

2010
£m

631
76
32
27
766

2009
£m

572
60
50
27
709

(i)

(ii)

A £35 million charge relates to equity-settled share-based payments (2009: £48 million charge) and a credit of £3 million relates to cash-settled share-based payments (2009:
£2 million charge). At 30 June 2010, the total expense relating to non-vested awards not yet recognised was £42 million which is expected to be recognised over a weighted
average period of 1 year. At 30 June 2010, £5 million was recognised as liabilities arising from share-based payment transactions (2009: £8 million).

The Group operates defined contribution pension schemes. The pension charge for the year represents the cost of contributions payable by the Group to the schemes during
the year. The amount payable to the schemes by the Group at 30 June 2010 was £3 million (2009: £4 million).

The average monthly number of full-time equivalent persons (including temporary employees) employed by the Group during the year
was as follows:

Channels and services
Customer service, sales and marketing
Transmission and technology
Management and administration

2010
Number

2,670
9,463
2,650
1,656
16,439

2009
Number

2,628
8,671
2,276
1,347
14,922

There are approximately 538 (2009: 347) temporary staff included within the average number of full-time equivalent persons employed
by the Group.

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
continued

8. Employee benefits and key management compensation (continued)
b) Key management compensation (see note 30d)

Short-term employee benefits
Share-based payments

Post-employment benefits were less than £1 million (2009: less than £1 million).

9. Taxation
a) Taxation recognised in the income statement

Current tax expense
Current year
Adjustment in respect of prior years
Total current tax charge

Deferred tax expense
Origination and reversal of temporary differences
Adjustment in respect of prior years
Total deferred tax charge (credit)

Taxation

2010
£m

5
4
9

2010
£m

305
(23)
282

9
4
13

295

2009
£m

4
7
11

2009
£m

191
10
201

6
(10)
(4)

197

Taxation relates to a £288 million UK corporation tax charge (2009: £190 million) and a £7 million Luxembourg corporation tax charge
(2009: £7 million).

b) Deferred tax recognised directly in equity

Deferred tax (credit) charge relating to share-based payments
Deferred tax charge relating to cash flow hedges

2010
£m

(9)
20
11

2009
£m

3
7
10

c) Reconciliation of effective tax rate
The tax expense for the year is lower (2009: higher) than the expense that would have been charged using the standard rate of
corporation tax in the UK (28%) applied to profit before tax. The applicable enacted or substantially enacted rate of UK corporation tax
for the year was 28% (2009: 28%). The differences are explained below:

Profit before tax
Profit before tax multiplied by standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 28% (2009: 28%)

Effects of:
Non-deductible expense(i)
Deferred tax write off following change in legislation
Tax exempt income
Tax exempt gain on disposal of available-for-sale investments(ii)
Over provision in respect of prior years
Taxation

2010
£m

1,173
328

18
–
–
(32)
(19)
295

2009
£m

456
128

65
6
(1)
–
(1)
197

(i)

Included within non-deductible expense in the year ended 30 June 2009 is the tax effect of the impairment in available-for-sale investments relating to the Group’s investment
in ITV, see note 6.

(ii)

This is the tax effect of the gain on disposal of the available-for-sale investments relating to the Group’s investment in ITV, see note 6.

72

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

10. Earnings per share
The weighted average number of shares for the year was:

Ordinary shares
ESOP trust ordinary shares
Basic shares

Dilutive ordinary shares from share options
Diluted shares

2010
Millions of
shares

2009
Millions of
shares

1,753
(10)
1,743

11
1,754

1,753
(13)
1,740

13
1,753

The calculation of diluted earnings per share excludes 11 million share options (2009: 21 million), which could potentially dilute earnings
per share in the future, but which have been excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share as they are anti-dilutive in the
year.

Basic and diluted earnings per share are calculated by dividing the profit or loss for the year into the weighted average number of shares
for the year. In order to provide a measure of underlying performance, management have chosen to present an adjusted profit for the
year which excludes items that may distort comparability. Such items arise from events or transactions that fall within the ordinary
activities of the Group but which management believes should be separately identified to help explain underlying performance.

Reconciliation from profit for the year to adjusted profit for the year
Profit for the year
Remeasurement of all derivative financial instruments not qualifying for hedge accounting and hedge ineffectiveness (see note 5)
Litigation settlement income relating to claim against EDS (see note 4)
Investment income on litigation settlement (see note 4)
Legal costs relating to claim against EDS (see note 3)
Cancellation of accounts payable on settlement of claim against EDS (see note 3)
Cost relating to restructuring exercise (see note 3)
Receipt on closure of joint venture (see note 15)
Profit on disposal of available-for-sale investment (see note 6)
Impairment of available-for-sale investment (see note 6)
Recognition of deferred revenue (see note 2)
Deferred tax write off following change in legislation
Tax effect of above items
Adjusted profit for the year

Earnings per share from profit for the year
Basic
Diluted

Adjusted earnings per share from adjusted profit for the year
Basic
Diluted

2010
£m

878
(13)
(269)
(49)
1
(5)
32
(3)
(115)
–
–
–
85
542

2010
pence

50.4
50.1

31.1
30.9

2009
£m

259
24
–
–
3
–
–
–
–
191
(36)
6
4
451

2009
pence

14.9
14.8

25.9
25.7

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
continued

11. Dividends

Dividends declared and paid during the year
2008 Final dividend paid: 9.625p per ordinary share
2009 Interim dividend paid: 7.50p per ordinary share
2009 Final dividend paid: 10.10p per ordinary share
2010 Interim dividend paid: 7.875p per ordinary share

2010
£m

–
–
176
138
314

2009
£m

167
131
–
–
298

The 2010 final dividend proposed is 11.525 pence per ordinary share being £201 million. The dividend was not declared at the balance sheet
date and is therefore not recognised as a liability as at 30 June 2010.

Dividends are paid between Group companies out of profits available for distribution subject to, inter alia, the provisions of the
companies’ articles of association and the Companies Act 2006. There are restrictions over the distribution of any profits which are not
generated from external cash receipts as defined in Technical Release 1/09, issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England
and Wales. All dividends were paid out of profits available for distribution. The ESOP has waived its rights to dividends.

12. Goodwill

Carrying value

2010
£m

852

2009
£m

852

Goodwill has principally arisen from the Group’s purchases of the Sports Internet Group (“SIG”), British Interactive Broadcasting (“BiB”),
Easynet Group Limited (“Easynet”), 365 Media and Amstrad. Impairment reviews were performed on these goodwill balances at
30 June 2010, which did not indicate impairment.

The amount of goodwill deductible for tax purposes is nil (2009: nil). Goodwill, allocated by cash generating unit, is analysed as follows:

Broadcast(i)
Betting and gaming(ii)
Easynet Enterprise(iii)

2010
£m

673
149
30
852

2009
£m

673
149
30
852

Recoverable amounts for the cash generating units were calculated on the basis of value in use or recoverable amount as appropriate,
using cash flows calculated for the next three or five years as forecast by management. A long-term growth rate of 3% was applied in
order to extrapolate cash flow projections beyond this period, based on future industry expectations. The cash flows were discounted
using a pre-tax discount rate of 10.4% (2009: 11.1%).

In determining the applicable discount rate, management applied judgment in respect of several factors, which included, inter alia:
assessing the risk attached to future cash flows and making reference to the capital asset pricing model (the “CAPM”). Management gave
consideration to the selection of appropriate inputs to the CAPM, which included the risk free rate, the equity risk premium and a measure
of systematic risk. Management also considers capital structure and an appropriate cost of debt in arriving at the discount rate.

i) Broadcast
The Broadcast unit includes goodwill arising from the purchase of Easynet’s UK broadband network assets, Easynet’s UK residential
business, 365 Media’s content business, BiB and Amstrad. The key assumptions on which forecast five year cash flows of the Broadcast
unit were based include the number of gross DTH subscriber additions, the rate of DTH churn, the average revenue per subscriber,
acquisition costs per subscriber and anticipated changes in the product mix and marketing mix of the broadcast business. The values
assigned to each of these assumptions were determined based on the extrapolation of historical trends within the Group, and external
information on expected future trends in the UK and Ireland entertainment and communications industry.

ii) Betting and gaming
The Betting and gaming unit includes goodwill arising from the purchase of SIG and 365 Media’s betting businesses. The key assumptions,
on which forecast five year cash flows were based, include the number of weekly unique users, the number of bets placed per user per
week, the average stake per user per week and the average spend per active user per week. The values assigned to each of these
assumptions were determined based on an extrapolation of historical trends within the unit, and external information on expected future
trends in betting and gaming.

74

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

iii) Easynet Enterprise
The Easynet Enterprise unit includes goodwill arising from the purchase of Easynet’s enterprise broadband business in the UK and other
European countries. The key assumptions on which forecast three year cash flows were based include the number of Easynet Enterprise
customers, the average revenue per customer and the operating margin generated per customer. The values assigned to each of these
assumptions were determined based on an extrapolation of historical trends within the unit, and external information on expected future
trends in the enterprise broadband industry.

13. Intangible assets

Internally
generated
intangible
assets
£m

Software
development
(external)
£m

Software
licences
£m

Other
intangible
assets
£m

Internally
generated
intangible
assets not yet
available
for use
£m

Other
intangible
assets not yet
available
for use
£m

91
–
34
(5)
4
124

–
51
(6)
5
174

35
–
27
1
(5)
58

–
37
3
(6)
92

56
66
82

237
–
20
(5)
50
302

–
12
(10)
1
305

160
–
50
–
(5)
205

–
59
1
(10)
255

77
97
50

89
1
19
(8)
–
101

(1)
19
–
1
120

54
1
15
–
(8)
62

(1)
20
–
–
81

35
39
39

41
–
35
(5)
1
72

–
41
–
–
113

12
–
25
–
(5)
32

–
47
–
–
79

29
40
34

4
–
13
–
–
17

–
18
–
(3)
32

–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–

4
17
32

102
–
39
–
(55)
86

–
38
(22)
(3)
99

–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
22
(22)
–

102
86
99

Total
£m

564
1
160
(23)
–
702

(1)
179
(38)
1
843

261
1
117
1
(23)
357

(1)
163
26
(38)
507

303
345
336

Cost
At 1 July 2008
Foreign exchange movements
Additions
Disposals
Transfers
At 30 June 2009

Foreign exchange movements
Additions
Disposals
Transfers
At 30 June 2010

Amortisation
At 1 July 2008
Foreign exchange movements
Amortisation for the year
Impairments
Disposals
At 30 June 2009

Foreign exchange movements
Amortisation for the year
Impairments
Disposals
At 30 June 2010

Carrying amounts
At 1 July 2008
At 30 June 2009
At 30 June 2010

The Group’s internally generated intangible assets relate to software development associated with our customer management systems
and set-top boxes. The Group’s other intangible assets mainly include copyright licences, customer lists and relationships, and patents
and brands acquired in business combinations.

The estimated future amortisation charge on intangible assets with finite lives for each of the next five years is set out below. It is likely
that future amortisation will vary from the figures below as the estimate does not include the impact of any future investments, disposals
or capital expenditure.

Estimated amortisation charge

2010
£m

112

2011
£m

90

2012
£m

58

2013
£m

31

2014
£m

21

For intangible assets acquired in business combinations the average amortisation period is 3 years (2009: 3 years).

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
continued

14. Property, plant and equipment

Cost
At 1 July 2008
Foreign exchange movements
Additions
Disposals
Transfers
At 30 June 2009

Foreign exchange movements
Additions
Disposals
Transfers
At 30 June 2010

Depreciation
At 1 July 2008
Foreign exchange movements
Depreciation
Impairments
Disposals
At 30 June 2009

Foreign exchange movements
Depreciation
Impairments
Disposals
At 30 June 2010

Carrying amounts
At 1 July 2008
At 30 June 2009
At 30 June 2010

Land and
freehold
buildings(i)(ii)

£m

108
–
25
(5)
–
128

–
58
–
–
186

20
–
4
1
(3)
22

–
4
–
–
26

88
106
160

Leasehold
improvements
£m

Equipment, Assets not yet
available for
use
£m

furniture and
fixtures
£m

72
–
5
–
–
77

–
2
(6)
–
73

22
–
7
–
–
29

–
4
–
(6)
27

50
48
46

914
5
85
(74)
1
931

(4)
152
(69)
30
1,040

388
3
154
5
(73)
477

(4)
160
2
(67)
568

526
454
472

58
–
136
(2)
(1)
191

–
64
(3)
(31)
221

–
–
–
2
(2)
–

–
–
3
(3)
–

58
191
221

Total
£m

1,152
5
251
(81)
–
1,327

(4)
276
(78)
(1)
1,520

430
3
165
8
(78)
528

(4)
168
5
(76)
621

722
799
899

(i)

The amounts shown include assets held under finance leases with a net book value of £4 million (2009: £4 million). The cost of these assets was £9 million (2009: £9 million)
and the accumulated depreciation was £5 million (2009: £5 million). Depreciation charged during the year on such assets was nil (2009: £1 million).

(ii) Depreciation was not charged on £88 million of land (2009: £32 million).

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15. Investments in joint ventures and associates
A list of the Group’s significant investments in joint ventures and associates, including the name, country of incorporation and proportion
of ownership interest is given in note 31 to the consolidated financial statements.

The movement in joint ventures and associates during the year was as follows:

Share of net assets:
At 1 July
Movement in net assets
– Funding, net of repayments
– Dividends received
– Share of profits(i)
– Exchange differences on translation of foreign joint ventures and associates
At 30 June

2010
£m

135

1
(30)
32
11
149

2009
£m

114

3
(20)
19
19
135

(i)

Included within the share of profits for the year ended 30 June 2010 is £3 million (2009: nil) related to an amount received on the closure of one of the Group’s joint ventures.

The Group’s share of any capital commitments and contingent liabilities of associates and joint ventures is shown in note 28.

a) Investments in joint ventures
Representing the Group’s share of each joint venture:

Non-current assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Shareholders’ equity

Revenue
Expense
Taxation
Share of profit from joint ventures

b) Investments in associates
Representing a 100% share of each associate:

Total assets
Total liabilities
Shareholders’ equity

Revenue(i)
Profit(i)

(i)

Revenue and profit numbers are provided for the full year ended 30 June 2010 and 30 June 2009.

16. Available-for-sale investments

Investment in ITV at cost
Impairment of ITV investment
Unrealised gain on ITV investment
Realised gain on ITV investment
Part disposal of ITV investment
Fair value of ITV investment

Other investments at cost

2010
£m

6
46
(24)
(6)
22

70
(51)
(4)
15

2010
£m

233
(60)
173

214
64

2010
£m

946
(807)
98
115
(196)
156

26
182

2009
£m

4
45
(22)
(1)
26

68
(55)
(4)
9

2009
£m

343
(52)
291

172
45

2009
£m

946
(807)
96
–
–
235

26
261

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
continued

16. Available-for-sale investments (continued)
On 17 November 2006, the Group acquired 696 million shares in ITV, at a price of 135 pence per share, representing 17.9% of the issued
capital of ITV, for a total consideration of £946 million including fees and taxes. The Group’s investment in ITV is carried at fair value. The
fair value is determined with reference to its equity share price at the balance sheet date. An impairment in the carrying value was first
recorded at 31 December 2007, due to the significant and prolonged decline in the equity share price. In accordance with IFRS, the Group
has continued to review that carrying value and has recognised a cumulative impairment loss of £807 million in fiscal 2008 and fiscal
2009. This impairment loss was determined with reference to ITV’s closing equity share price of 20.0 pence at 27 March 2009, the last
trading day of the Group’s third fiscal quarter in fiscal 2009. In line with IFRS, all subsequent increases in the fair value of the ITV
investment above this impaired value have been recorded in the available-for-sale reserve.

On 8 February 2010 the Group placed a shareholding of 10.4% in ITV in accordance with the final undertakings given by the Group to the
Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills relating to the Group’s investment in ITV. The placing by the Group of 404,362,095
ITV shares at 48.5p per share resulted in aggregate consideration of £196 million. A profit of £115 million was realised on disposal being the
excess of the consideration above the impaired value of the shares. The Group continues to hold just under 7.5% of ITV.

The disposal is exempt from tax under the provisions of the Substantial Shareholding Exemption (SSE) and as such the SSE provisions
would prevent any capital loss arising for tax purposes.

The Group holds certain unquoted equity investments that are carried at cost less impairment. The fair value of these investments is not
considered to differ significantly from their carrying value.

17. Deferred tax
i) Recognised deferred tax (liabilities) assets

At 1 July 2008
Credit (charge) to income
Charge to equity
At 30 June 2009

(Charge) credit to income
(Charge) credit to equity
At 30 June 2010

Fixed asset
temporary
differences
£m

Tax losses
£m

Short-term
temporary
differences
£m

Share-based
payments
temporary
differences
£m

Financial
instrument
temporary
differences
£m

(9)
7
–
(2)

(6)
–
(8)

7
(5)
–
2

(2)
–
–

8
(2)
–
6

–
–
6

18
7
(3)
22

(6)
9
25

(1)
(3)
(7)
(11)

1
(20)
(30)

Total
£m

23
4
(10)
17

(13)
(11)
(7)

Deferred tax assets have been recognised at 30 June 2010 and 30 June 2009 on the basis that, from management’s current forecast of
the Group’s entities, it is probable that there will be suitable taxable profits against which these assets can be utilised. Tax losses are
treated as unrecognised deferred tax assets if it is not considered probable that suitable future taxable profits will arise. During the year,
any tax losses suffered by UK entities have been relieved against taxable profits in other UK entities in the Group.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the periods in which they reverse. The rate
enacted or substantially enacted for the relevant periods of reversal is 28% in the year ended 30 June 2010 (2009: 28%).

