Advanced Television

DirecTV 3Q earnings rise 14%

November 7, 2008

DirecTV Group, America’s largest DTH operator with over 17 million customers, has reported that Q3 earnings rose 14 per cent, fuelled by growth in subscribers, higher prices and lower capital expenses.

“We are in a tough economy and a competitive environment,” Chief Executive Chase Carey said in a conference call with analysts. But business has been good so far and, “overall, the impact is marginal,” he said.

The company reported net income of $363 million, or 33 cents per share, up from $319 million, or 27 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Revenue rose 15 per cent to $4.98 billion from $4.33 billion, boosted by a 49 perc ent increase in Latin America to $658 million.

It added 156,000 net new US customers in the quarter, down from 240,000 in the same quarter a year ago. In Latin America, where DirecTV has stakes in local operators, net new customer additions fell to 79,000 from 161,000.

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