DirecTV 3rd-quarter profit flat as higher costs offset 10 percent increase in revenue

DirecTV 3Q profit flat as revenue rises 10 percent

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — DirecTV Group’s third-quarter net income was about flat from a year ago, as higher costs offset a 10 percent increase in revenue.

The nation’s largest satellite TV provider added more new customers in the U.S. and Latin America, with many signing up for its high-definition TV packages and leased its digital video recorders. But it spent more money to attract them, hurting the bottom line.

DirecTV earned $366 million, or 37 cents per share, compared with $363 million, or 33 cents per share, in the same quarter a year ago.

Revenue rose to $5.47 billion from $4.98 billion at the satellite TV operator, which is based in El Segundo, Calif.

Analysts expected earnings of 39 cents per share on revenue of $5.42 billion, according to a Thomson Reuters survey.