Rogers Announces Wireless and Cable Subscriber Results for Fourth Quarter 2004
January 10 2005 - 6:30AM
PR Newswire (US)
Rogers Announces Wireless and Cable Subscriber Results for Fourth
Quarter 2004 TORONTO, Jan. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Rogers
Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI; NYSE: RG) today announced selected
preliminary fourth quarter 2004 subscriber results for its wireless
and cable operations. "Rogers ended 2004 with strong quarterly
wireless and cable subscriber results, reflecting our continued
success in delivering innovation, convenience and value for our
customers and the execution of our recent strategic initiatives,"
said Ted Rogers, President and CEO of Rogers Communications. "The
markets for wireless, cable and high-speed Internet services have
continued to be robust, and as we enter 2005, our focus will remain
on the disciplined execution of our strategy of profitable growth,
the integration of our recently acquired wireless assets and the
continued deployment of unique and innovative products that add
value to our customers' lives."
--------------------------------------- WIRELESS Three Months Ended
December 31,
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Subscriber statistics in thousands except churn) 2004 2003 Chg %
Chg
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Postpaid Voice and Data ----------------------- Gross additions (1)
397.4 338.4 59.0 17.4 Net additions (1)(2) 185.8 166.2 19.6 11.8
Acquisition of Microcell (3) 752.0 - 752.0 - Total postpaid retail
subscribers (2)(4) Churn (%)(2) 1.89% 1.99% (0.10%) (5.0) Prepaid
------- Gross additions (1) 126.7 67.4 59.3 88.0 Net additions
(1)(5) 58.9 6.4 52.5 - Acquisition of Microcell (3) 541.8 - 541.8 -
Adjustment to subscriber base (6) Total prepaid retail subscribers
Churn (%)(5) 2.16% 2.73% (0.57%) (20.9) Total - Postpaid and
Prepaid ---------------------------- Gross additions (1) 524.1
405.8 118.3 29.2 Net additions (1)(2) 244.7 172.6 72.1 41.8
Acquisition of Microcell (3) 1,293.8 - 1,293.8 - Adjustment to
subscriber base (6) - - - - Total retail subscribers (2)(4)
Wholesale subscribers (1) (4)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------- WIRELESS Twelve Months
Ended December 31,
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Subscriber statistics in thousands except churn) 2004 2003 Chg %
Chg
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Postpaid Voice and Data ----------------------- Gross additions (1)
1,161.5 1,021.5 140.0 13.7 Net additions (1)(2) 446.1 400.2 45.9
11.5 Acquisition of Microcell (3) 752.0 - 752.0 - Total postpaid
retail subscribers (2)(4) 4,184.1 3,029.6 1,154.5 38.1 Churn (%)(2)
1.81% 1.88% (0.07%) (3.7) Prepaid ------- Gross additions (1) 319.0
257.4 61.6 23.9 Net additions (1)(5) 32.5 2.0 30.5 - Acquisition of
Microcell (3) 541.8 - 541.8 - Adjustment to subscriber base (6) -
(20.9) 20.9 - Total prepaid retail subscribers 1,334.1 759.8 574.3
75.6 Churn (%)(5) 2.94% 2.82% 0.12% 4.3 Total - Postpaid and
Prepaid ---------------------------- Gross additions (1) 1,480.5
1,278.9 201.6 15.8 Net additions (1)(2) 478.6 402.2 76.4 19.0
Acquisition of Microcell (3) 1,293.8 - 1,293.8 - Adjustment to
subscriber base (6) - (20.9) 20.9 - Total retail subscribers (2)(4)
5,518.2 3,789.4 1,728.8 45.6 Wholesale subscribers (1) (4) 91.2 -
91.2 -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------- CABLE Three Months Ended
December 31,
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Subscriber statistics in thousands) 2004 2003 Chg % Chg
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Homes passed Basic cable subscribers Basic cable, net additions
(losses) 5.9 8.6 (2.7) - Internet subscribers (7) Internet, net
additions (7) 57.1 41.3 15.8 38.3 Digital terminals in service
Digital terminals, net additions 66.5 50.9 15.6 30.6 Digital
households Digital households, net additions 48.4 43.2 5.2 12.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------- CABLE Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Subscriber statistics in thousands) 2004 2003 Chg % Chg