Certain deferred tax assets and liabilities have been offset. The following is the analysis of the deferred tax balances (after offset) for
financial reporting purposes:

Deferred tax assets
Deferred tax liabilities

ii) Unrecognised deferred tax assets

Tax losses arising from trading
Tax losses arising from capital disposals and provisions against investments

2010
£m

31
(38)
(7)

2010
£m

338
403
741

2009
£m

30
(13)
17

2009
£m

341
406
747

Deferred tax assets have not been recognised in respect of the items above because it is not probable that future taxable profits will be
available against which the Group can utilise the losses.

78

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

The ageing of the Group’s net trade receivables which are past due
but not impaired is as follows:

Up to 30 days past due date
30 to 60 days past due date
60 to 120 days past due date
More than 120 days past due date

2010
£m

50
6
5
4
65

2009
£m

56
11
7
5
79

The Directors consider that the carrying amount of trade and other
receivables approximates to their fair values. The Group is exposed
to credit risk on its trade and other receivables, however the Group
does not have any significant concentrations of credit risk, with
exposure spread over a large number of counterparties and
customers. Trade receivables principally comprise amounts
outstanding from subscribers, advertisers and other customers.

Provisions for doubtful debts

Balance at beginning of year
Amounts utilised
Income statement charge
Balance at end of year

20. Trade and other payables

Trade payables(i)
Amounts owed to joint ventures 
and associates
Amounts owed to other related parties
VAT
Accruals
Deferred income
Other

2010
£m

118
(5)
40
153

2010
£m

419

4
70
105
609
251
68
1,526

2009
£m

84
(7)
41
118

2009
£m

407

3
69
93
586
269
65
1,492

(i)

Included within trade payables are £155 million (2009: £143 million) of US dollar-
denominated programme payables. 

The Directors consider that the carrying amount of trade and other
payables approximates to their fair values. Trade payables
principally comprise amounts outstanding for programming
purchases and ongoing costs.

At 30 June 2010, a deferred tax asset of £38 million (2009:
£46 million) principally arising from UK losses in the Group, has not
been recognised. These losses can only be offset against taxable
profits generated in the entities concerned. There is currently
insufficient evidence to support the recognition of a deferred tax
asset relating to these losses. The UK trading losses can be carried
forward indefinitely.

At 30 June 2010, a deferred tax asset of £300 million (2009:
£295 million) has not been recognised in respect of overseas
trading losses on the basis that it is not probable that these
temporary differences will be utilised. These losses include
£249 million (2009: £249 million) with respect to the Group’s
German holding company’s former investment in KirchPayTV and
£51 million (2009: £46 million) with respect to the Group’s holdings
in Easynet’s overseas subsidiaries. In respect of the unrecognised
deferred tax of £300 million on the overseas trading losses,
£282 million relates to losses that can be carried forward
indefinitely and £18 million relates to losses that have expiry dates
between 2011 and 2029.

At 30 June 2010, a deferred tax asset of £391 million (2009:
£391 million) has not been recognised in respect of potential
capital losses related to the Group’s former investment in
KirchPayTV, on the basis that utilisation of these temporary
differences is not probable. At 30 June 2010, the Group also has
capital losses with a tax value estimated to be in excess of
£12 million (2009: £15 million) including impairment of a football
club and other investments, which have not been recognised as a
deferred tax asset, on the basis that it is not probable that they will
be utilised. The capital losses can be carried forward indefinitely.

18. Inventories

Television programme rights
Set-top boxes and related equipment
Other inventories

2010
£m

255
73
15
343

2009
£m

274
97
15
386

At 30 June 2010, 91% (2009: 91%) of the television programme
rights and 100% (2009: 100%) of other inventories is expected to
be recognised in the income statement within 12 months.

19. Trade and other receivables

Gross trade receivables
Less: provision for impairment of receivables
Net trade receivables

Amounts receivable from joint ventures and 
associates
Amounts receivable from other related parties
Prepayments
Accrued income
VAT
Other
Current trade and other receivables

Non-current prepayments

Total trade and other receivables

2010
£m

303
(153)
150

6
3
197
135
18
29
538

18

556

2009
£m

297
(118)
179

5
–
221
116
52
40
613

21

634

Included within current trade and other receivables is nil (2009:
£54 million) which is due in more than one year.

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
continued

21. Provisions

Current liabilities
Restructuring provision(i)
Acquired and acquisition related provisions(ii)
Other provisions(iii)

Non-current liabilities
Acquired and acquisition related provisions(ii)
Other provisions(iv)

At
1 July
2008
£m

Provided
during
the year
£m

Utilised
during
the year
£m

At
1 July
2009
£m

Provided
during
the year
£m

Utilised
during
the year
£m

At
30 June
2010
£m

6
14
7
27

8
14
22

–
8
1
9

–
–
–

(6)
(8)
(4)
(18)

(7)
(3)
(10)

–
14
4
18

1
11
12

7
4
2
13

–
2
2

–
(3)
(1)
(4)

(1)
(2)
(3)

7
15
5
27

–
11
11

(i)

During the year ended 30 June 2010 the Group provided £7 million for the expected costs of a restructuring exercise undertaken.

(ii) During the year ended 30 June 2008 the Group took control of Amstrad. Following the purchase method of accounting the Group has recognised at fair value both the

provisions and contingent liabilities acquired in the business combination. The provisions recognised primarily relate to warranties and repair costs, the settlement of
outstanding customer claims and the fair value of a contingent liability in respect of importation duty on set-top boxes, see note 28.

(iii)

(iv)

Included in other provisions are amounts provided for onerous contracts for property leases, maintenance and legal disputes. The timing of the cash flows for onerous property
leases and maintenance are dependent on the terms of the remaining leases. The timing of the cash flows for legal disputes cannot be reasonably determined.

Included within non-current other provisions are onerous property leases. The timing of the cash flows are dependent on the terms of the leases, but are expected to continue
up to August 2016.

22. Borrowings and non-current other payables

Current borrowings
£100 million of 7.750% Guaranteed Notes repayable in July 2009(i)
US$600 million of 8.200% Guaranteed Notes repayable in July 2009(i)
Loan Notes(ii)

Non-current borrowings
US$750 million of 5.625% Guaranteed Notes repayable in October 2015(i)
£400 million of 5.750% Guaranteed Notes repayable in October 2017(i)
US$750 million of 6.100% Guaranteed Notes repayable in February 2018(i)
US$582.8 million of 9.500% Guaranteed Notes repayable in November 2018(i)
£300 million of 6.000% Guaranteed Notes repayable in May 2027(i)
US$350 million of 6.500% Guaranteed Notes repayable in October 2035(i)
Obligations under finance leases(iii)

Non-current other payables
Amounts owed to other related parties
Accruals
Deferred income

2010
£m

–
–
–
–

533
407
511
413
295
229
70
2,458

3
11
38
52

2009
£m

100
363
2
465

477
404
459
367
295
206
71
2,279

5
18
43
66

80

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

(i) Guaranteed Notes
At 30 June 2010, the Group had in issue the following Guaranteed Notes, which were issued by the Company:

US$750 million of 6.100% Guaranteed Notes repayable in February 2018
US$582.8 million of 9.500% Guaranteed Notes repayable in November 2018
£300 million of 6.000% Guaranteed Notes repayable in May 2027

Interest Rate Hedging

Hedged Interest Rates

Hedged Value*
£m

387
389
300
1,076

Fixed
£m

290
–
300
590

Floating
£m

97
389
–
486

Fixed

Floating

6.829%
N/A
6.000%

6m LIBOR + 1.892%
6m LIBOR + 5.542%
N/A

At 30 June 2010, the Group had in issue the following Guaranteed Notes, which were issued by BSkyB Finance UK plc:

US$750 million of 5.625% Guaranteed Notes repayable in October 2015
£400 million of 5.750% Guaranteed Notes repayable in October 2017
US$350 million of 6.500% Guaranteed Notes repayable in October 2035

Interest Rate Hedging

Hedged Interest Rates

Hedged Value*
£m

428
400
200
1,028

Fixed
£m

171
350
200
721

Floating
£m

257
50
–
307

Fixed

Floating

5.427%
5.750%
5.826%

6m LIBOR + 0.698%
6m LIBOR – 0.229%
N/A

At 30 June 2009, the Group had in issue the following Guaranteed Notes, which were issued by the Company:

£100 million of 7.750% Guaranteed Notes repayable in July 2009
US$600 million of 8.200% Guaranteed Notes repayable in July 2009
US$750 million of 6.100% Guaranteed Notes repayable in February 2018
US$600 million of 9.500% Guaranteed Notes repayable in November 2018
£300 million of 6.000% Guaranteed Notes repayable in May 2027

Interest Rate Hedging

Hedged Interest Rates

Hedged Value*
£m

100
380
387
401
300
1,568

Fixed
£m

100
254
290
–
300
944

Floating
£m

–
126
97
401
–
624

Fixed

Floating

7.750%
7.653%
6.829%
N/A
6.000%

N/A
6m LIBOR + 2.829%
6m LIBOR + 1.892%
6m LIBOR + 5.542%
N/A

At 30 June 2009, the Group had in issue the following Guaranteed Notes, which were issued by BSkyB Finance UK plc:

US$750 million of 5.625% Guaranteed Notes repayable in October 2015
£400 million of 5.750% Guaranteed Notes repayable in October 2017
US$350 million of 6.500% Guaranteed Notes repayable in October 2035

Interest Rate Hedging

Hedged Interest Rates

Hedged Value*
£m

428
400
200
1,028

Fixed
£m

171
330
200
701

Floating
£m

257
70
–
327

Fixed

Floating

5.427%
5.750%
5.826%

6m LIBOR + 0.698%
6m LIBOR – 0.070%
N/A

*

Note: Hedged value is the final redemption value including any hedging

The Group has a Euro Medium Term Note Programme (the “Programme”), which provides the Group with a standardised documentation
platform for senior debt issuance in the Eurobond markets. The £300 million of 6.000% Guaranteed Notes maturing in May 2027 has
been issued under the Programme, which allows a maximum potential issuance of £1 billion.

During the year, the Company and the Group repaid the US$600 million and £100 million of Guaranteed Notes repayable in July 2009 and
repurchased for cancellation $17.2 million of the US$600 million 9.500% Guaranteed Notes repayable in November 2018. The combined
repayments resulted in a net cash outflow of £495 million, including cash flows on related hedges and a premium of £3 million paid on the
redemption of the November 2018 Guaranteed Notes.

(ii) Loan Notes
During fiscal 2009, the Group repaid £35 million of Loan Notes and the remaining £2 million were redeemed in October 2009. Under the
terms of the Loan Notes the Group paid a semi-annual coupon, based on floating six month LIBOR minus 1.000%.

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
continued

22. Borrowings and non-current other payables (continued) 
(iii) Finance leases
The minimum lease payments under finance leases fall due as follows:

Within one year
Between one and two years
Between two and three years
Between three and four years
Between four and five years
After five years

Future finance charges on finance lease liabilities
Present value of finance lease liabilities

The main obligations under finance leases are in relation to:

2010
£m

8
8
8
8
8
169
209

(139)
70

2009
£m

8
8
8
8
8
176
216

(145)
71

(a) finance arrangements in connection with the broadband network infrastructure. During the year, repayments of £7 million (2009:

£7 million) were made against the lease. A proportion of these payments have been allocated against the capital outstanding. The
lease bears interest at a rate of 11.1% and expires in November 2039.

(b) finance arrangements in connection with the contact centre in Dunfermline. During the year, repayments of £1 million (2009:
£1 million) were made against the lease. A proportion of these payments have been allocated against the capital amount
outstanding. The lease bears interest at a rate of 8.5% and expires in September 2020.

(iv) Revolving Credit Facility
The Group has a £750 million Revolving Credit Facility (“RCF”) with a maturity date of 30 July 2013, syndicated across 11 counterparty
banks, each with a minimum credit rating of A–. At 30 June 2010, the RCF was undrawn (2009: undrawn).

At 30 June 2009, the Group had a £1 billion RCF due to expire on 30 July 2010 and had secured the above £750 million forward-starting
RCF, to start on the same date.

In June 2010, the Group amended the forward-starting facility, to extend the maturity by one year and to reduce the cost. At the same
time, the Group brought forward the start date of the new facility and cancelled its existing facility.

There are two opportunities to request an extension of one further year to the RCF, at the lenders’ discretion, with a potential final
maturity of July 2015.

The Group is subject to two financial covenants under the RCF, a maximum leverage ratio and a minimum interest cover ratio, which are
tested at the end of each six monthly period. The key financial covenants are the ratio of Net Debt to EBITDA (as defined in the loan
agreements) and EBITDA to Net Interest Payable (as defined in the loan agreements). Net Debt to EBITDA must be no more then 3.00:1
and EBITDA to Net interest payable must be at least 3.50:1. The Group was in compliance with these covenants for all periods presented.

(v) Guarantees
The following guarantees are in place relating to the Group’s borrowings: (a) British Sky Broadcasting Limited, Sky Subscribers Services
Limited, BSkyB Investments Limited, BSkyB Finance UK plc, BSkyB Publications Limited and Sky In-Home Service Limited (“SHS”) have given
joint and several guarantees in relation to the Company’s £750 million RCF and the outstanding Guaranteed Notes issued by the
Company (b) the Company, British Sky Broadcasting Limited, Sky Subscribers Services Limited, BSkyB Investments Limited, SHS and BSkyB
Publications Limited have given joint and several guarantees in relation to the outstanding Guaranteed Notes issued by BSkyB Finance
UK plc.

82

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

23. Derivatives and other financial instruments
Set out below are the derivative financial instruments entered into by the Group to manage its interest rate and foreign exchange risks.

2010

2009

Asset

Liability

Asset

Liability

Fair Value
£m

Notional
£m

Fair Value
£m

Notional
£m

Fair Value
£m

Notional
£m

Fair Value
£m

Notional
£m

Fair value hedges
Interest rate swaps and swaptions

Cash flow hedges
Cross-currency swaps
Forward exchange contracts
Currency options (collars)

Derivatives not in a formal
hedge relationship
Interest rate swaps and swaptions
Forward exchange contracts
Cross-currency swaps
Embedded derivatives

Total

98

181
77
11

–
1
70
–

438

865

661
1,006
61

–
10
353
–

2,956

–

–
(8)
–

–
(2)
(16)
(1)

(27)

–

–
221
61

–
49
390
4

725

The maturity of the derivative financial instruments is as follows:

In one year or less
Between one and two years
Between two and five years
In more than five years

Total

54

104
37
11

1
4
28
–

239

Asset
£m

50
24
15
349

438

800

661
512
105

83
34
353
–

2,548

–

(17)
(43)
(2)

–
(2)
(63)
(1)

(128)

–

381
514
105

10
61
401
11

1,483

2010

2009

Liability
£m

(10)
(1)
–
(16)

(27)

Asset
£m

33
13
7
186

239

Liability
£m

(42)
(16)
(7)
(63)

(128)

Included within the fair value of forward exchange contracts are a number of US dollar and Euro-denominated forward exchange
contracts which the Group has taken out with counterparty banks on behalf of two of its joint ventures: AETN UK and Chelsea Digital
Media Limited. On the same dates as these forward contracts were entered into, the Group entered into equal and opposite forward
contracts with the respective joint ventures. As a result, the net fair value of these contracts to the Group was nil (2009: nil). The gross
sterling notional value of these forward contracts at 30 June 2010 was £1 million (2009: £3 million).

The fair value of the Group’s debt-related derivative portfolio at 30 June 2010 was a £333 million net asset (2009: net asset of
£107 million) with net notional principal amounts totalling £1,803 million (2009: £1,866 million). This comprised: net assets of £181 million
designated as cash flow hedges (2009: net assets of £87 million), net assets of £98 million designated as fair value hedges (2009: net
assets of £54 million) and net assets of £54 million not designated in a formal hedge relationship (2009: net liabilities of £34 million).

At 30 June 2010, the carrying value of financial assets that were, upon initial recognition, designated as financial assets at fair value
through profit or loss was nil (2009: nil).

Hedge accounting classification and impact
The Group has designated its interest rate swaps as fair value hedges of interest rate risk, representing 37% (2009: 30%) of the Group’s
debt portfolio. Movements in the fair value of the hedged items are taken to the income statement and are offset by movements in the
fair value of the hedging instruments, to the extent that hedge accounting is achieved.

The Group has designated its fixed rate cross-currency swaps as cash flow hedges of 35% (2009: 41%) of the Group’s debt portfolio. As
such, the effective portion of the gain or loss on these contracts is reported as a separate component of the hedging reserve, and is then
reclassified to the income statement in the same periods that the forecast transactions affect the income statement. During the current
year, gains of £78 million were removed from the hedging reserve and credited to finance costs in the income statement to offset the
currency translation movements in the underlying hedged debt (2009: gains of £350 million).

