Sky has reached its 8 million subscriber target on schedule, the broadcaster announced today.

The news comes despite a slowdown in growth in recent months and puts the service in almost a third of UK homes.

“Exceeding our goals with 8 million customers and growing is a great way to end 2005," said James Murdoch, chief exec of BSkyB. “To be part of life in nearly one in three homes is a great honour for any company and we thank all of our customers new and old for choosing Sky."

The broadcaster now aims to reach 10 million subscribers by the end of the decade.