DirecTV adds more subscribers than ever, will push live streaming, HD UI, and multiroom DVRs

The numbers are in for DirecTV's third quarter and it looks like Deion Sanders isn't just a HOF shutdown corner, he's also an excellent pitchman. The satellite company had a net addition of 327,000 subscribers in the US, which it credited to offering free NFL Sunday Ticket for the first year as a lure. Going forward, CEO Mike White says the company plans to maintain momentum with "DirecTV Anywhere" bringing live-TV streaming and VOD to customer's mobile devices (as seen in its iPad app), as well as the launch of a new HD UI and HR34-based home media center. Not mentioned? The DirecTiVo. Check out the rest of the details in the press release after the break, we'll listen in on the earnings call shortly to see if any other gems are dropped.

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DIRECTV Announces Third Quarter 2011 Results

DIRECTV Adds All-Time Record 1.14 Million Net New Subscribers in Latin America and the U.S. in the Quarter.

DIRECTV Latin America sets records with 957,000 gross and 574,000 net additions in the quarter while Sky Mexico adds 238,000 net new subscribers.
DIRECTV U.S. gross additions of 1.28 million and lower churn of 1.62% fuel the highest third quarter net additions in 7 years to 327,000

Revenue Growth of 14% Accelerates to $6.84 Billion

Increase driven by DIRECTV Latin America's record subscriber growth and 11% higher Average Revenue per Subscriber, as well as 8% revenue growth at DIRECTV U.S.

DIRECTV Diluted Earnings per Share Increases 27% to $0.70

EPS growth driven by 37% increase in operating profit at DIRECTV Latin America as well as share repurchases of $5.9 billion over the last twelve months, including nearly $1.5 billion in the third quarter

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- DIRECTV (NASDAQ:DTV) today reported increases in third quarter 2011 revenues of nearly 14% to $6.84 billion, operating profit before depreciation and amortization1 (OPBDA) of 7% to $1.58 billion and operating profit of 19% to $1.03 billion compared to last year's third quarter. DIRECTV also reported that third quarter net income increased 8% to $516 million while diluted earnings per share grew 27% to $0.70 compared with the same period last year.

"Third quarter net additions soared to an all-time record high of 1.14 million-or 901 thousand excluding Sky Mexico-as the strength of DIRECTV's brands and unparalleled video experience fueled the largest net subscriber gain in DIRECTV's history," said Mike White, president and CEO of DIRECTV. "This tremendous growth came throughout the Americas, as DIRECTV Latin America generated its best quarter ever with 574 thousand net additions while DIRECTV U.S. had its biggest third quarter in seven years with 327 thousand new subscribers. Combining this record performance with solid ARPU growth drove an acceleration of consolidated revenue growth to nearly 14% exceeding both last year and first half growth rates. Earnings per share in the quarter grew even faster to 27% fueled mostly by higher operating profit at DIRECTV Latin America and our share repurchase program, partially offset by higher programming costs and the short term impact from the additional acquisition costs related to the significant increase in gross additions at DIRECTV U.S."

White finished, "Looking forward, we plan to build on this momentum by debuting several compelling new products and services including a greatly enhanced DIRECTV Anywhere offering that will enable consumers to stream live-TV programming and on-demand movies to their mobile devices, as well as a brand new HD user interface and the much anticipated launch of our home media center. We also have exciting growth plans in Latin America as we expect to continue to greatly expand our subscriber base by offering the best video experience to a rapidly growing pay-TV market throughout the region."

DIRECTV'S OPERATIONAL REVIEW

Third Quarter Review
DIRECTV Consolidated Three Months Nine Months
Dollars in Millions except Earnings Ended September 30, Ended September 30,
per Class A Common Share 2011 2010 2011 2010
Revenues $6,844 $6,025 $19,763 $17,481
Operating Profit Before Depreciation and Amortization(1) 1,584 1,484 5,196 4,694
OPBDA Margin(1) 23.1% 24.6% 26.3% 26.9%
Operating Profit 1,030 868 3,415 2,834
Operating Profit Margin 15.0% 14.4% 17.3% 16.2%
Net Income Attributable to DIRECTV 516 479 1,891 1,580
Diluted Earnings Per Class A Common Share 0.70 0.55 2.47 1.57
Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share(2) 0.70 0.55 2.47 1.75
Capital Expenditures and Cash Flow
Cash Paid for DIRECTV U.S. Subscriber Leased Equipment - Acquisitions, Upgrade and Retention 313 271 782 669
Cash Paid for Property, Equipment and Satellites 659 395 1,534 1,077
Cash Flow Before Interest and Taxes(3) 788 968 2,685 2,952
Free Cash Flow(4) 235 665 1,295 2,079


