BSkyB added another 87,000 pay-TV customers, its highest growth during its first quarter for five years, bringing its total customer numbers to more than nine million.

The result will help allay questions over whether the company can reach its 10 million customer target by 2010 as Britain heads towards a recession, which may deter people from paying for subscription TV.

However, there were no signs of a slowdown in the three months to the end of September, sending BSkyB's shares up 9.5p to 387.5p in early trading.

Jeremy Darroch, chief executive at BSkyB, admitted: "The economic climate is tougher than it has been for many years and like all companies we face uncertainty."

The proportion of customers cancelling subscriptions rose from 9.8 per cent in the previous quarter to 10.9 per cent.

But Mr Darroch said this was expected since the pay-TV operator, which is 39.1 per cent owned by News Corporation, parent company of The Times, increased its annual charges in the quarter.

Yesterday's figures were broadly in line with expectations with 8 per cent growth in customer subscription revenues, offsetting a 13 per cent decline in advertising revenue to £68 million and flat wholesale revenue — payments from rivals, such as Virgin Media, for running its channels.

Operating profit for the quarter rose 21 per cent to £182 million.

Mr Darroch said Sky was considering its next step after losing its application to try to prevent the forced disposal of its stake in ITV. It has until December 1 to appeal the decision at the Court of Appeal.

Most industry observers expect it to continue with the appeal to delay a forced sale for as long as possible as ITV's share price is about a quarter of what Sky paid.

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