BSkyB has defied increasing competition to add 74,000 new television customers in its third quarter, more than twice the growth recorded last year and well ahead of forecasts.

The broadcaster and broadband provider, which has broadened its offering with increased content and services after BT encroached on its traditional stronghold of sports coverage, said it had achieved growth in both its satellite subscription package and its cheaper online offering.

The dominant player in the UK pay-TV market for the past 10 years, BSkyB launched an online offering in 2012 to reach those consumers who were unwilling to sign up to a 12-month package.

That move had sparked fears that the cheaper alternative would erode traditional subscriber numbers and dent margins.

However, the company said that it was seeing good traction for its online Now TV offering, with many customers paying as much as those on basic TV subscriptions.

The one weak spot in the third quarter results was the addition of 70,000 customers to its broadband service, in line with forecasts but down from the 152,000 it signed up in the same period a year earlier. The solid trading performance helped the group, headed by chief executive Jeremy Darroch, to report nine-month figures in line with forecasts.

Investment in sports broadcasting rights sent adjusted operating profit down 9%, but revenue increased by 7%.

Mr Darroch described it as a strong third quarter.