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UPDATE 4-Comcast beats Street on phone, Internet service

Thu Nov 5, 2009 12:48am IST
 
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* Q3 EPS ex-items 28 cents; Street view 25 cents

* Revenue up 3 pct to $8.802 billion

* Loses 132,000 basic video subs

* Added 375,000 voice subs, beating expectations

* Shares down 2 percent in afternoon trading (Adds analyst comment, byline)

By Franklin Paul

NEW YORK, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Comcast Corp's (CMCSA.O: Quote, Profile, Research) quarterly profit rose a better-than-expected 22 percent, as it sold more phone and Internet subscriptions, helping to fight competition from phone and satellite companies.

But the largest U.S. cable company, which sources have said is in talks to take control of NBC Universal, suffered from a lack of corresponding gains in revenue received from each customer, due to promotional discounting to woo or retain subscribers.

"While third quarter unit growth showed some cause for cautious fundamental optimism, we are wary of increased competition and maturation," said Standard & Poor's Equity Research analyst Tuna Amobi, who rates Comcast shares at "strong sell."  Continued...

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