TiVo posts loss as sales drop 12 percent

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TiVo posts loss as sales slump

ALVISO, Calif. — TiVo Inc. posted a loss in the latest quarter as sales dropped 12 percent. The company was coming off a big profit a year ago that was caused by a payout from a legal victory.

The company, which makes digital video recorders, reported after the market closed Tuesday that it lost $6.7 million, or 6 cents per share, in the three months ended Oct. 31, its fiscal third quarter. That matched the estimate of analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters.

It compares with a profit of $100.6 million, or 98 cents per share, in the same period last year. That figure includes more than $100 million in proceeds and interest income as a result of litigation with EchoStar, a satellite broadcaster that TiVo accused of infringing on patented technology allowing viewers to record one problem while watching another.

TiVo’s sales of $56.9 million were better than the $48 million analysts were expecting.

The stock fell 2 cents, or 0.2 percent, to $10.95 in extended trading after the results were reported. Shares had gained 24 cents, or 2.2 percent, to close at $10.97 during the regular session.

TiVo said it anticipates a net loss of $13 million to $15 million and service and technology revenue of $43 million to $45 million in the current quarter.

Also Tuesday, TiVo announced a deal with Internet search leader Google Inc. that will allow Google to draw on viewing data from TiVo subscribers to help sell TV ads through its auction system. TiVo also announced a deal with Virgin Media Inc., in which Virgin Media will be the exclusive distributor of TiVo’s services and technology in the U.K., and Tivo will become the exclusive provider of so-called “middleware” and other software for Virgin Media’s next generation of set-top boxes.