The Group designates its forward foreign exchange contracts and the intrinsic element of options (collars) as cash flow hedges of
forecast foreign currency sales and purchases. Gains or losses are released from the hedging reserve and recycled to the income
statement in the same period as the hedged item is recognised. If forecast transactions are no longer expected to occur, any amounts
included in the hedging reserve related to that forecast transaction would be recognised directly in the income statement. During the
current year gains of £13 million were removed from the hedging reserve and credited to operating expense in the income statement
(2009: gains of £16 million). Losses of £2 million were removed from the hedging reserve and debited against revenue in the income
statement (2009: losses of £15 million).

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
continued

23. Derivatives and other financial instruments (continued)
Swaption agreements have not been designated as hedging instruments for hedge accounting purposes and, as such, movements in 
their value are recorded directly in the income statement. The last of the Group’s non-hedge accounted swaption agreements expired in
July 2009.

Hedge effectiveness testing is performed, comparing the actual movement in the hedging items with the movement in the valuation of
the hypothetically perfect hedge of the underlying risk at inception. This testing is performed quarterly using the dollar-offset approach
and any ineffectiveness is recognised directly in the income statement. £2 million of ineffectiveness was recognised in the income
statement during the current year (2009: less than £1 million).

A hedge relationship is deemed to be effective if the ratio of changes in valuation of the underlying hedged item and the hedging
instrument is within the range of 80% to 125%. Any relationship which has a ratio outside this range is deemed to be ineffective, at which
point hedge accounting is suspended. During the year ended 30 June 2010, there were no instances in which the hedge relationship was
not highly effective (2009: no instances).

Financial instruments
(a) Carrying value and fair value
The accounting classification of each class of the Group’s financial assets and financial liabilities, together with their fair values, is as
follows:

Held to
maturity
investments
£m

Available-
for-sale
£m

Derivatives
deemed held
for trading
£m

Derivatives in
hedging
relationships
£m

Loans and
receivables Other liabilities
£m

£m

Total carrying
value
£m

Total fair
value
£m

At 30 June 2010
Quoted bond debt
Derivative financial instruments
Trade and other payables
Provisions
Obligations under finance leases 
and other borrowings
Available-for-sale investments
Trade and other receivables
Short-term deposits
Cash and cash equivalents

At 30 June 2009
Quoted bond debt
Derivative financial instruments
Loan notes
Trade and other payables
Provisions
Obligations under finance leases 
and other borrowings
Available-for-sale investments
Trade and other receivables
Short-term deposits
Cash and cash equivalents

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
400
148

–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
90
165

-
–
–
–

–
182
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–

–
261
–
–
–

–
52
–
–

–
–
–
–
–

–
(33)
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–

–
359
–
–

–
–
–
–
–

–
144
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–

–
–
334
–
501

–
–
–
–
–

–
–
392
–
646

(2,388)
–
(1,174)
(16)

(70)
–
–
–
–

(2,671)
–
(2)
(1,147)
(15)

(71)
–
–
–
–

(2,388)
411
(1,174)
(16)

(70)
182
334
400
649

(2,671)
111
(2)
(1,147)
(15)

(71)
261
392
90
811

(2,619)
411
(1,174)
(16)

(70)
182
334
400
649

(2,692)
111
(2)
(1,147)
(15)

(71)
261
392
90
811

The fair values of financial assets and financial liabilities are determined as follows:

• The fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities with standard terms and conditions and which are traded on active liquid

markets is determined with reference to quoted market prices;

• The fair value of other financial assets and financial liabilities (excluding derivative instruments) is determined in accordance with

generally accepted pricing models based on discounted cash flow analysis using prices from observable current market transactions
and dealer quotes for similar instruments;

• Foreign currency forward option contracts are measured using quoted forward exchange rates and yield curves derived from quoted

interest rates matching maturities of the contracts;

• Interest rate and cross currency swaps are measured at the present value of future cash flows estimated and discounted based on the

applicable yield curves derived from quoted interest rates; and

84

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• The fair value of obligations under finance leases and other borrowings is estimated by discounting the future cash flows to net

present value. The fair value of short-term deposits and cash and cash equivalents is equivalent to carrying value due to the short-term
nature of these instruments.

The differences between carrying values and fair values reflect unrealised gains or losses inherent in the financial instruments, based on
valuations as at 30 June 2010 and 30 June 2009. The volatile nature of the markets means that values at any subsequent date could be
significantly different from the values reported above.

The Group also has holdings in joint ventures and associates, which are accounted for using the equity method (see note 15). As these
investments are unlisted, their fair value cannot be measured reliably.

Cash and cash equivalents classified as held to maturity investments comprise money market deposits which have maturity dates of less
than three months from inception. Money market deposits which have maturity greater than three months from inception are classified
as short-term deposits.

Cash and cash equivalents classified as loans and receivables mainly comprise investments in AAA rated money market funds which can
be withdrawn without notice.

(b) Fair value hierarchy
The following table categorises the Group’s financial instruments which are held at fair value into 1 of 3 levels to reflect the degree to
which observable inputs are used in determining their fair values:

At 30 June 2010
Assets measured at fair value
Available-for-sale financial instruments
ITV investment
Other investments at cost
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
Interest rate swaps
Cross currency swaps
Forward foreign exchange and option contracts
Total
Liabilities measured at fair value
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss
Cross currency swaps
Forward foreign exchange and option contracts
Embedded derivatives
Total

Fair value
£m

Level 1
£m

Level 2
£m

Level 3
£m

156
26

98
251
89
620

(16)
(10)
(1)
(27)

156
–

–
–
–
156

–
–
–
–

–
–

98
251
89
438

(16)
(10)
(1)
(27)

–
26

–
–
–
26

–
–
–
–

Level 1
Fair values measured using quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2
Fair values measured using inputs, other than quoted prices included within Level 1, that are observable for the asset or liability either
directly or indirectly.

Level 3
Fair values measured using inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data. There has been no movement in
the Group’s Level 3 investments in the year ended 30 June 2010.

24. Financial risk management
Group Treasury activity
The Group’s Treasury function is responsible for raising finance for the Group’s operations, together with associated liquidity
management and management of foreign exchange, interest rate and credit risks. Treasury operations are conducted within a framework
of policies and guidelines authorised and reviewed by both the Audit Committee and the Board, which receive regular updates of Treasury
activity. Derivative instruments are transacted for risk management purposes only. It is the Group’s policy that all hedging is to cover
known risks and no speculative trading is undertaken. Regular and frequent reporting to management is required for all transactions and
exposures, and the internal control environment is subject to periodic review by the Group’s internal audit team.

The Group’s principal market risks are exposures to changes in interest rates and foreign exchange rates, which arise both from the
Group’s sources of finance and its operations. Following evaluation of those market risks, the Group selectively enters into derivative
financial instruments to manage these exposures. The principal instruments currently used are interest rate swaps to hedge interest rate
risks, and cross currency swaps, forward exchange contracts and currency options (collars) to hedge transactional and translational
currency exposures.

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
continued

24. Financial risk management (continued) 
Interest rate risk
The Group has financial exposures to both UK and US interest
rates, arising primarily from the Group’s long-term bonds and other
borrowings. The Group’s hedging policy requires that between 50%
and 75% of borrowings are held at fixed rates. This is achieved by
issuing fixed rate bonds and then using interest rate swaps to
adjust the balance between fixed and floating rate debt. The
Group’s bank debt is at floating rates, and, when drawn, means that
the mix of fixed and floating rate debt fluctuates and is therefore
managed to ensure compliance with the Group’s hedging policy. At
30 June 2010, 62% of borrowings were held at fixed rates after
hedging (2009: 63%).

The Group uses derivatives to convert all of its US dollar-
denominated debt and associated interest rate obligations to
pounds sterling (see section on foreign exchange risk for further
detail). At 30 June 2010, the Group had no net US dollar
denominated interest rate exposure on its borrowings.

The Group designates its interest rate swaps as fair value hedges
of interest rate risk. Movements in the fair value of the hedged
exposure are taken to the income statement and are offset by
movements in the fair value of the hedging instruments, which are
also taken to the income statement. Any hedge ineffectiveness is
recognised directly in the income statement. In the year ended
30 June 2010, this amounted to £2 million (2009: less than
£1 million).

At 30 June 2010 and 30 June 2009, the Group’s annual finance
costs would be unaffected by any change to the Group’s credit
rating in either direction.

Interest rate sensitivity
The sensitivity analyses below have been determined based on the
exposure to interest rates for both derivatives and non-derivative
financial instruments at the balance sheet date. For floating rate
liabilities, the analysis is prepared assuming the amount of liability
outstanding at the balance sheet date was outstanding for the
whole year.

For each one hundred basis point rise or fall in interest rates at
30 June 2010, and if all other variables were held constant:
• The Group’s profit for the year ended 30 June 2010 would

increase or decrease by £3 million (2009: profit for the year
would increase or decrease by £1 million). The increase is driven
by an increase in the cash balance held.

• Other equity reserves would decrease or increase by £17 million

(2009: decrease or increase by £8 million).

A one hundred basis point rise or fall in interest rates represents a
large but realistic movement which can easily be multiplied to give
sensitivities at different interest rates.

The sensitivity analyses provided are hypothetical only and should
be used with caution as the impacts provided are not necessarily
indicative of the actual impacts that would be experienced because
the Group’s actual exposure to market rates changes as the Group’s
portfolio of debt, cash and foreign currency contracts changes. In
addition, the effect of a change in a particular market variable on fair

values or cash flows is calculated without considering
interrelationships between the various market rates or mitigating
actions that would be taken by the Group. The changes in valuations
are estimates of the impact of changes in market variables and are
not a prediction of future events or anticipated gains or losses.

Foreign exchange risk
A combination of cross-currency and interest rate swap
arrangements is used to convert the Group’s US dollar
denominated debt and associated interest rate obligations to
pounds sterling, at fixed exchange rates. At 30 June 2010, the split
of the Group’s aggregate borrowings into their core currencies was
US dollar 68% and pounds sterling 32% (2009: US dollar 68% and
pounds sterling 32%). At 30 June 2010, 100% of the Group’s long-
term borrowings, after the impact of derivatives, are denominated
in pounds sterling.

The Group’s revenues and operating expenses are substantially
denominated in pounds sterling. A small proportion of operating
expenses is denominated in US dollars, while a small proportion of
revenues is denominated in Euros. In the current year,
approximately 11% of operating expenses (£537 million) was
denominated in US dollars (2009: approximately 9% (£418 million))
and 8% of revenues was denominated in Euros (2009: 8%).

The US dollar expense relates mainly to the Group’s programming
contracts with US suppliers, together with US dollar-denominated
set-top box costs. The Euro revenues are primarily due to
subscribers located in Ireland. The Group’s exposure to Euro-
denominated revenue is offset to a certain extent by Euro-
denominated costs, related mainly to certain transponder costs;
the net position being a Euro surplus (2009: surplus).

The Group hedges currency exposures on US dollar and Euro-
denominated highly probable cash flows by using forward exchange
contracts and options (collars) purchased up to five years ahead of
the cash flow.

It is the Group’s policy that all anticipated foreign currency
exposures are substantially hedged in advance of the year in which
they occur.

At 30 June 2010, the Group had purchased forward foreign
exchange contracts and collars representing up to:
• Approximately 85% of US dollar-denominated costs falling due
within one year (2009: 90%), and approximately 80% of US
dollar-denominated costs falling due within five years (2009:
approximately 80%) which are hedged via
• Outstanding commitments to purchase, in aggregate,

US$1,310 million (2009: US$1,060 million) at an average rate
of US$1.58 to £1.00 (2009: US$1.61 to £1.00).

• In addition, collars were held relating to the purchase of a total

of US$91 million (2009: US$174 million).

• Approximately 80% of Euro-denominated exposures relating to
revenues and transponder costs falling due within 18 months
(2009: approximately 75%), which are hedged via
• Outstanding commitments to sell, in aggregate, €440 million
(2009: €437 million) at an average rate of €1.13 (2009: €1.14).

• Outstanding commitments to purchase, in aggregate,

€58 million (2009: €83 million) at an average rate of €1.13
(2009: €1.15).

86

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

• No forward foreign exchange contracts or collars have been

purchased falling due beyond five years (2009: none).

The Group designates the following as cash flow hedges for hedge
accounting purposes:
• Forward foreign exchange contracts.
• The intrinsic value of collars (all other fair value movements are

recognised directly in the income statement).

• Cross-currency swaps where interest on both legs is at a fixed

interest rate.

As such, the effective portion of the gain or loss on these contracts
is reported as a component of the hedging reserve, outside the
income statement, and is then reclassified to the income
statement in the same periods that the forecast transactions
affect the income statement. Ineffectiveness of less than £1 million
was recognised in the income statement during the year (2009:
less than £1 million).

During the year, the Group exchanged £19 million for US dollars
(2009: £76 milion) and €63 million was exchanged for pounds
sterling (2009: €33 million) on currency spot markets.

A combination of US dollar denominated interest rate and
USD/GBP cross currency swaps is used to convert fixed dollar
denominated debt to floating sterling denominated debt. The
interest rate swaps are designated as fair value hedges. The
associated cross currency swaps are not designated as hedging
instruments for hedge accounting purposes and, as such,
movements in their value are recorded directly in the income
statement.

Foreign exchange sensitivity
The following analysis details the Group’s sensitivity to movements
in pounds sterling against those currencies in which it has
significant transactions. The sensitivity analysis includes only
outstanding foreign currency denominated financial instruments
and adjusts their translation at the period end for a 25% change in
foreign currency rates, representing the maximum currency
exposure reported to management on a regular basis.

A 25% strengthening in pounds sterling against the US dollar would
have the effect of reducing profit by £36 million (2009: reducing
profit by £36 million), of which losses of £35 million relate to non-
cash movements in the valuation of derivatives (2009: losses of
£35 million). The same strengthening would have an adverse
impact on other equity of £198 million (2009: adverse impact of
£151 million).

A 25% weakening in pounds sterling against the US dollar would
increase profit by £59 million (2009: increasing profit by
£61 million) of which gains of £58 million relate to non-cash
movements in the valuation of derivatives (2009: gains of £58
million). The same weakening in pounds sterling would have a
beneficial impact on other equity of £330 million (2009: beneficial
impact of £252 million).

A 25% strengthening in pounds sterling against the Euro would
have the effect of increasing profit by £2 million (2009: increasing
profit by £2 million). None of this amount relates to non-cash
movements in the valuation of derivatives. The same strengthening
would have a beneficial impact on other equity of £69 million
(2009: beneficial impact of £65 million).

A 25% weakening in pounds sterling against the Euro would have
the effect of reducing profit by £4 million (2009: reducing profit by
£4 million). None of this amount relates to non-cash movements in
the valuation of derivatives. The same weakening would have an
adverse impact on other equity of £115 million (2009: adverse
impact of £108 million).

The sensitivity analyses provided are hypothetical only and should
be used with caution as the impacts provided are not necessarily
indicative of the actual impacts that would be experienced because
the Group’s actual exposure to market rates is constantly changing
as the Group’s portfolio of debt, foreign currency and equity
contracts changes. In addition, the effect of a change in a particular
market variable on fair values or cash flows is calculated without
considering interrelationships between the various market rates or
mitigating actions that would be taken by the Group. The changes
in valuations are estimates of the impact of changes in market
variables and are not a prediction of future events or anticipated
gains or losses.

Hedge accounting
The interest rate and foreign exchange rate risk sections above
outline the Group’s policies regarding use of derivative products.
Further detail on valuations and the impact of hedge accounting
during the year are provided in note 23.

Credit risk
The Group is exposed to counterparty default risk amounting to
invested cash and cash equivalents and short-term deposits, and
the positive fair value of derivative financial assets held.

This risk is deemed to be low. Counterparty risk forms a central part
of the Group’s Treasury policy, which is monitored and reported on
regularly. The Group manages credit risk by diversifying its
exposures across a wide number of counterparties, such that the
maximum exposure to any individual counterparty was less than
11% of the total asset value of instruments at the end of the year.
Treasury policies ensure that all transactions are only effected with
strong relationship banks and, at the date of signing, each carried a
minimum credit rating of “A-” or equivalent from Moody’s and
Standard and Poor’s.

The amount recognised in the income statement in respect of
credit risk for derivatives deemed held for trading is nil (2009: nil). 

Credit risk in our residential customer base is mitigated by billing
and collecting in advance for digital television subscriptions for over
97% of our residential customer base. The Group’s maximum
exposure to credit risk on trade receivables is the carrying amounts
as disclosed in note 19.

Liquidity risk
Our principal source of liquidity is cash generated from operations,
combined with access to a £750 million RCF, which expires in July
2013, with the right to request two further one year extensions. At
30 June 2010, this facility was undrawn (30 June 2009: undrawn).

To ensure continuity of funding, the Group’s policy is to ensure that
available funding matures over a period of years. At 30 June 2010, 
76% (2009: 61%) of the Group’s total available funding (including
available undrawn amounts on our RCF) was due to mature in more
than five years.

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
continued

24. Financial risk management (continued) 
Full details of the Group’s borrowings and undrawn facilities are shown in note 22, other than current trade and other payables, shown in
note 20, and provisions, shown in note 21.

The following table analyses the Group’s non-derivative financial liabilities, net-settled derivative financial instruments and gross settled
financial instruments into relevant maturity groupings, based on the remaining period at the balance sheet date to the contractual
maturity date. The amounts disclosed in the table are the contractual undiscounted cash flows. These amounts may not reconcile to the
amounts disclosed on the balance sheet for borrowings, derivative financial instruments and trade and other payables.