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Homes passed 3,291.1 3,215.4 75.7 2.4 Basic cable subscribers
2,254.6 2,269.4 (14.8) (0.7) Basic cable, net additions (losses)
(14.8) (0.9) (13.9) - Internet subscribers (7) 936.6 777.8 158.8
20.4 Internet, net additions (7) 158.8 149.3 9.5 6.4 Digital
terminals in service 795.7 613.6 182.1 29.7 Digital terminals, net
additions 182.1 157.5 24.6 15.6 Digital households 675.4 535.3
140.1 26.2 Digital households, net additions 140.1 133.8 6.3 4.7
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Subscriber activity includes Microcell beginning November 9,
2004. (2) Effective December 1, 2004, voluntarily deactivating
subscribers are required to continue billing and service for 30
days from the date termination is requested, consistent with the
subscriber agreement terms and conditions, resulting in
approximately 15,900 additional net postpaid subscribers being
included in the quarter. (3) Microcell subscriber base upon closing
of acquisition on November 9, 2004. (4) Effective at the beginning
of fourth quarter 2004, wholesale subscribers are reported
separately under 'wholesale'. Accordingly, approximately 43,600
Rogers Wireless wholesale subscribers were reclassified from the
postpaid subscriber base to the 'wholesale' category. (5) Effective
November 9, 2004, the deactivation of prepaid subscribers acquired
from Microcell are recognized after 180 days of no usage to conform
to the Rogers Wireless prepaid churn definition. (6) In 2003, we
determined that subscribers who only had non-revenue usage should
not have been included in the prepaid subscriber base and, as such,
made an adjustment to the second quarter of 2003 opening prepaid
subscriber base. (7) Effective in the third quarter of 2004, the
reporting of Internet subscribers was modified to include only
those subscribers with service installed, operating and on billing
and to exclude those subscribers who have subscribed to the service
but installation of the service was still pending. Prior period
results for Internet subscribers and net additions have been
conformed to this current presentation. Rogers Communications
expects to release fourth quarter 2004 financial and operating
results on or about February 9, 2005. Cautionary Statement
Regarding Forward Looking Information: This news release includes
certain forward looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks
and uncertainties. We caution that actual future events will be
affected by a number of factors, many of which are beyond our
control, and therefore may vary substantially from what we
currently foresee. We are under no obligation to (and expressly
disclaim any such obligation to) update or alter any forward
looking statements whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise. Important additional information identifying
risks and uncertainties is contained in our most recent Annual
Reports and Annual Information Forms filed with the applicable
Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission. About the Company: Rogers Communications
Inc. (TSX: RCI; NYSE: RG) is a diversified Canadian communications
and media company. Its three primary businesses include Rogers
Wireless, Canada's largest wireless voice and data communications
services provider and the country's only carrier operating on the
world standard GSM/GPRS technology platform; Rogers Cable, Canada's
largest cable television provider offering cable television,
high-speed Internet access and video retailing; and Rogers Media,
Canada's premier collection of category leading media assets with
businesses in radio, television broadcasting, televised shopping,
publishing and sports entertainment. For further information about
the Rogers group of companies, please visit http://www.rogers.com/.
DATASOURCE: Rogers Communications Inc. CONTACT: Investment
Community Contacts: Bruce M. Mann, (416) 935-3532, ; Eric A.
Wright, (416) 935-3550, ; Media Contacts: Corporate - Jan Innes,
(416) 935-3525, ; Wireless - Heather Armstrong, (416) 935-6379, ;
Cable - Taanta Gupta, (416) 935-4727,
Copyright