DIRECTV's third quarter revenues of $6.84 billion increased nearly 14% over the same period last year principally due to strong subscriber and average revenue per subscriber (ARPU) growth at DIRECTV Latin America (DTVLA) and DIRECTV U.S. Operating profit before depreciation and amortization increased 7% to $1.58 billion while OPBDA margin declined to 23.1%. The margin decline was primarily due to higher programming costs at DIRECTV U.S. mostly related to annual program supplier rate increases and the new NFL contract, as well as higher subscriber acquisition costs driven by the record gross additions at both DIRECTV U.S. and DTVLA. Operating profit grew 19% to $1.03 billion and operating profit margin increased to 15.0% as the decline in OPBDA margin was more than offset by lower depreciation expense at DIRECTV U.S. principally driven by an increase in the estimated depreciable life of High-Definition set-top boxes from three years to four years resulting in a decline in depreciation expense of approximately $76 million in the quarter.

Net income attributable to DIRECTV increased 8% to $516 million compared with the third quarter of last year primarily due to the higher operating profit. This improvement was partially offset by higher interest expense principally resulting from an increase in long-term debt as well as $72 million in pre-tax non-cash losses associated with the revaluation of U.S. dollar denominated net-liabilities in Brazil compared with an $18 million gain for the same period in 2010. Diluted earnings per share increased 27% to $0.70 in the quarter due to the higher net income and a lower average share count resulting from stock repurchases made over the last twelve months.

Cash flow before interest and taxes3 declined 19% to $788 million compared to the third quarter of 2010 as the higher OPBDA was more than offset by increased capital expenditures mostly driven by the record gross additions and greater demand for advanced equipment at both DIRECTV U.S. and DTVLA, as well as higher payments for satellites at DTVLA. Free cash flow declined 65% to $235 million due to the lower cash flow before interest and taxes along with greater cash interest payments associated with higher average debt levels and increased cash tax payments primarily due to higher pre-tax income. Also during the quarter but not included in free cash flow, was cash paid for share repurchases of $1.45 billion.

Year-to-Date Review

DIRECTV's revenues for the first nine months of 2011 increased 13% to $19.76 billion over the same period last year principally due to strong subscriber and ARPU growth at both DIRECTV Latin America and DIRECTV U.S. Operating profit before depreciation and amortization increased 11% to $5.20 billion while OPBDA margin declined to 26.3% during the period. The margin decline was primarily due to higher programming cost at DIRECTV U.S. mostly associated with annual program supplier rate increases and the new NFL contract, as well as higher subscriber acquisition costs driven by the record gross additions at both DIRECTV U.S. and DTVLA. Year to date operating profit increased 21% to $3.42 billion and operating profit margin increased to 17.3% as the lower OPBDA margin was more than offset by the decline in depreciation and amortization expenses at DIRECTV U.S.

In the first nine months of 2011, net income attributable to DIRECTV increased 20% to $1.89 billion driven by the higher operating profit as well as a $29 million increase in other income, including a $60 million increase in pre-tax gains resulting from the sale of investments recorded in "Other, net" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. These increases were partially offset by higher interest expense principally resulting from an increase in long-term debt as well as greater income tax expense resulting from the higher pre-tax income. Also impacting the comparison was a $67 million gain from the final settlement of the equity collars assumed in the Liberty transaction in the first quarter of 2010 as well as $45 million in pre-tax non-cash losses also recorded in "Other, net" associated with the revaluation of U.S. dollar denominated net-liabilities in Brazil during the first nine months of 2011 compared with a $7 million gain for the same period in 2010. Diluted earnings per share improved to $2.47, a 57% increase excluding the impact of the Malone transaction2 from the results during the first nine months of 2010, primarily due to higher net income as well as a lower average share count resulting from stock repurchases made over the last twelve months.

Cash flow before interest and taxes declined 9% to $2.69 billion compared with the first nine months of 2010 mainly due to higher capital expenditures primarily associated with increased gross additions and demand for advanced set-top boxes at both DIRECTV U.S. and DTVLA, as well as higher expenditures on satellites at DTVLA. These increased expenditures were partially offset by the higher OPBDA and a $39 million increase in dividends received, primarily from Sky Mexico and Game Show Network. Year to date free cash flow declined 38% to $1.30 billion due to the lower cash flow before interest and taxes, higher cash interest payments related to an increase in long-term debt and greater cash tax payments primarily associated with higher pre-tax income. During the first nine months of 2011 but not included in free cash flow, were cash paid for share repurchases of $4.37 billion and proceeds from the sale of investments of $116 million. In addition, DIRECTV U.S. completed a $4.0 billion debt financing in March 2011 and DIRECTV redeemed $1.0 billion of 6.375% Senior Notes due 2015 during the first nine months of 2011.