At 30 June 2010
Non derivative financial liabilities
Bonds – USD
Bonds – GBP
Obligations under finance leases and other borrowings
Trade and other payables
Provisions
Net settled derivatives
Financial assets
Financial liabilities
Gross settled derivatives
Outflow
Inflow

At 30 June 2009
Non derivative financial liabilities
Bonds – USD
Bonds – GBP
Loan Notes
Obligations under finance leases and other borrowings
Trade and other payables
Provisions
Net settled derivatives
Financial assets
Financial liabilities
Gross settled derivatives
Outflow
Inflow

Less than 12
months
£m

Between
one and two
years
£m

Between
two and five
years
£m

More
than five
years
£m

111
41
8
1,123
6

(35)
–

73
(78)

111
41
8
45
3

(35)
–

73
(78)

333
123
24
6
6

(105)
–

218
(235)

2,172
985
169
–
2

(79)
–

1,805
(2,100)

Less than 12
months
£m

Between
one and two
years
£m

Between
two and five
years
£m

More
than five
years
£m

481
149
–
8
1,090
4

(25)
–

470
(457)

102
41
–
8
41
5

(25)
–

74
(78)

305
123
2
24
5
8

(76)
–

223
(235)

2,086
1,026
–
176
–
4

(85)
–

1,892
(2,008)

88

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

Capital Risk Management
The Group’s objectives when managing capital are to endeavour to
ensure that the Group has the ability to access capital markets
when necessary and to optimise liquidity and operating flexibility
through the arrangement of new debt, while seeking to minimise
the cost of capital. The Group monitors its liquidity requirements
regularly and is satisfied that it has access to sufficient liquidity
and operating flexibility to meet its capital requirements.

The Group manages its short and long-term capital structure by
seeking to maintain leverage ratios consistent with a long-term
investment grade credit rating (BBB- or better from Standard &
Poor’s and Baa3 or better from Moody’s). The Group’s current
ratings are BBB+ (Standard & Poor’s) and Baa1 (Moody’s). The
leverage ratios assessed by these rating agencies are those of Net
Debt: EBITDA and Gross Debt: EBITDA. Net Debt is defined as total
borrowings, including the cash flows arising under operating leases
and transponder prepayments, less cash and cash equivalents,
excluding derivatives. Gross Debt does not reduce total borrowings
by the inclusion of cash and cash equivalents.

The Group is also required to maintain a Net Debt: EBITDA ratio
below 3.00:1 under the terms of its RCF. The RCF definition of Net
Debt does not require the inclusion of future operating lease or
transponder cash flows.

At 30 June 2010, the Net Debt: EBITDA ratio as defined by the
terms of the RCF was 0.9:1 (2009: 1.6:1).

25. Share capital

Authorised ordinary shares of 50p
3,000,000,000 (2009: 3,000,000,000)

Allotted, called-up and fully paid
1,752,842,599 (2009: 1,752,842,599)

2010
£m

1,500

876

2009
£m

1,500

876

The Company has one class of ordinary shares which carries equal
voting rights and no contractual right to receive payment.

Share option and contingent share award schemes
The Company operates various equity-settled share option
schemes (the “Schemes”) for certain employees.

The number of newly issued shares which may be allocated under
the Schemes on any day shall not, when aggregated with the
number of newly issued shares which have been allocated in the
previous ten years under the Schemes and any other employee
share scheme adopted by the Company, exceed such number as
represents five percent of the ordinary share capital of the
Company in issue immediately prior to that day. In determining this
limit no account shall be taken of any newly issued shares where
the right to acquire the newly issued shares was released, lapsed,
cancelled or otherwise became incapable of exercise. Options and
awards which will be satisfied by ESOP shares do not fall within
these headroom limits.

The share awards outstanding can be summarised as follows:

Executive Share Option Scheme options(i)
Sharesave Scheme options(ii)
All Employee awards(iii)
Management LTIP awards(iv)
LTIP awards(v)
Management Co-Investment LTIP awards(vi)
Co-Investment LTIP awards(vii)

2010
Number of
ordinary
shares

13,803,846
6,175,446
1,383,400
13,447,526
5,869,560
599,181
728,736
42,007,695

2009
Number of
ordinary
shares

17,945,045
6,514,732
1,595,700
19,276,851
9,293,347
–
–
54,625,675

(i) Executive Share Option Scheme options
Included within the total Executive Share Option Scheme options
outstanding at 30 June 2010 are 12,260,846 options (2009:
16,293,545) which may be exercised in the final year before their
lapsing date, regardless of meeting performance criteria, provided
that the employee remains in employment with the Group. Where
performance criteria are achieved, the options may be exercised
immediately following the end of the vesting period (being the term
over which the performance criteria are required to be met). The
remaining 1,543,000 options (2009: 1,651,500) have no
performance criteria attached, other than the requirement that the
employee remains in employment with the Group. The contractual
life of all Executive Share Option Scheme options is ten years.

Grants under the Executive Share Option Scheme were made on an
annual basis to selected employees, with the exercise price of
options being equal to the Company’s share price on the date of
grant. For those options with performance conditions, growth in
EPS had to exceed growth in the Retail Prices Index plus 3% per
annum in order for awards to vest. Options vest on an accelerated
basis over a period of up to four years from the date of grant.

(ii) Sharesave Scheme options
All Sharesave Scheme options outstanding at 30 June 2010 and
30 June 2009 have no performance criteria attached, other than
the requirement that the employee remains in employment with
the Group. Options granted under the Sharesave Scheme must be
exercised within six months of the relevant award vesting date.

The Sharesave Scheme is open to all employees. Options are
normally exercisable after either three, five or seven years from the
date of grant. The price at which options are offered is not less
than 80% of the middle-market price on the dealing day
immediately preceding the date of invitation. It is the policy of the
Group to make an invitation to employees to participate in the
scheme following the announcement of the end of year results.

(iii) All Employee awards
The All Employee awards outstanding at 30 June 2010 and 30 June
2009 have no performance criteria attached, other than the
requirement that the employee remains in employment with the
Group. Awards granted under the All Employee award will be
exercised upon the award vesting date.

The Company granted the All Employee award to all permanent
employees on 5 February 2009. Awards under the scheme are
granted in the form of a nil-priced option, and are satisfied using
market-purchased shares.

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
continued

25. Share capital (continued)
(iv) Management LTIP awards
All Management LTIP awards outstanding at 30 June 2010 and
30 June 2009 vest only if performance conditions are met. Awards
granted under the Management LTIP must be exercised within one
year of the relevant award vesting date.

The Company grants awards to selected employees under the
Management LTIP. Awards under this scheme mirror the LTIP, with
the same performance conditions. Awards exercised under the
Management LTIP can only be satisfied by the issue of market-
purchased shares.

(v) LTIP awards
All LTIP awards outstanding at 30 June 2010 and 30 June 2009 vest
only if performance conditions are met. Awards granted under the
LTIP must be exercised within one year of the relevant award
vesting date.

The Company operates the LTIP for Executive Directors and Senior
Executives. Awards under the scheme are granted in the form of a
nil-priced option, and are satisfied using market-purchased shares.
The awards vest in full or in part dependent on the satisfaction of
specified performance targets. 30% of the award vests dependent
on TSR performance over a three year performance period, relative
to the constituents of the FTSE 100 at the time of grant, and the
remaining 70% vests dependent on performance against
operational targets.

(vi) Management Co-Investment LTIP awards
All Management Co-Investment LTIP awards outstanding at 30
June 2010 vest only if performance conditions are met. Awards
granted under the Management Co-Investment LTIP must be
exercised within one year of the relevant award vesting date.

The Company grants awards to selected employees under the
Management Co-Investment LTIP. Awards under this scheme mirror
the Co-Investment LTIP, with the same performance conditions.

(vii) Co-Investment LTIP awards
All Co-Investment LTIP awards outstanding at 30 June 2010 vest
only if performance conditions are met. Awards granted under the
Co-Investment LTIP must be exercised within one year of the
relevant award vesting date.

The Company operates the Co-Investment LTIP award for Executive
Directors and Senior Executives. Employees who participate in the
plan are granted a conditional award of shares based on the
amount they have invested in the Group. The investment will be
matched up to a maximum of 1.5 shares for every share invested,
subject to a three-year EPS performance condition.

For the purposes of the disclosure below, the Sharesave Scheme
options and All Employee awards (“Sharesave Schemes”) and the
Management LTIP, LTIP, Co-Investment Management LTIP and Co-
Investment LTIP awards (“Senior Management Schemes”) have
been aggregated.

90

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

The movement in share awards outstanding is summarised in the following table:

Executive Scheme

Sharesave Schemes

Senior Management Schemes

Outstanding at 1 July 2008
Granted during the year
Exercised during the year
Forfeited during the year
Expired during the year
Outstanding at 30 June 2009

Granted during the year
Exercised during the year
Forfeited during the year
Expired during the year
Outstanding at 30 June 2010

Number

19,705,967
–
–
(1,463,143)
(297,779)
17,945,045

–
(2,067,227)
(702,487)
(1,371,485)
13,803,846

Weighted
average
exercise price
£

7.05
–
–
6.73
5.01
7.11

–
5.22
7.23
6.49
7.44

Weighted
average
exercise price
£

4.73
2.49
4.26
4.68
4.33
3.40

4.33
3.97
3.80
4.71
3.46

Number

5,010,788
4,911,084
(271,611)
(1,448,515)
(91,314)
8,110,432

2,206,411
(1,307,893)
(1,109,810)
(340,294)
7,558,846

Number

17,612,247
12,533,050
(328,066)
(1,245,746)
(1,287)
28,570,198

9,143,651
(12,449,270)
(4,619,576)
–
20,645,003

Weighted
average
exercise price
£

Number

0.00 42,329,002
17,444,134
0.00
(599,677)
0.00
(4,157,404)
0.00
0.00
(390,380)
0.00 54,625,675

11,350,062
0.00
0.00 (15,824,390)
(6,431,873)
0.00
(1,711,779)
–
0.00 42,007,695

Total

Weighted
average
exercise price
£

3.84
0.70
1.97
3.98
4.84
2.84

0.84
1.00
1.47
6.13
3.07

The weighted average market price of the Group’s shares at the date of exercise for share options exercised during the year was £5.50
(2009: £4.59). For those exercised under the Executive Scheme it was £6.27 (2009: nil), for those exercised under the Sharesave Schemes
it was £5.53 (2009: £4.67), and for those exercised under the Senior Management Schemes it was £5.37 (2009: £4.53).

The middle-market closing price of the Company’s shares at 25 June 2010 was £7.01 (26 June 2009: £4.50).

The following table summarises information about share awards outstanding at 30 June 2010:

Executive Scheme

Sharesave Schemes

Senior Management Schemes

Range of exercise prices

£0.00 – £1.00
£3.00 – £4.00
£4.00 – £5.00
£5.00 – £6.00
£6.00 – £7.00
£7.00 – £8.00
£9.00 – £10.00
£12.00 – £13.00

Weighted
average
remaining
contractual life
Years

–
–
–
3.5
3.2
1.3
0.4
–
2.1

Number

–
–
–
3,383,932
3,296,301
3,574,429
3,448,253
100,931
13,803,846

Number

1,383,400
2,720,290
2,579,561
875,595
–
–
–
–
7,558,846

Weighted
average
remaining
contractual life
Years

1.6
2.5
3.1
1.6
–
–
–
–
2.4

Number

20,645,003
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
20,645,003

Weighted
average
remaining
contractual life
Years

Total

Weighted
average
remaining
contractual life
Years

Number

2.1
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

22,028,403
2,720,290
2,579,561
4,259,527
3,296,301
3,574,429
3,448,253
100,931
2.1 42,007,695

2.1
2.5
3.1
3.1
3.2
1.3
0.4
–
2.1

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
continued

25. Share capital (continued)
The following table summarises information about share awards outstanding at 30 June 2009:

Executive Scheme

Sharesave Schemes

Senior Management Schemes

Weighted
average
remaining
contractual life
Years

–
–
–
–
4.6
3.1
2.3
1.4
1.0
1.0
3.0

Number

–
–
–
–
5,431,296
5,050,304
3,728,360
3,609,581
12,247
113,257
17,945,045

Weighted
average
remaining
contractual life
Years

2.6
0.8
3.1
1.3
2.5
0.0
–
–
–
–
2.5

Number

1,595,700
43,868
3,675,121
1,598,744
1,181,736
15,263
–
–
–
–
8,110,432

Number

28,570,198
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
28,570,198

Weighted
average
remaining
contractual life
Years

1.9
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
1.9

Total

Weighted
average
remaining
contractual life
Years

2.0
0.8
3.1
1.3
4.2
3.1
2.3
1.4
1.0
1.0
2.4

Number

30,165,898
43,868
3,675,121
1,598,744
6,613,032
5,065,567
3,728,360
3,609,581
12,247
113,257
54,625,675

Range of exercise prices

£0.00 – £1.00
£2.00 – £3.00
£3.00 – £4.00
£4.00 – £5.00
£5.00 – £6.00
£6.00 – £7.00
£7.00 – £8.00
£9.00 – £10.00
£11.00 – £12.00
£12.00 – £13.00

The range of exercise prices of the awards outstanding at 30 June 2010 was between nil and £12.88 (2009: nil and £12.98). For those
awards outstanding under the Executive Scheme it was between £5.03 and £12.88 (2009: £5.03 and £12.98); for those outstanding
under the Sharesave Schemes it was between nil and £5.38 (2009: nil and £6.11) and for all awards outstanding under the Senior
Management Schemes the exercise price was nil (2009: nil).

The following table summarises additional information about the awards exercisable at 30 June 2010 and 30 June 2009:

Executive Scheme
Sharesave Schemes
Senior Management Schemes

2010

Average
remaining
Options contractual life
of exercisable 
options

exercisable
at 30 June

Weighted
average
exercise price

2009

Average
remaining
Options contractual life
of exercisable 
options

exercisable
at 30 June

13,803,846
204,427
656,011
14,664,284

2.1
0.1
0.1
2.0

7.44
4.35
–
7.06

17,945,045
453,217
–
18,398,262

3.0
0.1
–
3.0

Weighted
average
exercise price

£7.11
£4.73
–
£7.05

Information for awards granted during the year
The weighted average fair value of equity-settled share options granted during the year, as estimated at the date of grant, was £4.19
(2009: £3.06). This was calculated using the Black-Scholes share option pricing model, except for awards which have market-based
performance conditions, where a Monte-Carlo simulation model was used, and for grants of nil-priced options, which were treated as the
award of a free share. The fair value of nil-priced options granted during the year was measured on the basis of the market-price of the
Company’s shares on the date of grant, discounted for expected dividends which would not be received over the vesting period of the
options.

The Monte-Carlo simulation model reflected the historical volatilities of the Company’s share price and those of all other companies to
which the Company’s performance would be compared, over a period equal to the vesting period of the awards.

Expected volatility was determined by calculating the historical volatility of the Company’s share price, over a period equal to the expected
life of the options. Expected life was based on the contractual life of the awards and adjusted, based on management’s best estimate, for
the effects of exercise restrictions and behavioural considerations.

(i) Sharesave Schemes
The weighted average fair value of equity-settled share awards granted during the year under the Sharesave Schemes, as estimated at
the date of grant, was £1.65 (2009: £1.98). This was calculated using the Black-Scholes share option pricing model.

92

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

The following weighted average assumptions were used in calculating these fair values:

Share price
Exercise price
Expected volatility
Expected life
Expected dividends
Risk-free interest rate

2010

£5.73
£4.33
28.3%
4.1 years
3.1%
2.3%

2009

£4.38
£2.49
22.4%
3.7 years
3.9%
4.1%

(ii) Senior Management Schemes
The weighted average fair value of equity-settled share awards granted during the year under the Senior Management Schemes, as
estimated at the date of grant, was £4.80 (2009: £3.49). The fair value of awards with market-based performance conditions was
calculated using a Monte-Carlo simulation model. Awards granted as nil-priced options were treated as the award of a free share. For all
other awards, fair value was calculated using the Black-Scholes share option pricing model.

The following weighted average assumptions were used in calculating these fair values:

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Exercise price
Expected volatility
Expected life
Expected dividends
Risk-free interest rate

26. Shareholders’ equity (deficit)

Share capital
Share premium
ESOP reserve
Hedging reserve
Available-for-sale reserve
Other reserves
Retained earnings

r
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2010

£5.47
£0.00
34.8%
2.1 years
3.2%
2.1%

2010
£m

876
1,437
(47)
77
98
362
(2,243)
560

2009

£4.54
£0.00
21.9%
3.0 years
3.7%
4.7%

2009
£m

876
1,437
(73)
26
96
354
(2,780)
(64)

Share premium and special reserve
On 10 December 2003, the High Court approved a reduction in the Company’s share premium account of £1,120 million, as approved by the
Company’s shareholders at the AGM held on 14 November 2003. This amount was equal to the Company-only profit and loss account
reserve deficit at 30 June 2003. As part of the application, the Company’s balance sheet at 30 September 2003 was required to be
presented. At that date, the deficit on the Company-only profit and loss account reserve had reduced by £14 million since 30 June 2003,
to £1,106 million. As a condition of the reduction, the reduction in the share premium account of £1,120 million was permitted to be offset
against the profit and loss account reserve by the amount of the deficit at 30 September 2003. The excess of £14 million was credited to
a special reserve, and, under the terms of the reduction, will remain undistributable until all the creditors of the Company and its
guarantors (as at 10 December 2003) are paid.

