BT Share News (BT.A)

(ShareCast News) - Underlying sales growth at BT Group improved in the second quarter but operating profits declined due to the telecoms company's diversification into media and investing in sports broadcasting.BT will pay a half-year dividend of 4.4p, a 13% increase on the same period last year, after underlying revenue excluding transit rose 1% in the half-year to 30 September, helped by a 2% increase in the second quarter.However, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) fell 1% in the second quarter, reflecting the investment in BT Sport, but this was largely expected.As well as highlighting efforts to improve customer focus, take fibre broadband to a wider number of customers and Wednesday's clearance from the Competition and Markets Authority for its acquisition of the EE mobile network, chief executive Gavin Patterson said demand for BT Sport Europe, the new UEFA Champions League-focused channel, had been good, which helped it attract a record number of TV customers in the quarter."Its contribution has been better than we expected, helping drive a 7% increase in BT consumer revenue. Mobile is another growth area and I am pleased our consumer customer base now stands at more than 200,000."-- More to follow --