SEGMENT FINANCIAL REVIEW

DIRECTV U.S. Segment

Third Quarter Review

In the quarter, DIRECTV U.S. revenues increased nearly 8% to $5.42 billion due to the larger subscriber base and ARPU growth of 3.6%. Net additions nearly doubled to 327,000 in the third quarter due to record gross additions driven in part by the NFL SUNDAY TICKETTM promotion, as well as a lower average monthly churn rate of 1.62%. The ARPU increase to $92.21 was mostly due to price increases on programming packages and leased set-top boxes, as well as higher advanced service fees partially offset by more promotional offers to new and existing customers. DIRECTV U.S. ended the quarter with 19.76 million subscribers, an increase of 4% over the 18.93 million subscribers reported for the quarter ended September 30, 2010.
Three Months Nine Months
DIRECTV U.S. Ended September 30, Ended September 30,
Dollars in Millions except ARPU 2011 2010 2011 2010
Revenue $5,421 $5,031 $15,843 $14,737
Average Monthly Revenue per Subscriber (ARPU) ($) 92.21 88.98 90.48 87.43
Operating Profit Before Depreciation and Amortization(1) 1,153 1,192 3,962 3,892
OPBDA Margin(1) 21.3% 23.7% 25.0% 26.4%
Operating Profit 800 720 2,737 2,427
Operating Profit Margin 14.8% 14.3% 17.3% 16.5%
Cash Flow Before Interest and Taxes(3) 744 806 2,357 2,663
Free Cash Flow(4) 267 450 1,155 1,702

Subscriber Data (in 000's except Churn)

Gross Subscriber Additions 1,280 1,137 3,286 3,008
Average Monthly Subscriber Churn 1.62% 1.70% 1.57% 1.56%
Net Subscriber Additions 327 174 537 374
Cumulative Subscribers 19,760 18,934 19,760 18,934


Third quarter OPBDA declined 3% to $1.15 billion and OPBDA margin fell to 21.3% primarily due to higher programming costs mostly related to annual program supplier rate increases and the new NFL contract, as well as higher subscriber acquisition costs due to the significant increase in gross additions. Also in the quarter, operating profit grew 11% to $800 million and operating profit margin increased to 14.8% as the decline in OPBDA was more than offset by lower depreciation and amortization expense related to an increase in the estimated depreciable life of High-Definition set-top boxes from three years to four years, the completion of amortization for a subscriber-related intangible asset and lower depreciation expense associated with a reduction in set-top box capital expenditures over the last several years.

DIRECTV Latin America Segment

DIRECTV Latin America owns approximately 93% of Sky Brazil, 41% of Sky Mexico and 100% of PanAmericana, which covers most of the remaining countries in the region. Sky Mexico, whose results are accounted for as an equity method investment and therefore is not consolidated by DTVLA, had approximately 3.82 million subscribers as of September 30, 2011 bringing the total subscribers in the region to 11.10 million at the end of the third quarter of 2011.

Third Quarter Review

In the third quarter, DTVLA revenues increased 46% to $1.36 billion principally due to strong subscriber growth and an 11.0% increase in ARPU. Net additions more than doubled to 574,000 driven by an 82% increase in gross additions to an all-time record of 957,000 and a decline in monthly post paid churn in the quarter to 1.39%. Gross additions were higher principally due to greater demand in Brazil particularly from the middle market segment, as well as from increased new activations in Argentina, while the reduction in post-paid churn was mainly driven by lower churn in Venezuela and Brazil. The increase in ARPU to $64.63 was mostly due to price increases and greater penetration of advanced services, as well as favorable exchange rates in Brazil. Excluding the impact of exchange rates, DTVLA ARPU increased 7.7% in the third quarter.
Three Months Nine Months
DIRECTV Latin America Ended September 30, Ended September 30,
Dollars in Millions except ARPU 2011 2010 2011 2010
Revenue $1,356 $930 $3,724 $2,566
Average Monthly Revenue per Subscriber (ARPU) ($) 64.63 58.20 63.58 56.88
Operating Profit Before Depreciation and Amortization(1) 434 313 1,241 822
OPBDA Margin(1) 32.0% 33.7% 33.3% 32.0%
Operating Profit 236 172 696 438
Operating Profit Margin 17.4% 18.5% 18.7% 17.1%
Cash Flow Before Interest and Taxes(3) 32 151 329 286
Free Cash Flow(4) (23) 111 124 159

Subscriber Data(5) (in 000's except Churn)

Gross Subscriber Additions 957 525 2,545 1,679
Average Monthly Total Subscriber Churn 1.83% 2.00% 1.83% 1.86%
Average Monthly Post-paid Subscriber Churn 1.39% 1.54% 1.42% 1.52%
Net Subscriber Additions 574 206 1,473 842
Cumulative Subscribers 7,281 5,430 7,281 5,430


DIRECTV Latin America's third quarter 2011 OPBDA increased 39% to $434 million and operating profit rose 37% to $236 million. Also in the quarter, OPBDA margin declined to 32.0% and operating profit margin fell to 17.4% primarily due to higher subscriber acquisition costs associated with the record gross additions, as well as increased upgrade and retention spending mostly due to higher demand for advanced equipment.