Merger reserve
The merger reserve, which is included in other reserves, represents amounts deducted from equity of £222 million (2009: £222 million).
The merger reserve was created as a result of the purchase by the Group of interests in two entities. Sports Internet Group (“SIG”) was
purchased on 12 July 2000, where consideration was paid by the issue of equity shares in the Group. British Interactive Broadcasting
(“BiB”) was purchased between 28 June 2001 and 11 November 2002, where consideration was paid by the issue of equity shares in the
Group.

The merger reserve was created in accordance with the merger relief provisions under section 131 of the Companies Act 1985 (as
amended) and section 612 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to the accounting for business combinations involving the issue of shares
at a premium. Merger relief provided relief from the requirement to create a share premium account in a parent company’s balance sheet.
In preparing consolidated financial statements, the amount by which the fair value of the shares issued exceeded their nominal value was
recorded within a merger reserve on consolidation, rather than in a share premium account. This merger reserve was retained upon
transition to IFRS, as allowed under UK law.

Purchase of own equity shares for cancellation and capital redemption reserve
On 4 November 2005, the Company’s shareholders approved a resolution at the AGM for the Company to purchase up to 92 million
ordinary shares. This authority to buyback shares expired on 3 November 2006. During the year ended 30 June 2007, the Company

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
continued

26. Shareholders’ equity (deficit) (continued) 
purchased, and subsequently cancelled, 38 million ordinary shares at an average price of £5.55, with a nominal value of £20 million, for a
consideration of £214 million including stamp duty and commission of £2 million. The nominal value of the shares cancelled has been
credited to other reserves.

The following table provides information about purchases of equity shares by the company, including purchases by the Group’s ESOP,
during the fiscal year.

Period

July
August
September
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
June
Total for the year ended 30 June 2010

Total number
of shares
purchased(i)

Average
price paid
per share

–
7,900,000
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
2,310,083
–
10,210,083

–
£5.37
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
£6.08
–
£5.53

All share purchases were open market transactions and are included in the month of settlement.

(i)
ESOP reserve
The cost of the Company’s ordinary shares held by the Group’s ESOP is treated as a deduction in arriving at total shareholders’ equity. The
movement in the ESOP reserve was as follows:

At 1 July 2008
Share options exercised during the year
Shares purchased by the ESOP during the year
At 30 June 2009

Number of
ordinary shares

6,229,328
(599,677)
8,500,000
14,129,651

Average
price paid
per share

£5.87
£6.73
£4.73
£5.15

£m

37
(4)
40
73

Share options exercised during the year
Shares purchased by the ESOP during the year
At 30 June 2010
Hedging reserve
Changes in the fair values of derivatives that are designated as cash flow hedges are initially recognised in the hedging reserve, and
subsequently recognised in the income statement when the related hedged items are recognised in the income statement. In addition,
deferred taxation relating to these derivatives is also initially recognised in the hedging reserve prior to transfer to the income statement.

(15,824,390)
10,210,083
8,515,344

£5.17
£5.53
£5.56

(82)
56
47

Available-for-sale reserve
Available-for-sale investments are carried at fair value where this can be reliably measured, with movements in the fair value recognised
directly in the available-for-sale reserve. At 30 June 2010, the Group’s available-for-sale reserve was £98 million (2009: £96 million)
following the impairment of the Group’s 17.9% investment in ITV, the recording of subsequent gains, and the disposal of 10.4% of ITV (see
note 6).

Other reserves
The Group’s other reserves include a capital redemption reserve, a merger reserve, a foreign currency translation reserve, and a special
reserve. The capital redemption reserve was £95 million as at 30 June 2010 (2009: £95 million). The merger reserve was £222 million as at
30 June 2010 (2009: £222 million). The special reserve was £14 million as at 30 June 2010 (2009: £14 million). The foreign currency
translation reserve was £31 million as at 30 June 2010 (2009: £23 million).

94

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

27. Notes to the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
Reconciliation of profit before taxation to cash generated from operations

Profit before taxation
Depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment
Amortisation and impairment of intangible assets
Impairment of available-for-sale investment
Profit on disposal of available-for-sale investment
Share-based payment expense
Net finance costs
Share of results of joint ventures and associates

Decrease (increase) in trade and other receivables
Decrease (increase) in inventories
Increase in trade and other payables
Increase (decrease) in provisions
(Decrease) increase in derivative financial instruments
Cash generated from operations

2010
£m

1,173
173
189
–
(115)
35
70
(32)
1,493

69
43
24
8
(3)
1,634

2009
£m

456
173
118
191
–
48
185
(19)
1,152

(52)
(76)
190
(19)
10
1,205

28. Contracted commitments, contingencies and guarantees
a) Future minimum expenditure contracted for but not recognised in the financial statements

Year ending
30 June 2011
£m

Year ending
30 June 2012
£m

Year ending
30 June 2013
£m

Year ending
30 June 2014
£m

Year ending
30 June 2015
£m

After 5 years
£m

Total at
30 June 2010
£m

Total at
30 June 2009
£m

Television programme rights(i)
Set-top boxes and related
equipment
Third party payments(ii)
Transponder capacity(iii)
Property, plant and equipment
Intangible asset
Smartcards(iv)
Other

1,133

266
67
81
41
25
48
108
1,769

1,024

–
34
81
–
20
49
51
1,259

815

–
32
81
–
20
49
14
1,011

161

–
1
72
–
18
50
10
312

74

–
–
67
–
18
50
7
216

52

–
–
369
–
41
162
7
631

3,259

266
134
751
41
142
408
197
5,198

3,911

496
204
282
51
191
491
107
5,733

For the avoidance of doubt, any foreign currency commitments are translated to pounds sterling at the rate prevailing on 30 June 2010.

(i)

At 30 June 2010, the Group had minimum television programming rights commitments of £3,259 million (2009: £3,911 million), of which £412 million (2009: £445 million)
related to commitments payable in US dollars for periods of up to eight years (2009: seven years).

Assuming that movie subscriber numbers remain unchanged from current levels, an additional £545 million (US$886 million) of commitments (2009: £551 million,
(US$879 million)) would also be payable in US dollars, relating to price escalator clauses. The pound sterling television programme rights commitments include similar price
escalation clauses that would result in additional commitments of £24 million (2009: £1 million) if subscriber numbers were to remain at current levels.

(ii)

The third party payment commitments are in respect of distribution agreements for the television channels owned and broadcast by third parties, retailed by the Group to retail
and commercial subscribers (“Sky Distributed Channels”) and are for periods of up to four years (2009: five years). The extent of the commitment is largely dependent upon the
number of retail subscribers to the relevant Sky Distributed Channels, and in certain cases, upon inflationary increases. If both the retail subscriber levels to these channels and
the rate payable for each Sky Distributed Channel were to remain at current levels subject to inflationary increases, the additional commitment would be £521 million (2009:
£533 million).

(iii)

Transponder capacity commitments are in respect of the Astra and Eurobird satellites that the Group uses for digital transmissions to both retail subscribers and cable
operators. The commitments are for periods of up to fifteen years (2009: eleven years).

In December 2008, the Group entered into a new contractual agreement with NDS, a related party, for the provision of smartcards.

(iv)
b) Contingent liabilities and guarantees
On 7 May 2008 the Nomenclature Committee of the European Commission issued an Explanatory Note “EN” (0590/2007) to the
Combined Nomenclature setting out their view that set-top boxes with a hard drive should be classified under Customs Tariff heading
8521 90 00 and so subject to a 13.9% ad valorem duty on importation to the EU. As a consequence the Group is exposed to potential
retrospective Customs Duty liability in respect of such set-top boxes imported by Amstrad (acquired in September 2007) and for the
reimbursement of certain suppliers in line with the terms of contractual supply agreements.

Management’s opinion is that the retrospective application of the Explanatory Note would be wrong as a matter of law. In addition
management considers that the adoption of the EN puts the EU in breach of the Information Technology Agreement of 1996, a view which
is shared by the US, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan who have instigated WTO proceedings against the EU on this matter. The Group
therefore is, in common with other affected importers, defending its position on this matter and consequently has lodged an appeal to
the VAT & Duties Tribunal regarding classification of these products.

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
continued

28. Contracted commitments, contingencies and guarantees (continued)
This matter has been referred by the Tribunal to the European Court of Justice. The Group has also lodged an appeal with HMRC against
the assessment for retrospective duty.

As a result of the potential remedies available under the Community Customs Code, the Group considers that it is probable that no
outflow of economic benefit would be required to discharge this obligation, and that as such at 30 June 2010 any liability should be
considered contingent.

Certain subsidiaries of the Company have agreed to provide additional funding to several of their investments in limited and unlimited
companies and partnerships, in accordance with funding agreements. Payment of this additional funding would be required if requested
by the investees in accordance with the funding agreements. The maximum potential amount of future payments which may be required
to be made by the subsidiaries of the Company to their investments, in both limited and unlimited companies and partnerships under the
undertakings and additional funding agreements, is £8 million (2009: £6 million).

The Group has guarantees in place relating to the Group’s borrowings, see note 22 – Borrowings and non-current other payables.

29. Operating lease commitments
The minimum lease rentals to be paid under non-cancellable operating leases at 30 June are as follows:

Within one year
Between one and two years
Between two and three years
Between three and four years
Between four and five years
After five years

2010
£m

51
38
29
21
16
61
216

2009
£m

55
43
33
23
15
66
235

The majority of operating leases relate to property. The rents payable under these leases are subject to renegotiation at the various
intervals specified in the leases.

The minimum sub-lease rentals to be received under non-cancellable operating sub-leases at 30 June are as follows:

Within one year
Between one and two years
Between two and three years
Between three and four years
Between four and five years
After five years

Sub-lease rentals primarily relate to property leases.

2010
£m

2009
£m

3
3
2
1
–
–
9

3
3
2
2
1
–
11

96

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

Directors of the Company, who have been so advised by Morgan
Stanley and UBS Investment Bank, unanimously considered the
terms of the Proposal to undervalue significantly the Company.

News Corporation has confirmed that the Proposal does not
amount to a firm intention to make an offer under Rule 2.5 of the
Takeover Code and that there can be no certainty that any offer will
ultimately be made even if the pre-conditions are satisfied or
waived. There is no obligation on News Corporation to make such
an offer and therefore it can withdraw the Proposal at its sole
discretion at any time.

Recognising that an offer from News Corporation could be in the
interests of the Company’s shareholders in the future, and that
obtaining any necessary merger clearances would facilitate such an
offer, the Company has agreed to co-operate with News
Corporation in seeking those clearances from the relevant
authorities.

To that end, the Company and News Corporation have entered into
an agreement which also covers the following matters:
• The Company has agreed that it shall not request that the
Takeover Panel issue a “Put up or shut up” notice on News
Corporation pursuant to Rule 2.4(b) of the City Code on
Takeovers and Mergers unless it is in material breach of the
agreement.

• News Corporation has agreed that until the earlier of two

months following receipt of merger clearance, payment of the
£38.5 million fee below and 31 December 2011, it shall not acquire
or offer to acquire an interest in the Company‘s shares or take
action that would require it to make a takeover or similar
transaction in respect of the Group‘s shares without the consent
of the Independent Directors. Further, until the earlier of five
months following receipt of merger clearance, payment of the
£38.5 million fee below and 31 December 2011, any offer must be
subject to a minimum acceptance threshold of 70% (including
the shares owned by News Corporation).

• If merger clearance is not granted or granted subject to a

material remedy, then News Corporation will reimburse the
Company for costs incurred up to a maximum of £20 million.
Further, if News Corporation either receives merger clearance
unconditionally or subject to non-material remedies prior to
31 December 2011 and fails to make a firm offer within five
months thereafter, or announces prior to obtaining merger
clearance that it does not intend to make a firm offer, then News
Corporation will pay the Company a fee of £38.5 million,
representing 0.5% of the value of the Proposal.

30. Transactions with related parties and major
shareholders
a) Entities with joint control or significant influence
The Group conducts business transactions with companies that
are part of the News Corporation group (“News Corporation”), a
major shareholder:

Supply of services by the Group
Purchases of goods or services by the Group
Amounts owed by related parties to the Group
Amounts owed to related parties by the Group

2010
£m

32
(197)
3
(70)

2009
£m

40
(212)
–
(69)

Services supplied to News Corporation
During the year, the Group supplied programming, telephony,
airtime, transmission, marketing, consultancy services and set-top
boxes to News Corporation.

Purchases of goods and services and certain other relationships
with News Corporation
During the year, the Group purchased programming, digital
equipment, smartcards and encryption services, set-top box
technologies, advertising, IT services and rental premises from
News Corporation companies.

In March and April 2003, News Corporation Finance Trust II, which is
controlled by News Corporation, issued and sold 0.75% Beneficial
Unsecured Exchangeable Securities (“BUCS”), in a private
placement to certain institutions. Each BUCS was exchangeable on
or after 2 April 2004, for the value of reference shares, which initially
consisted of 77.09 ordinary shares of the Company for each
US$1,000 original liquidation preference of BUCS. Pursuant to a
right of redemption granted to BUCS holders, on 15 March 2010,
News Corporation redeemed for cash 98.6% of the outstanding
BUCS. On 14 April 2010, News Corporation redeemed for cash the
remaining BUCS outstanding. By reason of these
redemptions, the BUCS are no longer outstanding.

In November 1996, a trust controlled by News Corporation issued a
security consisting of Trust Originated Preferred Securities
(“TOPrS”) issued by another News Corporation-controlled trust,
together with warrants issued by News America, a subsidiary of
News Corporation. The warrants entitled the holders to purchase
the Company’s ordinary shares, or American Depositary Shares
(“ADSs”) representing the Company’s ordinary shares, from News
America. On 19 April 2010, News America redeemed for cash all the
outstanding TOPrS and warrants. By reason of the redemption, the
TOPrS and warrants are no longer outstanding.

News Corporation has entered into an agreement with the Group
pursuant to which it has been agreed that, for so long as News
Corporation directly or indirectly holds an interest of 30% or more in
the Group, News Corporation will not engage in the business of
satellite broadcasting in the UK or Ireland.

On 15 June 2010 News Corporation announced a proposal relating
to a possible offer for the entire issued share capital of the
Company not already owned by News Corporation (“the Proposal”). 

The Company announced on the same date that the Proposal,
which is not a formal offer, is subject to regulatory and financing
pre-conditions, which add considerable uncertainty to when and
whether any formal offer could be made and that the Independent

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
continued

30. Transactions with related parties and major
shareholders (continued)
b) Joint ventures and associates
Transactions between the Group and its subsidiaries, which are
related parties, have been eliminated on consolidation and are not
disclosed in this note. Transactions between the Group and its joint
ventures and associates are disclosed below.

£19 million. During the year, the Group incurred programming and
production costs for television of £6 million (2009: £10 million)
from Shine. At 30 June 2010, there were no outstanding amounts
(2009: nil) due to Shine.

A close family member of one Director of the Company runs Freud
Entertainment Limited, which has provided external support to the
press and publicity activities of the Group. During the year the
Group incurred expenditure amounting to £1 million (2009:
£1 million). At 30 June 2010 there were no outstanding amounts
(2009: nil) due to or from Freud Entertainment Limited.

Transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries, joint
ventures and associates are disclosed in the Company’s separate
financial statements.

In addition to the foregoing, the Group has engaged in a number of
transactions with companies of which some of the Company’s
Directors are also directors.

d) Key management
The Group has a related party relationship with the Directors of the
Group. At 30 June 2010, there were 14 (2009: 14) members of key
management all of whom were Directors of the Company. Key
management compensation is disclosed in note 8b.

Supply of services by the Group
Purchases of goods or services by the Group
Amounts owed by joint ventures
and associates to the Group
Amounts owed to joint ventures
and associates by the Group

2010
£m

13
(55)

26

(4)

2009
£m

15
(51)

24

(3)

Services supplied are primarily the provision of transponder
capacity, marketing, airtime sales and support services. Purchases
represent fees payable for channel carriage. Amounts owed by joint
ventures and associates include £20 million (2009: £19 million)
relating to loan funding. These loans bear interest at rates of three
month LIBOR plus 0.45%, six month LIBOR plus 1.5% and one month
and six month LIBOR plus 1%. The maximum amount of loan funding
outstanding in total from joint ventures and associates during the
year was £20 million (2009: £19 million).

The Group took out a number of forward exchange contracts with
counterparty banks during the year on behalf of the joint ventures
Chelsea Digital Media Limited and AETN UK. On the same dates as
these forward contracts were entered into, the Group entered into
equal and opposite contracts with the joint ventures in respect of
these forward contracts.

The Group was not exposed to any of the net gains or losses on
these forward contracts. The face value of forward exchange
contracts that had not matured as at 30 June 2010 was £1 million
(2009: £3 million).

During the year, US$3 million (2009: US$9 million) was paid to the
joint ventures upon maturity of forward exchange contracts and
US$2 million (2009: US$2 million) was received from joint ventures
upon maturity of forward exchange contracts.

