Hong Kong – Cable TV added 59,000 subscribers, boosting the total to 845,000, in the first nine months of 2007, up 7% on the prior year, although broadband customers slipped by 3% to 316,000. Blaming an “unfavourable” operating environment due to intensified competition with nowTV, parent company i-Cable Communications Ltd. reported pay TV revenues fell by 16% to HK$1.2 billion (US$155.7 million), while operating profit slumped by 30% to HK$132 million (US$16.9 million). The company said it will open retail shops in popular areas of the territory to expand its sales coverage. Revenue from new businesses such as film production and advertising in the mainland tripled from a small base. “The operating environment in the near and medium term will continue to be challenging with the imminent launch of digital terrestrial television service by the two commercial broadcasters, on top of competition from peers in the pay-TV market,” it said. Nonetheless, the group trumpeted the acquisition of the new media rights to the Beijing Olympics, as well as the FIFA World Cup, and said it’s “sharpening” its sales and marketing and after-sales services.