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

A live webcast of DIRECTV's third quarter 2011 earnings call will be available on the company's website at www.directv.com/investor. The webcast will begin at 1:00 p.m. ET, today November 3, 2011. Access to the earnings call is also available in the United States by dialing (888) 778-9064 and internationally by dialing (913) 312-1517. The conference ID number is 2150014. A replay of the call can be accessed by dialing 888-203-1112 in the U.S. and 719-457-0820 internationally. The replay pass code is 2150014. The replay will be available from 5:30 p.m. ET Thursday, November 3 through 2:59 a.m. ET Friday, November 11 and will also be archived on our website at www.directv.com/investor.

FOOTNOTES

(1) Operating profit before depreciation and amortization, which is a financial measure that is not determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, should be used in conjunction with other GAAP financial measures and is not presented as an alternative measure of operating results, as determined in accordance with GAAP. Please see each of DIRECTV and DIRECTV Holdings LLC's Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 for further discussion of operating profit before depreciation and amortization. Operating profit before depreciation and amortization margin is calculated by dividing operating profit before depreciation and amortization by total revenues.

(2) In the second quarter of 2010, DIRECTV resolved an FCC issue regarding our Puerto Rico operations by consummating a transaction with Dr. John C. Malone and members of his family. Under the terms of the agreement, the Malones exchanged 21.8 million shares of DIRECTV Class B common stock, which was all of the outstanding Class B shares, for 26.5 million shares of DIRECTV Class A common stock. The additional 4.7 million shares, valued at approximately $160 million reduced the diluted earnings per share attributable to Class A shareholders to $1.57 for the nine months ended September 2010. See reconciliation of adjusted diluted earnings per share to diluted earnings per share at the end of this release.

(3) Cash flow before interest and taxes, which is a financial measure that is not determined in accordance with GAAP, is calculated by deducting amounts under the captions "Cash paid for property and equipment", "Cash paid for satellites", "Cash paid for subscriber leased equipment - subscriber acquisitions" and "Cash paid for subscriber leased equipment - upgrade and retention" from "Net cash provided by operating activities" from the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and adding back net interest paid and "Cash paid for income taxes". This financial measure should be used in conjunction with other GAAP financial measures and is not presented as an alternative measure of cash flows from operating activities, as determined in accordance with GAAP. DIRECTV and DIRECTV U.S. management use cash flow before interest and taxes to evaluate the cash generated by our current subscriber base, net of capital expenditures, and excluding the impact of interest and taxes, for the purpose of allocating resources to activities such as adding new subscribers, retaining and upgrading existing subscribers, for additional capital expenditures and as a measure of performance for incentive compensation purposes. DIRECTV and DIRECTV U.S. believe this measure is useful to investors, along with other GAAP measures (such as cash flows from operating and investing activities), to compare our operating performance to other communications, entertainment and media companies. We believe that investors also use current and projected cash flow before interest and taxes to determine the ability of our current and projected subscriber base to fund required and discretionary spending and to help determine the financial value of the company.

(4) Free cash flow, which is a financial measure that is not determined in accordance with GAAP, is calculated by deducting amounts under the captions "Cash paid for property and equipment", "Cash paid for satellites", "Cash paid for subscriber leased equipment - subscriber acquisitions", and "Cash paid for subscriber leased equipment - upgrade and retention" from "Net cash provided by operating activities" from the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. This financial measure should be used in conjunction with other GAAP financial measures and is not presented as an alternative measure of cash flows from operating activities, as determined in accordance with GAAP. DIRECTV and DIRECTV U.S. management use free cash flow to evaluate the cash generated by our current subscriber base, net of capital expenditures, for the purpose of allocating resources to activities such as adding new subscribers, retaining and upgrading existing subscribers, for additional capital expenditures and as a measure of performance for incentive compensation purposes. DIRECTV and DIRECTV U.S. believe this measure is useful to investors, along with other GAAP measures (such as cash flows from operating and investing activities), to compare our operating performance to other communications, entertainment and media companies. We believe that investors also use current and projected free cash flow to determine the ability of our current and projected subscriber base to fund required and discretionary spending and to help determine the financial value of the company.

(5) DIRECTV Latin America subscriber data exclude subscribers of the Sky Mexico service.