During the year, £2 million (2009: £4 million) was received from the
joint ventures upon maturity of forward exchange contracts, and
£2 million (2009: £1 million) was paid to the joint ventures upon
maturity of forward exchange contracts.

c) Other transactions with related parties
A close family member of one Director of the Company who served
during the year has a controlling interest in Shine Limited (“Shine”),
in which the Group has a 13% equity shareholding. During fiscal
2009, Shine conducted an equity raising as part of the funding for
the acquisition of Metronome Film & Television AB. The Group
participated in the equity raising, acquiring a further 21,700 shares
of the issued share capital of Shine for cash consideration of

98

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

31. Group investments
The significant investments of the Company which principally affect the consolidated results and total assets of the Group are as follows:

Country of incorporation

Description and proportion
of shares held (%)

Principal activity

Name
Subsidiaries:
Direct holdings of the Company
British Sky Broadcasting Limited

England and Wales

British Interactive Broadcasting Holdings Limited

England and Wales

BSkyB Investments Limited

BSkyB Finance UK plc

England and Wales

England and Wales

10,002,002 ordinary shares of  
£1 each (100%)(i)
651,960 ordinary shares of 
£1 each (100%)
100 ordinary shares of
£1 each (100%)
50,000 ordinary shares of 
£1 each (100%)

Operation of pay television 
broadcasting in the UK and Ireland
The transmission of interactive 
services
Holding company

Finance company 

Subsidiaries:
Indirect holdings of the Company
Sky Subscribers Services Limited

England and Wales

3 ordinary shares of £1 
each (100%)

Sky Holdings Limited
Sky In-Home Service Limited

BSkyB Publications Limited
British Sky Broadcasting SA

Sky Broadband SA(ii)

Sky Interactive Limited

Easynet Group Limited

Sky Ventures Limited
365 Media Group Limited

Joint ventures and associates:
Nickelodeon UK Limited(iii)

England and Wales
England and Wales

England and Wales
Luxembourg

Luxembourg

England and Wales

England and Wales

England and Wales
England and Wales

600 ordinary shares of £1 each (100%)
1,576,000 ordinary shares of £1 each
(100%)

2 ordinary shares of £1 each (100%)
12,500 ordinary shares of £12 
each (100%)
310 ordinary shares of £100 each
(100%)
659,000,003 ordinary shares of £1
each (100%)
121,308,490 ordinary shares of £0.04
each (100%)
912 ordinary shares of £1 each (100%)
151,970,072 ordinary shares of £0.01 
each (100%)

England and Wales

104 B Shares of £0.01 each (40%)

AETN UK(iv)

England and Wales

50,000 A Shares of £1 each (50%)

Paramount UK Partnership(iii),(v)

England and Wales

Partnership interest (25%)

Australian News Channel Pty Limited

Australia

1 ordinary share of AUS$1 (33.33%)

NGC Network International LLC

United States of America

Partnership interest (21%)

NGC Network Latin America LLC

United States of America

Partnership interest (21%)

MUTV Limited

England and Wales

800 B Shares of £1 each (33.33%)

Attheraces Holdings Limited(iii)

England and Wales

Chelsea Digital Media Limited

England and Wales

MGM Channel (UK) Limited

England and Wales

1,500 ordinary shares of £1 each 
(45.85%), 20 Recoupment Shares of 
£0.01 each
42,648 B Shares of £0.01 each (35%) 
and 7 million redeemable preference 
shares of £1 each
50 ordinary shares of £1 each (50%)

The provision of ancillary functions
supporting the pay television
broadcasting, residential broadband
and telephone operations of the
Group
Holding company
The supply, installation and
maintenance of satellite television
receiving equipment
The supply of magazines
Satellite transponder
leasing
Provision of broadband and
telephony services
The provision of interactive television
services
Provision of broadband networking
services in the UK and Europe
Holding company
Holding company

The transmission of children’s
television channels
The transmission of history, 
biography, crime and investigation
television programming
The transmission of general
entertainment comedy channels
The transmission of news and
business channels
The transmission of natural history
and adventure channels
The transmission of natural history
and adventure channels
The transmission, production and
marketing of the Manchester United
football channel
The transmission of a horse racing
channel and related online activities

The transmission, production and
marketing of the Chelsea Football
Club football channel and website
The transmission of classic movies
in HD

Investments:
ITV(iii)

England and Wales

291,684,730 ordinary shares of 
£0.10 each (7.499999965%)

The transmission of free-to-air 
channels

50.00001% directly held by British Sky Broadcasting Group plc and 49.99999% held indirectly by BSkyB Investments Limited.
The assets and liabilities of this Company were transferred to BSkyB Limited in April 2010. This entity will be dormant going forward.
These entities have an accounting reference date of 31 December.

Notes:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv) On 1 July 2009, The History Channel (UK) was renamed as AETN UK.
(v)

The registered address of Paramount UK Partnership is 180 Oxford Street, London, W1D 1DS.

ANNUAL REPORT 2010 BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

b) Agreement on sale of Easynet Global Services
business
On 21 July 2010 the Group announced that it had reached an
agreement over the sale of its business-to-business
telecommunications operation, Easynet Global Services (“Easynet”),
to Lloyds TSB Development Capital (“LDC”). LDC will pay the Group
£100 million for the business on completion of the transaction,
subject to regulatory approval. The Group will retain the UK network
assets that it acquired as part of the original acquisition of Easynet
Group in 2005. As part of the sale, the Group and LDC will enter into
a long-term supply agreement to grant Easynet continued access
to the Group’s fibre network and Easynet will also continue to be a
key supplier to the Group.

If the transaction completes on the proposed terms, with the
regulatory approvals having been received, the Group estimates
that it will recognise an accounting profit on disposal to the order
of £70-90 million in the next financial year.

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
continued

32. Events after the reporting period
a) Acquisition of Virgin Media television business
On 4 June 2010, the Group signed an agreement to purchase 100%
of the shares of Virgin Media Television Limited, Virgin Media
Television Rights Limited, and the assets and liabilities of the Virgin
Media television channels (“VMtv”). The agreement was conditional
on obtaining merger control clearance in the Republic of Ireland.
On 12 July 2010, the conditions to completion were fulfilled and the
Group completed the acquisition of VMtv. VMtv operates a
portfolio of television channels including Living, Bravo, Virgin1 and
Challenge which are distributed over various television platforms
and generate revenue principally from the sale of advertising
airtime and carriage fees paid by Pay-TV operators such as Virgin
Media and Sky. VMtv was acquired to complement the Group’s
existing content business and to deliver strategic and financial
benefits.

Goodwill arising from the acquisition is attributable to the
anticipated profitability arising from the Group’s access to new
viewer demographics, breadth of content and channel slots and the
anticipated future operating synergies from the combination. 

Total consideration comprises £160 million of cash, with
£105 million having been paid immediately upon completion. The
outstanding contingent consideration of £55 million is payable
upon receipt of UK regulatory clearance for the transaction. The
Group notified the transaction to the OFT on 9 July 2010. The OFT
has started its review of the transaction and issued its invitation to
third parties to comment on the transaction on 20 July 2010.
Should certain conditions be imposed by the regulatory authorities
the contingent consideration may be reduced. The potential
undiscounted amount of all future payments that the Group could
be required to make under the contingent consideration
arrangement is between £nil and £55 million. The Group estimates
that the fair value of this contingent consideration is £55 million,
less the time value of money.

Acquisition-related costs included in administration expenses in
the Group consolidated income statement for the year ended
30 June 2010 amounted to £2 million.

Because the process of fair valuing the Virgin Media Television
business has not been completed as at 28 July 2010, the initial
accounting for the business combination is incomplete as at
28 July 2010. As a result, the Group is unable to disclose the
following information regarding the acquisition:
• the gross contractual amount, fair value amount, or estimated

contractual cash flows not expected to be collected of/from the
receivables acquired

• the amounts recognised as of the acquisition date for each

major class of assets and liabilities acquired/assumed
• the existence of or the values relating to any contingent

liabilities recognised in accordance with IAS 37 on acquisition
• the amount of goodwill acquired and the amount of goodwill

that is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

100

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

33. British Sky Broadcasting Group plc Company only financial statements
Company Income Statement for the year ended 30 June 2010

Revenue
Operating expense
Operating profit

Dividend income from subsidiaries
Investment income
Finance costs
Impairment of investment
Profit before tax

Taxation
Profit for the year attributable to equity shareholders

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this income statement.

Company Statement of Comprehensive Income for the year ended 30 June 2010

Profit for the year attributable to equity shareholders

Other comprehensive income
Amounts recognised directly in equity
Gain on cash flow hedges
Tax on cash flow hedges

Amounts reclassified and reported in the income statement
Cash flow hedges
Tax on cash flow hedges

Other comprehensive income (expense) for the year (net of tax)

Total comprehensive income for the year attributable to equity shareholders

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement of comprehensive income.

All results relate to continuing operations.

Notes

B
B
F
C

D

2010
£m

170
(16)
154

–
76
(71)
(56)
103

(44)
59

2010
£m

59

38
(11)
27

(35)
10
(25)

2

61

2009
£m

151
13
164

556
201
(149)
(556)
216

(29)
187

2009
£m

187

266
(75)
191

(280)
79
(201)

(10)

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ANNUAL REPORT 2010 BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

101

 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
continued

33. British Sky Broadcasting Group plc Company only financial statements (continued)
Company Balance Sheet as at 30 June 2010

Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment
Investment property
Investments in subsidiaries
Deferred tax assets
Other receivables
Derivative financial assets

Current assets
Other receivables

Total assets

Current liabilities
Borrowings
Other payables
Current tax liabilities
Derivative financial liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Borrowings
Derivative financial liabilities

Total liabilities

Share capital
Share premium
Reserves

Shareholders’ equity attributable to equity shareholders

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this balance sheet.

Notes

E
E
F
G
H
K

H

I
J

K

I
K

2010
£m

–
–
4,722
–
8
349
5,079

3,432
3,432

8,511

–
2,340
–
–
2,340

1,219
203
1,422

3,762

876
1,437
2,436

4,749

8,511

2009
£m

–
–
4,738
1
9
187
4,935

3,395
3,395

8,330

463
1,521
29
16
2,029

1,121
168
1,289

3,318

876
1,437
2,699

5,012

8,330

These financial statements of British Sky Broadcasting Group plc, registered number 2247735, have been approved by the Board of
Directors on 28 July 2010 and were signed on its behalf by:

Jeremy Darroch
Chief Executive Officer

Andrew Griffith
Chief Financial Officer

Company Cash Flow Statement for the year ended 30 June 2010

Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from operations
Net cash from operating activities

Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from the exercise of share options
Loan to subsidiaries
Net cash used in financing activities

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this cash flow statement.

102

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

N

2010
£m

2009
£m

–
–

47
(47)
–

–
–
–

–
–

1
(1)
–

–
–
–

Company Statement of Changes in Equity for the year ended 30 June 2010

At 1 July 2008
Profit for the year
Recognition and transfer of 
cash flow hedges
Tax on items taken directly to equity
Total comprehensive income for the year

Share-based payment
Dividends
At 30 June 2009

Profit for the year
Recognition and transfer of 
cash flow hedges
Tax on items taken directly to equity
Total comprehensive income for the year

Share-based payment
Dividends
At 30 June 2010

Share
capital
£m

876
–

Share
premium
£m

1,437
–

–
–
–

–
–
876

–

–
–
–

–
–
876

–
–
–

–
–
1,437

–

–
–
–

–
–
1,437

Special
reserve
£m

Capital
redemption
reserve
£m

14
–

–
–
–

–
–
14

–

–
–
–

–
–
14

95
–

–
–
–

–
–
95

–

–
–
–

–
–
95

Capital
reserve
£m

844
–

–
–
–

–
–
844

–

–
–
–

–
–
844

ESOP
reserve
£m

Hedging
reserve
£m

Total
Retained Shareholders’
equity
earnings
£m
£m

(37)
–

–
–
–

(36)
–
(73)

–

–
–
–

26
–
(47)

8
–

(14)
4
(10)

–
–
(2)

–

3
(1)
2

–
–
–

1,887
187

–
–
187

45
(298)
1,821

59

–
–
59

(36)
(314)
1,530

5,124
187

(14)
4
177

9
(298)
5,012

59

3
(1)
61

(10)
(314)
4,749

For a description of the nature and purpose of each equity reserve, see note M.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement of changes in equity.

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ANNUAL REPORT 2010 BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

103

 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
continued

B. Investment income and finance costs

33. British Sky Broadcasting Group plc Company only
financial statements (continued)
A. Accounting policies
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc (the “Company”) is a limited
liability company incorporated in England and Wales, and domiciled
in the UK.

i) Statement of compliance
The Company financial statements have been prepared in
accordance with IFRS, consistently with the accounting policies set
out in note 1 of the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

ii) Revenue
Revenue, which excludes value added tax, represents gross inflow
of economic benefit from the Company’s operating activities.
Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received
or receivable. The Company’s main sources of revenue are
recognised as follows:

– Revenue from licensing the Company’s brand name asset to
subsidiaries. This revenue is recognised on an accruals basis
under the terms of relevant leasing agreements.

Investment income
Investment income from subsidiaries
Cash and cash equivalents

Finance costs
– Interest payable and similar charges
Revolving Credit facility ‘RCF’
Guaranteed notes (see note I)

– Other finance (expenses) income
Remeasurement of borrowings-related 
derivative financial instruments
Gain arising on derivatives in a 
designated fair value hedge accounting 
relationship
Loss arising on adjustment for hedged 
item in a designated fair value hedge 
accounting relationship

– Revenue from leasing the Company’s investment properties to
subsidiaries. This revenue is recognised on an accruals basis.

C. Profit before taxation
Profit before taxation is stated after charging:

2010
£m

76
–
76

2010
£m

(11)
(69)

9

26

(26)

(71)

2010
£m

–
–

2009
£m

196
5
201

2009
£m

(3)
(125)

(21)

18

(18)

(149)

2009
£m

1
1

iii) Investment property
Investment property is initially stated at cost, which comprises the
purchase price and any expenditure directly attributable to the
acquisition of the property. Subsequent to initial recognition,
investment property is held at cost net of accumulated
depreciation less any provision for impairment.

iv) Investment in subsidiaries
An investment in a subsidiary is recognised at cost less any
provision for impairment. As permitted by section 133 of the
Companies Act 2006, where the relief afforded under section 131 of
the Companies Act 2006 applies, cost is the aggregate of the
nominal value of the relevant number of the Company’s shares and
the fair value of any other consideration given to acquire the share
capital of the subsidiary undertakings. Dividends received from
subsidiaries are recognised as income only to the extent that the
Company receives distributions from accumulated profits of the
subsidiary arising after the date of acquisition. Distributions
received in excess of such profits are first recognised as a reduction
in the cost of investment.

104

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

Depreciation
Rental income from subsidiaries

Audit fees
Auditors’ remuneration was less than £1 million (2009: less than
£1 million).

Employee benefits
The Company had nil employees (2009: nil) during the year.

Key management compensation
Amounts paid to the Directors of the Company are disclosed in the
Report on Directors’ remuneration within British Sky Broadcasting
Group plc’s 2010 Annual Report.

D. Taxation
i) Taxation recognised in the income statement

Current tax expense
Current year
Total current tax
Deferred tax expense
Origination and reversal of temporary 
differences
Adjustment in respect of prior years
Total deferred tax charge

Taxation

2010
£m

44
44

–
–
–

44

2009
£m

29
29

20
(20)
–

29

ii) Deferred tax recognised directly in equity

F. Investments in subsidiaries

Deferred tax charge/(credit) on hedging
activities

2010
£m

1
1

2009
£m

(4)
(4)

iii) Reconciliation of effective tax rate
The tax expense for the year is higher (2009: lower) than the
standard rate of corporation tax in the UK (28%) applied to profit
before tax. The differences are explained below:

Profit before tax
Profit before tax multiplied by standard rate of 
corporation tax in the UK of 28% (2009: 28%)

Effects of:
Non-taxable income
Non-deductible expenditure
Group relief surrendered for no consideration
Taxation

All taxation relates to UK corporation tax.

2010
£m

103

29

–
15
–
44

2009
£m

216

60

(147)
156
(40)
29

E. Property, plant and equipment and investment
property

Cost
At 1 July 2008
Disposals
At 30 June 2009 and 30 June 2010

Depreciation
At 1 July 2008

Depreciation
Disposals
At 30 June 2009 and 30 June 2010

Carrying amounts
At 1 July 2008
At 30 June 2009 and 30 June 2010

Total 
investment
properties(i)

£m

23
(23)
–

(2)

–
2
–

21
–

Total plant,
property and
equipment
£m

3
–
3

(2)

(1)
–
(3)

1
–

(i)

At 30 June 2010 the Company no longer has any investment properties as these
have been sold to British Sky Broadcasting Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of
the Company, for consideration of £29 million. A profit on disposal of £2 million was
realised from the sale in 2009.

Cost
At 1 July 2008
Additions
Disposal(i)
Impairment
At 30 June 2009

Additions
Impairment
At 30 June 2010

Provision
At 1 July 2008, 30 June 2009, and 30 June 2010

Carrying amounts
At 1 July 2008
At 30 June 2009
At 30 June 2010

Investments
in subsidiaries
£m

6,991
2
(694)
(556)
5,743

40
(56)
5,727

1,005

5,986
4,738
4,722

(i)

Following the liquidation of one of the Company’s subsidiaries, BSkyB Finance
(Luxembourg) s.a.r.l, the Company no longer holds this investment.

See note 31 for a list of significant investments of the Company.

