[Satellite TODAY 05-05-10] News Corp. subsidiary Sky Italia’s overall subscriber numbers fell to 4.7 million in the first quarter of 2010, a loss of almost 40,000 subscribers compared to the previous quarter, the company announced in its latest financial results, released May 5.
    The Italian pay-TV operator also saw a 44.4 percent drop in operating income to $35 million from $63 million in the same quarter last year, due to the loss of subscribers.
    Sky Italia is requesting that the European Commission lift the restrictions it placed on the company in 2003 that will allow Sky Italia to bid for an Italian digital terrestrial TV frequency to operate free-to-air channels.