FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Report of Foreign Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a - 16 or 15d - 16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of September, 2008
26 September, 2008
BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC
(Name of Registrant)
Grant Way, Isleworth, Middlesex, TW7 5QD England
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file
annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F
Form 20-F
X Form 40-F
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by
furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing
the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Yes
No X
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): Not Applicable
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. 1. Press release of British Sky
Broadcasting Group plc announcing AGM Statement released on 26 September,
2008
British Sky
Broadcasting Group plc
At the Annual General Meeting
o
f the Company held today at
The Cumberland Hotel,
:00am. The Chairman's
statement follows below:
Gentlemen and welcome
to the 20
th Annual General Meeting of
British Sky Broadcasting.
Today's AGM is the first
opportunity that I have had to address shareholders as Chairman of
your Board. I'm delighted to be able to continue to serve the
Company in this new role.
Let me first introduce your
Board of Directors; working from the centre on my immediate right I
have Jeremy Darroch, Andrew Griffith, Allan Leighton, Gail
Rebuck,
. On my immediate left is our
Company Secretary, Dave Gormley, and on his left
are
Nicholas Ferguson, David
DeVoe, Dan
Jacques Nasser and Chase
Carey are unable to attend this morning because of other
commitments
, and I pass on apologies on
their behalf.
Among the changes to the
Board over the last 12 months, Rupert Murdoch decided to step down
as Chairman and as a Director in December 2007
It is no overstatement to say
that his vision and dedication have been instrumental
not only to Sky's
creation
but also to its
evolution into a company that today reaches more than one in three
households across the UK and Ireland, and continues to be a
pacesetter in our ever-changing and endlessly exciting industry. On
behalf of the Board and shareholders, I would like to express our
gratitude for his unparalleled contribution.
I would also like to extend
thanks and recognition to Jacob Rothschild, our Deputy Chairman,
who has retired from the Board after more than four years' service.
Jacob has made an enormous contribution to our Board and to
the
ompany, and I know that I
speak for all of my fellow Directors in saying that we have deeply
appreciated his wise counsel. Personally, I would add that he has
been a valued mentor, an always challenging colleague, and an
independent and committed leader of our Board.
But I will also welcome our
new appointments. I am delighted to have been succeeded as Chief
Executive by Jeremy Darroch. I have worked closely with Jeremy
since he joined the Company as Chief Financial Officer in August
2004 and I have first-hand knowledge of the contribution that he
has made to our progress over that period. The Board unanimously
considered Jeremy to be the outstanding candidate to become Chief
Executive and - importantly -
he is the first person to
have been promoted to that role from within Sky. I'm certain that
under his leadership the Company will continue to grow and
prosper.
Andrew Griffith succeeded
Jeremy as CFO and joined the Board in April 2008. Andrew has been a
key member of Sky's leadership team and has made a
significant
contribution to the growth of
Sky over the last nine years. In his new role, I'm sure that that
contribution will only grow.
His appointment is further
evidence of the strength and depth of our management
team.
I would also like to welcome
Daniel
Rimer to the Board
following his appointment as Non-Executive Director in April. His
wide-ranging experience in digital media and emerging technologies
will be invaluable in the growing field of opportunity for Sky in
entertainment and communications.
We have a strong Board and
management team, with the right expertise and experience to create
value for shareholders in a fast-changing
marketplace.
We have a good deal of formal
business to get through this morning but before we consider the
agenda, I would like to say a few words about
the
I think we would all agree
that we are witnessing a period of great change
which is challenging
the old certainties and the way we do business. I will come back to
that in a minute.
thing about this company that
will never change: our commitment to our customers and the services
that we provide
It is the fixed star in our
business universe. And one we will always steer by.
As I said just now, we live
in fast changing times. The events in the financial markets and in
the wider global economy in the past few weeks have shown that the
world is being reshaped around us at great speed. The changes that
are taking place go far beyond the financial markets, as we all
know.
This is proving a difficult
year for our customers
consumer-facing
businesses around the world
have had a tough year. Media
companies with a high degree of exposure to advertising - much more
than ours I may say - have come under particular pressure
as
marketing budgets
decline.
Against that background Sky
has continued to perform well.
we never forget that
this is the age of the consumer. And in tough economic times the
consumer wants, more than ever, real value and real
choice.
ustomers are demanding
the
flexibility to access content
and information when and how they want. This has created intense
competition for the benefit of consumers, as well as significant
opportunities for companies that have the capability and the
appetite to change.
been an agent of change in
the way we do business, in the rich and diverse programming we
create and in the relationship - a relationship of trust - we
establish with our customers.
In a world of rapid change
this fleet
footed, fast thinking and
above all creative company of ours is well placed to seize new
opportunities and adapt to new trading conditions.
As a result of the steps the
Company has taken to adapt its business, more customers are
choosing Sky for a broader range of products and services than ever
before.
At the end of the 2008
financial year, the Company was close to passing the milestone of
nine million Sky TV customers.
Sky+, our Personal Video
Recorder, is already transforming the viewing experience
for
million families across
the
. In its seventh year, the
power of positive advocacy among our existing Sky+ customers is
driving growth at a faster pace than ever
before.
Less than two years after our
entry into broadband and telephony, we have become the UK's fastest
growing broadband and home phone provider, saving our customers
hundreds of millions of pounds each year.
This mix of choice,
innovation, and value has propelled our growth.
In the year ending June
2008
roup revenue grew to almost
£5 billion, with
an adjusted operating profit
of
These are achievements of
which Sky's management team and everyone who works at the Company
can and should be justly proud.
anniversary of our
company, the results for the past year give me confidence that we
are well positioned to continue to grow and to deliver increasing
returns to shareholders.
Sky is a business which
strives for leadership, and a business which has created growth
opportunities by continually challenging the status quo.
We set no limits on our
ambitions, we place no boundaries on our creativity, we accept no
dilution of the passion with which we conduct our
business.
In doing so, we make a
positive contribution to life in the UK and Ireland; through the
products chosen by millions of customers; through our investment in
much-loved content; and through our commitment to choice and
innovation.
We also believe that a better
business is a responsible business and we are focused on expanding
our contribution through our work in three key areas: helping to
create a healthy environment; opening up the arts to more people;
and encouraging participation in sport.
Striving to be a better
business is about embracing that bigger picture, and understanding
that real durability, and real value, come from a commitment to our
customers and to the communities they live in.
I would like to conclude by
thanking Sky's 15,000 employees for their commitment and their
contribution during the past year and to thank you
for your continued
support.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC
Date: 26 September, 2008
By:
/s/ Dave Gormley
Dave Gormley
Company Secretary