G. Deferred tax assets
Recognised deferred tax assets

At 1 July 2008
Charge to income
Charge to equity
At 30 June 2009

Charge to income
Charge to equity
At 30 June 2010

Financial
instrument
temporary
differences
£m

(3)
–
4
1

–
(1)
–

At 30 June 2010, a deferred tax asset of £349 million (2009: £349
million) has not been recognised in respect of potential capital
losses related to the Group’s holding of KirchPayTV, on the basis
that utilisation of these temporary differences is not probable. At
30 June 2010, the Company has also not recognised a deferred tax
asset of £1 million (2009: £1 million) relating to provisions in
respect of football club investments, on the basis that it is not
probable that they will be utilised.

H. Other receivables

Prepayments and other receivables
Amounts receivable from subsidiaries
Accrued income
Current other receivables

Non current prepayment

Total other receivables

2010
£m

–
3,430
2
3,432

8

3,440

2009
£m

5
3,390
–
3,395

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ANNUAL REPORT 2010 BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
continued

33. British Sky Broadcasting Group plc Company only financial statements (continued)
During the year, the Company repaid the £100 million Guaranteed Notes due on 9 July 2010 and on the same date recalled a matching
inter-company loan made to BSkyB Limited. The external loan and the inter-company loan accrued interest at 7.75%.

On 29 June 2008, the Company entered into the following loan agreements with BSkyB Limited:
• £143 million and £109 million, both bearing interest at a rate of 1 month LIBOR plus 0.75%. These loans are repayable on demand.
• £11 million at an interest rate of 12 month LIBOR plus 0.75%. This loan matures on 10 December 2012.
On 13 January 2009, the Company made a loan of £252 million to BSkyB Limited. This loan bears interest at a rate of 6 month LIBOR plus
1.00% and is repayable on demand.

On 5 March 2009, the Company made a loan of £694 million to BSkyB Limited which is repayable on demand and bears interest at a rate
of 1 month LIBOR plus 0.75%. In October 2009, the Company assigned £604 million of this loan to settle payables with BSkyB Finance
Limited.

On 29 June 2008, the Company entered into a RCF with BSkyB Investments for £400 million. Amounts loaned under this facility bear
interest at a rate of 1 month LIBOR plus 0.75%, compounded annually and are repayable on demand.

In November 2008, the Company issued $600 million of bonds with a coupon rate of 9.5% and loaned the bond proceeds to BSkyB
Finance Limited. BSkyB Finance Limited pays the same annual effective interest rate to the Company.

On 29 June 2008, the Company entered into a loan for £92 million with Sky Digital Supplies Limited. This loan is repayable on demand and
bears interest at a rate of 1 month LIBOR plus 0.75%.

On 29 June 2008, Sky Ventures Limited transferred its £11 million loan receivable from BSkyB Finance Limited to the Company. This loan
bears interest at a rate of 1 month LIBOR plus 0.75% and is repayable on demand.

On 29 June 2008, the Company entered into a RCF with BSkyB Finance Limited worth £20 million. Amounts loaned under this facility bear
interest at a rate of 1 month LIBOR plus 0.75% , compounded annually and repayable on demand.

On 13 January 2009, the Company made a loan of £91 million to Sky In-Home Service Limited. This loan is repayable on demand and bears
interest at a rate of 6 month LIBOR plus 1.00%.

All other amounts receivable from subsidiaries are non-interest bearing and are also repayable on demand.

The Directors consider that the carrying amount of other receivables approximates to their fair values.

The Company’s credit risk is primarily attributable to its other receivables. The majority of its other receivables balance is due from British
Sky Broadcasting Limited. The risk of this entity defaulting on amounts owed is considered low due to its successful operation of a pay
television broadcasting service in the UK and Ireland.

I. Borrowings

Current borrowings
£100 million of 7.750% Guaranteed Notes repayable in July 2009
US$600 million of 8.200% Guaranteed Notes repayable in July 2009

Non-current borrowings
US$750 million of 6.100% Guaranteed Notes repayable in February 2018
US$582.8 million of 9.500% Guaranteed Notes repayable in November 2018
£300 million of 6.000% Guaranteed Notes repayable in May 2027

2010
£m

–
–
–

511
413
295
1,219

2009
£m

100
363
463

459
367
295
1,121

See note 22 for details of the Company’s Guaranteed Notes and RCF and note 24 for details of Capital Risk Management.

106

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

J. Other payables

Other payables
Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings
Accruals

2010
£m

2,321
19
2,340

2009
£m

1,483
38
1,521

Amounts payable to subsidiaries are non-interest bearing and repayable on demand. The balance comprises £1.2 billion of non-interest
bearing loans (2009: £0.3 billion) and £1.1 billion of trade payables (2009: £1.2 billion). The Directors consider that the carrying amount of
other payables approximates to their fair values.

K. Derivatives and other financial instruments
Fair values
Set out below is a comparison by category of the book values and the estimated fair values of the Company’s financial assets and
financial liabilities at 30 June 2010 and 30 June 2009:

Financial assets and liabilities held or issued to finance the Company’s operations
Quoted bond debt
Derivative financial instruments
Other payables and receivables

2010
Book value
£m

2010
Fair value
£m

2009
Book value
£m

2009
Fair value
£m

(1,219)
146
1,092

(1,382)
146
1,092

(1,584)
3
1,874

(1,678)
3
1,874

The fair values of financial assets and financial liabilities are determined as detailed in note 23 and all items are classified as Level 2 in the
fair value hierarchy.

During the year ended 30 June 2010 the Company recognised gains of £9 million in the income statement (2009: £21 million).

Set out below are the derivative financial instruments entered into by the Company to manage its interest rate and foreign exchange risk.

2010

2009

Asset

Liability

Asset

Liability

Fair Value
£m

Notional
£m

Fair Value
£m

Notional
£m

Fair Value
£m

Notional
£m

Fair Value
£m

Notional
£m

Fair value hedges
Interest rate swaps and swaptions

Cash flow hedges
Cross-currency swaps

Derivatives not in a formal hedge 
relationship
Interest rate swaps and swaptions
Currency swaps

Total

47

87

–
215

349

514

290

–
1,075

1,879

–

–

–

–

–
(203)

(203)

–
1,369

1,369

54

104

1
28

187

800

661

93
353

1,907

(35)

(73)

(1)
(75)

(184)

323

752

30
658

1,763

The notional values shown are the notional amounts of the derivatives identified.

Note 23 provides further details of the Group’s derivative and other financial instruments.

The maturity of derivative financial instruments is shown below:

In one year or less
Between one and two years
Between two and five years
In more than five years

Total

2010

2009

Asset
£m

–
–
–
349

349

Liability
£m

–
–
–
(203)

(203)

Asset
£m

–
–
–
187

187

Liability
£m

(16)
–
–
(168)

(184)

ANNUAL REPORT 2010 BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
continued

33. British Sky Broadcasting Group plc Company only financial statements (continued)
L. Financial risk management
Interest rate and Foreign exchange risk management
The Company manages its exposure to interest rates and foreign exchange movements, which arise from the Company’s sources of
finance by selectively entering into derivative financial instruments to manage its exposure. The Company has also entered into derivative
contracts on behalf of its subsidiary BSkyB Finance UK plc, and has back-to-back inter-company contracts.

Foreign exchange risk
The following analysis details the Company’s sensitivity to movements in pounds sterling against all currencies in which it has significant
transactions. The sensitivity analysis includes only outstanding foreign currency denominated financial instruments and adjusts their
translation at the period end for a 25% change in foreign currency rates, representing the maximum currency exposure reported to
management on a regular basis.

A 25% strengthening in pounds sterling against the US dollar would have an adverse impact on profit of £33 million (2009: adverse impact
of £33 million), relating to non-cash movements in the valuation of derivatives. The same strengthening would have an adverse impact on
other equity of £17 million (2009: adverse impact of £13 million).

A 25% weakening in pounds sterling against the US dollar would have a beneficial impact on profit of £55 million (2009: beneficial impact
of £54 million), relating to non-cash movements in the valuation of derivatives. The same weakening would have a beneficial impact on
other equity of £28 million (2009: beneficial impact of £21 million).

Interest rate risk
The sensitivity analyses below have been determined based on the exposure to interest rates for both derivatives and non-derivative
financial instruments at the balance sheet date. For floating rate liabilities, the analysis is prepared assuming the amount of liability
outstanding at the balance sheet date was outstanding for the whole year.

For each one hundred basis point rise or fall in interest rates at 30 June 2010, and if all other variables were held constant, the Company’s
profit for the year ended 30 June 2010 would decrease or increase by £5 million (2009: decrease or increase by £5 million) and other
equity reserves would decrease or increase by £6 million (2009: decrease or increase by £4 million).

A one hundred basis point rise or fall in interest rates represents a large but realistic movement which can easily be multiplied to give
sensitivities at different interest rates.

The sensitivity analyses provided are hypothetical only and should be used with caution as the impacts provided are not necessarily
indicative of the actual impacts that would be experienced because the effect of a change in a particular market variable on fair values or
cash flows is calculated without considering interrelationships between the various market rates or mitigating actions that would be
taken by the Company. In addition, the Company’s actual exposure to market rates changes as the Company’s portfolio of debt changes.
The changes in valuations are estimates of the impact of changes in market variables and are not a prediction of future events or
anticipated gains or losses.

Liquidity risk
See note 24 for the Company’s policy on liquidity management.

The following table analyses the Company’s non-derivative financial liabilities, net-settled interest rate swaps and gross-settled currency
swaps and collars into relevant maturity groupings based on the remaining period at the balance sheet date to the contractual maturity
date. The amounts disclosed in the table are the contractual undiscounted cash flows.

These amounts may not reconcile to the amounts disclosed on the balance sheet for borrowings, derivative financial instruments and
other payables.

108

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

At 30 June 2010
Non derivative financial liabilities
Bonds – USD
Bonds – GBP
Other payables
Net settled derivatives
Financial assets
Financial liabilities
Gross settled derivatives
Outflow
Inflow

At 30 June 2009
Non derivative financial liabilities
Bonds – USD
Bonds – GBP
Other payables
Net settled derivatives
Financial assets
Gross settled derivatives
Outflow
Inflow

Less than 12
months
£m

Between
one and two
years
£m

Between
two and five
years
£m

More
than five
years
£m

68
18
–

(19)
–

48
(48)

68
18
–

(19)
–

48
(48)

203
54
–

(57)
–

143
(145)

Less than 12
months
£m

Between
one and two
years
£m

Between
two and five
years
£m

441
126
1,521

(14)

442
(426)

62
18
–

(14)

47
(48)

187
54
–

(41)

141
(143)

1,111
516
–

(65)
–

933
(1,046)

More
than five
years
£m

1,084
534
–

(61)

990
(1,020)

At 30 June 2010, the Company had an undrawn £750 million Revolving Credit Facility (“RCF”) with a maturity date of 30 July 2013. See note
22 for further information.

M. Notes to the company statement of changes in equity
For details of share capital, share premium, the special reserve and the capital redemption reserve, see notes 25 and 26.

For details of dividends, see note 11.

Capital reserve
This reserve arose from the surplus on the transfer of trade and assets to a subsidiary undertaking.

Hedging reserve
Changes in the fair values of derivatives that are designated as cash flow hedges are initially recognised in the hedging reserve, and then
recognised in the income statement when the related hedged items are recognised in the income statement. In addition, deferred
taxation relating to these derivatives is also initially recognised in the hedging reserve prior to transfer to the income statement.

N. Reconciliation of profit before taxation to cash generated from operations

Profit before taxation
Depreciation
Dividend income
Impairment of investment
Disposal of investment
Net finance income
Increase in other receivables
Increase (decrease) in other payables
Cash generated from operations

2010
£m

103
–
–
56
–
(5)
(974)
820
–

2009
£m

216
1
(556)
556
694
(52)
(293)
(566)
–

ANNUAL REPORT 2010 BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
continued

33. British Sky Broadcasting Group plc Company only financial statements (continued)
O. Contingent liabilities and guarantees
The Company and certain of its subsidiaries have undertaken, in the normal course of business, to provide support to several of the
Group’s investments in both limited and unlimited companies and partnerships, to meet their liabilities as they fall due. Several of these
undertakings contain maximum financial limits. These undertakings have been given for at least one year from the date of the signing of
the UK statutory accounts of the related entity. A payment under these undertakings would be required in the event of an investment
being unable to pay its liabilities.

The Company has provided parent company guarantees in respect of the various contracts entered into with the PL by BSkyB Limited
covering the 2010/11 to 2012/13 football seasons. In each case the guarantee covers all payment obligations now or in the future due,
owing or incurred by BSkyB Limited under the contracts and all liabilities now or in the future arising or incurred under the indemnity given
to the PL by BSkyB Limited under the contracts.

The Company has provided a parent company guarantee in respect of the contract entered into with British Telecommunications plc by
Sky Broadband SA and since novated to British Sky Broadcasting Limited covering the provision of call services for Sky Talk until 2010/11.
The guarantee covers all payment obligations now or in the future due under the contract.

The Company has provided a parental company guarantee in respect of the contract entered into with British Sky Broadcasting Limited
and Stanhope Plc in relation to the construction of a new building at the Osterley Campus. The guarantee covers all performance
obligations and payment obligations imposed on British Sky Broadcasting Limited under that contract.

The Company has provided a limited parental company guarantee in respect of a credit facility provided to BSkyB Publications Limited by
Royal Mail Group plc in relation to the delivery of customer magazines. The guarantee covers all payment obligations of BSkyB Publications
Limited and is capped at £2 million (together with interest).

The Company has guarantees in place relating to the Group’s borrowings, see note 22 – ‘Borrowings and non-current other payables’.

P. Transactions with related parties and major shareholders

Supply of services to subsidiaries
Interest received from funding to subsidiaries
Amounts owed by subsidiaries
Amounts owed to subsidiaries

2010
£m

162
76
3,432
(2,321)

2009
£m

143
192
3,390
(1,483)

The Company has related party transactions with its subsidiaries by virtue of its status as parent company of the Group. In particular, it is
normal treasury practice for the Company to lend and borrow cash to and from its subsidiaries as required. Under this policy, British Sky
Broadcasting Limited settled liabilities of £87 million (2009: £134 million) on behalf of the Company, during the year. Interest is earned on
certain loans to subsidiaries.

The Company received £162 million (2009: £142 million) for licensing the Sky brand name to subsidiaries. The Company received no income
(2009: £1 million) for leasing investment property to subsidiaries.

In 2009 the Company sold its investment properties for the consideration of £29 million. The properties were sold to British Sky
Broadcasting Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.

The Company received dividends during the year from subsidiaries totalling £100,000 (2009: £556 million).

110

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

Group financial record – unaudited
Consolidated results
Below is selected financial information for the Group under IFRS as at and for each of the five years ended 30 June 2010, derived either
from the audited consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report or from the Group’s historical Annual Reports.

Consolidated Income Statement

Retail subscription
Wholesale subscription
Advertising
Easynet
Installation, hardware and service
Other
Revenue(i)

Operating expense(ii)
Litigation settlement income
Operating profit

Share of results of joint ventures and associates
Investment income on litigation settlement
Investment income
Finance costs
Profit on disposal of joint venture
Impairment of available-for-sale investment
Profit on disposal of available-for-sale investment
Profit before tax

Taxation
Profit (loss) for the year

Net profit (loss) recognised directly in equity
Total comprehensive income for the year

Earnings (loss) per share from profit (loss) for the year (in pence)
Basic
Diluted
Dividends declared per share (in pence)

Year ended
30 June 2010
£m

Year ended
30 June 2009
£m

Year ended
30 June 2008
£m

Year ended
30 June 2007
£m

Year ended
30 June 2006
£m

4,761
238
319
203
174
217
5,912

(5,085)
269
1,096

32
49
3
(122)
–
–
115
1,173

(295)
878

61
939

50.4p
50.1p
19.4p

4,177
206
308
202
235
231
5,359

(4,546)
–
813

19
–
35
(220)
–
(191)
–
456

(197)
259

134
393

14.9p
14.8p
17.6p

3,765
181
328
178
276
224
4,952

(4,228)
–
724

15
–
47
(177)
67
(616)
–
60

(187)
(127)

187
60

3,402
208
352
159
212
218
4,551

(3,736)
–
815

12
–
46
(149)
–
–
–
724

(225)
499

(124)
375

(7.3)p
(7.3)p
16.8p

28.4p
28.2p
15.5p

3,154
224
342
79
131
218
4,148

(3,271)
–
877

12
–
52
(143)
–
–
–
798

(247)
551

(38)
513

30.2p
30.1p
12.2p

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

Year ended
30 June 2010
£m

Year ended
30 June 2009
£m

Year ended
30 June 2008
£m

Year ended
30 June 2007
£m

Year ended
30 June 2006
£m

Cash and cash equivalents
Purchase of plant, property, equipment and intangible assets

649
444

811
400

632
339

435
356

816
212

Consolidated Balance Sheet

Non-current assets
Current assets
Total assets
Current liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Net assets (liabilities)

Number of shares in issue (in millions)

30 June 2010
£m

30 June 2009
£m

30 June 2008
£m

30 June 2007
£m

30 June 2006
£m

2,818
1,986
4,804
(1,699)
(2,545)
560

1,753

2,632
1,937
4,569
(2,194)
(2,439)
(64)

1,753

2,384
1,698
4,082
(1,893)
(2,357)
(168)

1,753

2,557
1,363
3,920
(1,499)
(2,374)
47

1,753

1,504
2,283
3,787
(1,547)
(2,119)
121

1,791

ANNUAL REPORT 2010 BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

111

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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
continued

Statistics

Distribution of Sky Channels
DTH homes
Cable homes(iii)
Total Sky pay homes

DTT homes(iv)

Sky Broadband homes
Sky Talk homes

Average number of full-time equivalent employees

Year ended
30 June 2010

Year ended
30 June 2009

Year ended
30 June 2008
(In thousands)

Year ended
30 June 2007

Year ended
30 June 2006

9,860
4,312
14,172

10,200

2,624
2,367

16,439

9,442
4,271
13,713

9,900

2,203
1,850

14,922

8,980
1,248
10,228

9,700

1,628
1,241

14,145

8,582
1,259
9,841

9,139

716
526

13,087

8,176
3,898
12,074

6,402

–
–

11,216

Notes:
(i)

To provide a more relevant presentation, management has chosen to re-analyse the revenue categories from those previously reported. Easynet revenue is shown separately and
other revenue now principally includes income from Sky Bet, technical platform service revenue and our online portal.

