The number of subscribers at German pay-TV platform Premiere has passed the 2.5 million mark for the first time in the channel's 11-year history.

At the end of November, the platform had 2.53 million subscribers on its books, 85,000 more than at the end of the third quarter on September 30. Premiere was particularly successful in attracting new subscriptions in November with a net increase of 50,000 subscribers, compared to only 7,000 in November 2001.

'The November figures are proof of a lasting positive trend for Premiere', the platform's managing director Georg Kofler stated. 'We are confident that we can also exceed our new customer goal in December'.

The good news from Premiere comes as speculation is raging in the German financial press that the platform will be taken over by the Frankfurt-based investment group Permira in the next couple of weeks.