Cable operator Liberty Global added 320,000 revenue-generating units in the third quarter, to finish September with a total 34.1 million. The company lost 90,000 basic video customers in the quarter, mainly in Germany, Poland and Chile, but added 180,000 digital TV users, 198,000 new broadband customers, and 211,000 telephony subscribers. The launch of its new Horizon set-top box in the Netherlands attracted over 50,000 subscriptions, and the company plans to launch the device in Switzerland this quarter. Revenues in the third quarter increased 4 percent from a year earlier to USD 2.5 billion, led by the West Europe and Chile operations. Operating cash flow rose 5 percent to USD 1.2 billion, and operating profit was also up 5 percent, to USD 509 million. The net loss narrowed to USD 22 million or 8 cents a share from USD 333 million or USD 1.18 per share a year ago. Liberty recorded capital expenditure of USD 457 million in the quarter, up slightly from a year ago, while free cash flow was a negative USD 22 million, due to wireless investments in Chile and forex effects, the company said. With USD 3.3 billion in cash remaining, Liberty said it will continue with its share buyback in Q4 and shortly launch its buy-out bid for Belgian operator Telenet. The company said it's on track to meet all its full-year targets.