Included within retail subscription revenue for the year ended 30 June 2009 is £36 million of additional revenue representing amounts invoiced in prior years which did not meet
revenue recognition criteria under IFRS until March 2009.

(ii)

Included within operating expense for the year ended 30 June 2010 is £32 million of expense relating to a restructuring exercise of which £22 million related to the impairment
of assets associated with Picnic (the potential launch of a subscription television service on DTT) and £10 million related to reorganisation costs and redundancy payments.
Also included within operating expense for the year ended 30 June 2010 is £1 million (2009: £3 million, 2008: £21 million) of expense relating to legal costs incurred on the
Group’s claim against EDS which provided services to the Group as part of the Group’s investment in customer management systems software and infrastructure, and a
£5 million credit (2009: nil) related to the cancellation of accounts payable on settlement of the claim against EDS.

Included within operating expense for the year ended 30 June 2008 is £7 million of expense relating to a restructuring exercise undertaken following a review of operating costs. 

Included within operating expense for the year ended 30 June 2007 is a £65 million credit due to the Group, arising from certain contractual rights under one of the Group’s
channel distribution agreements.

(iii)

(iv)

The number of cable homes is as reported to us by the cable operators. Between February 2007 and November 2008, the reported number of cable homes reflects the impact of
Virgin Media (“VM”) ceasing to carry Sky’s Basic Channels on its platform. A new agreement was reached in November 2008 and VM has now resumed carriage of the Sky Basic
Channels.

The Digital Terrestrial Television (“DTT”) homes number consists of the UK Office of Communications’ (“Ofcom’s”) estimate of the number of homes where DTT is the only digital
TV platform supplying services and includes Top Up TV DTT homes. The number of DTT homes for all periods disclosed above is based on Ofcom’s Digital Television Update
published quarterly in arrears. Latest data available for the year ended 30 June 2010 is at 31 March 2010.

Factors which materially affect the comparability of the selected financial data
EDS Litigation settlement
During fiscal 2010, EDS and the Group fully and finally settled the litigation between them and all related claims (including for damages,
costs and interest) for a total amount of £318 million. For further details see note 4 to the consolidated financial statements.

Available-for-sale investment
During fiscal 2010 we disposed of part of our equity investment in ITV and recognised a profit on disposal of £115 million. For further
details see note 6 to the consolidated financial statements.

During fiscal 2009, we recorded an impairment loss of £191 million (fiscal 2008: £616 million) in the carrying value of our equity investment in ITV.

Business combinations
During fiscal 2008, we completed the acquisition of Amstrad. The results of this acquisition were consolidated from the date on which
control passed to the Group (5 September 2007).

During fiscal 2007, we completed the acquisition of 365 Media Group. The results of this acquisition were consolidated from the date on
which control passed to the Group (23 January 2007).

During fiscal 2006, we completed the acquisition of Easynet. The results of this acquisition were consolidated from the date on which
control passed to the Group (6 January 2006).

Disposal of joint venture
On 12 December 2007, the Group sold its 100% stake in BSkyB Nature Limited, the investment holding company for the Group’s 50%
interest in the NGC-UK Partnership. As consideration for the disposal, the Group received 21% interests in both NGC Network International
LLC and NGC Network Latin America LLC (in effect, 21% of National Geographic Channel’s television operations outside the US). The Group
recognised a profit on disposal of £67 million.

Exchange rates
A significant portion of our liabilities and expenses associated with the cost of programming acquired from US film licensors is
denominated in US dollars. For a discussion of the impact of exchange rate movements on our financial condition and results of
operations see note 24 to the consolidated financial statements.

112

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

Non-GAAP measures
Reconciliation of revenue to adjusted revenue
for the year ended 30 June 2010

Revenue
Recognition of deferred revenue

Adjusted Group revenue

Reconciliation of operating profit to adjusted operating profit 
for the year ended 30 June 2010

Operating profit

Litigation settlement income relating to claim against EDS
Legal costs relating to claim against EDS
Cancellation of accounts payable on settlement of claim against EDS 
Costs related to restructuring exercise
Recognition of deferred revenue 

Adjusted operating profit

Notes

2

Notes

4
3
3
3
2

Reconciliation of cash generated from operations to adjusted free cash flow
for the year ended 30 June 2010

Cash generated from operations
Interest received
Taxation paid
Dividends received from joint ventures and associates
Net funding to joint ventures and associates
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Purchase of intangible assets
Interest paid

Free cash flow

Litigation settlement income relating to claim against EDS (after tax)
Legal costs relating to claim against EDS
Purchase of freehold land
Receipt on closure of joint venture
Cash paid related to restructuring exercise

Adjusted free cash flow

Notes

27

4
3

15

2010
£m

5,912
–

5,912

2010
£m

1,096

(269)
1
(5)
32
–

855

2010
£m

1,634
57
(320)
30
(1)
(261)
(183)
(156)

800

(229)
1
57
(3)
–

626

2009
£m

5,359
(36)

5,323

2009
£m

813

–
3
–
–
(36)

780

2009
£m

1,205
47
(178)
20
(3)
(261)
(139)
(217)

474

–
3
24
–
7

508

2008
£m

4,952
–

4,952

2008
£m

724

–
21
–
7
–

752

2008
£m

997
43
(163)
11
(6)
(215)
(124)
(165)

378

–
21
–
–
–

399

ANNUAL REPORT 2010 BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

Annual General Meeting
The Company’s Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday 22
October 2010 at 11:00am at The Queen Elizabeth II Conference
Centre, Broad Sanctuary, Westminster, London SW1P 3EE.

Financial calendar
Results for the financial year ending 30 June 2011 will be published:
Q1 22 October 2010
Q2 27 January 2011
Q3 28 April 2011
Q4 4 August 2011

The Sky website
Shareholders are encouraged to visit the Sky website www.sky.com
which has a wealth of information about the Company. There is a
section designed specifically for investors at www.sky.com/corporate
where investor and media information can be accessed. This year’s
Annual Report and Annual Review and prior year documents can be
viewed.

Share price information
The Company’s share price can be found on the Company’s
corporate website at www.sky.com/corporate.

Shareholder enquiries
The Company’s shareholder register is maintained by its Registrar,
Equinti. Shareholders should contact Equiniti in relation to all
administrative enquiries relating to their shares, such as a change
of personal details, the loss of a share certificate or an out-of date
dividend cheque. Alternatively, shareholders can access and view
their shareholding and update their details at www.shareview.co.uk.

Shareholders can contact Equiniti at:
Equiniti Limited
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing
West Sussex BN99 6DA
Telephone: 0871 384 2091*
Telephone number from outside the UK: +44 121 415 7567

*

Calls to the above number are charged at 8p per minute from a BT landline. Other
telephony providers’ costs may vary. Lines are open from 8.30am to 5.30pm
Monday to Friday.

Electronic shareholder communication
In accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 and
the Company’s Articles of Association, the Company is permitted to
use its corporate website as the main way to communicate with
shareholders, sending out Annual Reports only to those who have
opted to receive a paper copy. This reduces our impact on the
environment, minimises waste and reduces costs. It also enables
shareholders to keep updated with developments at Sky as they
happen by accessing our website.

Shareholders who have opted to receive shareholder
communications in paper form are encouraged to receive these
electronically in future by registering at www.shareview.co.uk.
Shareholders can also change their instructions at any time by
contacting Equiniti Limited.

Dividends
Shareholders can have their dividends paid directly into a UK bank
or building society account with the tax voucher sent direct to their

registered address. Please contact Equiniti for a dividend mandate
form.

The Company also operates a consolidated tax voucher service for
those shareholders who have chosen to receive dividends directly into
their bank account. A single consolidated tax voucher will be mailed by
the end of November each year, to coincide with the final dividend
payment. Full details are available at www.sky.com/corporate.

Overseas dividend payments
A service has been established to provide shareholders in over 30
countries worldwide with the opportunity to receive their dividends
in their local currency. For a small flat-rate fee, shareholders can
have their dividends automatically converted from Sterling and
paid into their nominated bank account, normally within five
working days of the dividend payment date. For further details,
please contact Equiniti on +44 121 415 7567.

Dividend Reinvestment Plan
The Company operates a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (“DRIP”)
which enables shareholders to buy the Company’s shares on the
London stock market with their cash dividend. Further information
about the DRIP is available from Equiniti. The helpline number is
0871 384 2268 from inside the UK and +44 121 415 7173 from
overseas.

ShareGift
Shareholders who only have a small number of shares whose value
makes it uneconomic to sell them may wish to consider donating
them to charity through ShareGift, the independent charity share
donation scheme (registered charity no. 1052686). Further
information about ShareGift may be obtained from Equiniti or from
ShareGift on 020 7337 0501 or at www.sharegift.org. There are no
implications for capital gains tax purposes (no gain or loss) on gifts
of shares to charity and it is also possible to claim income tax relief.

Shareholder fraud
Fraud is on the increase and many shareholders are targeted every
year. If you have any reason to believe that you may have been the
target of a fraud, or attempted fraud in relation to your
shareholding, please contact Equiniti immediately. To reduce the
risk of fraud happening to you please see our list of ‘preventing
shareholder fraud tips’ in the shareholder information section of
our website at www.sky.com/corporate.

American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”)
On 30 April 2010, the Group announced its intention to delist its
American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) from the New York Stock
Exchange and to terminate its registration and reporting
obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Each ADS
represents four ordinary shares, evidenced by ADRs. On 19 May
2010 the listing of the Company’s ADSs on the New York Stock
Exchange terminated (please see page 27). The Company maintains
its ADR facility as a Level 1 ADR programme as described below. 

The Company’s ADR programme trades on the over-the-counter
(‘OTC’) market in the US. The Company’s ADRs are quoted on the
OTC market’s highest tier, International PremierQX. More
information can be obtained from, http://www.otcqx.com. ADRs are
quoted in US dollars and trade just like any other US security. The
Company has a sponsored Level 1 ADR programme for which The
Bank of New York Mellon acts as Depositary. One ADR represents
four ordinary shares.

114

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

All enquires relating to the Company’s ADRs should be addressed to:

BNY Mellon Shareowner Services 
PO Box 358516 
Pittsburgh, PA 15252-8516 
USA 
Telephone # for domestic callers: +1-888-BNY-ADRs (US Domestic) 
International callers can call: +1-201-680-6825 
email: shrrelations@bnymellon.com

Company’s registered office:
Grant Way
Isleworth
Middlesex TW7 5QD
Telephone 0870 240 3000
Overseas +44 20 7705 3000

Company registration number
2247735

Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors
Deloitte LLP
2 New Street Square
London
EC4A 3BZ

Principal bankers
Royal Bank of Scotland
St. Andrew’s Square
Edinburgh EH2 2YB

Solicitors
Herbert Smith LLP
Exchange House
Primrose Street
London EC2A 2HS

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ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

115

 
 
 
 
 
 
GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Useful Definitions

Description

365 Media

ADS

Bonus channel

365 Media Group Limited

American Depositary Share (each ADS currently represents four ordinary shares of BSkyB)

A channel provided to a customer in addition to one or more subscription channels, but at no
incremental cost to the customer

BSkyB or the Company

British Sky Broadcasting Group plc

Churn

The number of customers over a given period that terminate their subscription in its entirety, net of
former customers who reinstate their subscription in that period (where such reinstatement is within
a twelve month period of the termination of their original subscription), expressed as an annualised
percentage of total average customers for the period

Customer

A subscriber to a DTH service

DSL

DTH

DTT

EPG

ESOP

ESPN

Digital Subscriber Line

Direct-to-Home: the transmission of satellite services and functionality with reception through a
minidish. The Group also retails certain Sky Channels to a limited number of DSL subscribers
(references throughout to “DTH subscribers” include DSL subscribers)

Digital Terrestrial Television: digital signals delivered to homes through a conventional aerial,
converted through a set-top box or integrated digital television set

Electronic Programme Guide

Employee Share Ownership Plan

Entertainment and Sports Programming Network broadcasting the ESPN, ESPN Classic, ESPN America
and ESPN HD Channels

Fiscal year or fiscal

Refers to the twelve months ended on the Sunday nearest to 30 June of the given year

Freeview

GAAP

The Group

HD

HMRC

IFRS

IP

IPTV

LLU

Minidish

MPF

Multiroom

Ofcom

PL

The free DTT offering available in the UK

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

BSkyB and its subsidiary undertakings

High Definition Television

Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs

International Financial Reporting Standards

Internet Protocol: the mechanism by which data packets may be routed between computers on a
network

Internet Protocol Television

Local Loop Unbundling: a process by which BT’s exchange lines are physically disconnected from BT’s
network and connected to other operators’ networks. This enables operators other than BT to use
the BT local loop to provide services to customers

Satellite dish required to receive digital satellite television

Metallic Path Facilities which occur where a single communications provider uses the local loop to
provide both broadband and voice services over its network

Installation of an additional set-top box in the household of an existing customer

UK Office of Communications

Premier League

Premium Channels

The Sky Premium Channels and the Premium Sky Distributed Channels

116

BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT 2010

Premium Sky Distributed
Channels

Disney Cinemagic (& HD), MUTV, Chelsea TV and (until June 2010 only) Music Choice Extra

PVR

RCF

Set-top box

Sky

Sky+

Sky+HD

Sky Active

Sky Basic Channels

Sky Bet

Sky Broadband

Sky Box Office

Sky Channels

Personal Video Recorder: satellite decoder which utilises a built-in hard disk drive to enable viewers to
record without videotapes, pause live television and record one programme while watching another

Revolving Credit Facility

Digital satellite equipment, responsible for receiving, converting and sending the picture and sound of
a broadcast to the associated television set

British Sky Broadcasting Group Plc and its subsidiary undertakings

Sky’s fully-integrated PVR and satellite decoder. This includes Sky+ decoders

High Definition box with PVR functionality, formerly known as Sky HD

The brand name for Sky’s transactional interactive television services, including customer services,
games, betting and messaging

Sky1, (and its simulcast version, Sky1 HD), Sky2, Sky3, Sky News (and its simulcast version Sky News
HD), Sky Travel (until June 2010 only), Sky Real Lives (and its multiplex versions, Sky Real Lives +1 and
Sky Real Lives 2 and the simulcast Sky Real Lives HD), Sky Sports News, Sky Arts 1 and Sky Arts 2
(including their simulcast versions Sky Arts 1 HD and Sky Arts 2 HD), Sky Vegas, Sky Poker.com

Sky’s betting services, provided through set-top boxes, the internet and via phone

Home broadband service previously provided exclusively for Sky digital customers but now extended
to customers who do not take a television service from Sky. UK Online customers are excluded from
quoted subscriber figures

Our pay-per-view service offering movies, sporting events and concerts

Television channels wholly owned by the Group, being the Sky Basic Channels and Sky Premium
Channels

Sky Distributed Channels

Television channels owned and broadcast by third parties, retailed by the Group to DTH customers

Sky Premium Channel Package

DTH subscription package which includes one or more of the Sky Premium Channels

Sky Premium Channels

Sky Talk

SMATV

SMPF

Transponder

Viewing share

VM

WAN

Sky Movies Pack 1 (Sky Movies Comedy (& HD), Sky Movies Classics, Sky Movies Modern Greats (& HD),
Sky Movies Family (& HD) and Sky Movies Screen 1 (& HD)), Sky Movies Pack 2 (Sky Movies
Action/Thriller (& HD), Sky Movies Indie (& HD), Sky Movies SciFi/Horror (& HD), Sky Movies Drama
(& HD) and Sky Movies Screen 2 (& HD)) and Bonus Channels (Sky Movies Premiere (& HD), Sky Movies
Premiere +1 and Sky Movies Showcase (& HD)), Sky Sports 1 (& HD1), Sky Sports 2 (& HD2), Sky Sports 3
(& HD3) and Sky Sports 4 (& HD4). Channels have an HD simulcast where specified

Home telephony service provided for Sky digital subscribers and now extended to customers who do
not take a television service from Sky

Satellite Master Antenna Television

Shared Metallic Path Facility

Communication devices on satellites which send programming signals to minidishes

Number of people viewing a channel as a percentage of total viewing audience

Virgin Media

Wide Area Network: Companies link networks at different sites over the internet to form a secure
WAN

ANNUAL REPORT 2010     BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC

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British Sky Broadcasting Group plc
Grant Way, Isleworth,
Middlesex TW7 5QD
Telephone 0870 240 3000
Facsimile 0870 240 3060
www.sky.com
Registered in England No.2247735