(RTTNews) - Satellite radio services provider Sirius XM Radio Inc. (SIRI: News ), Thursday reported a narrower net loss for the third quarter, helped by lower charges, higher revenue, and lower expenses. Looking ahead, the company reaffirmed its outlook for adjusted income from operations for fiscal 2009.

The company posted a GAAP net loss attributable to shareholders of $149 million or $0.04 per share for the third quarter, compared to a loss of $4.9 billion or $1.93 per share in the prior year quarter.

Result for the latest quarter included charges of $138 million or $0.04 per share for the loss on the extinguishment of debt and credit facilities resulting from refinancing of debt at lower cost.

Excluding items, pro forma net loss was $181.9 million or $0.00 per share, compared to a loss of $217 million or $0.05 per share in the year-ago quarter. On average, 4 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report a loss of $0.02 per share for the third quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Third quarter total revenue increased 27% to $618.66 million from $488.44 million in the same quarter last year.

Pro forma total revenue grew around 3% to $630 million from $613 million in the previous year quarter, due to the sale of "Best of" programming, rate increases to the company's multi-subscription and Internet packages, and the U.S. Music Royalty Fee introduced this quarter.

Three analysts had a consensus revenue estimate of $608.71 million for the third quarter.
Total operating expenses for the third quarter were $552.3 million, much lower than $5.3 billion last year.

Total average revenue per user or ARPU for the quarter improved to $10.87 from $10.51 a year earlier.
SIRIUS XM ended the third quarter 2009 with 18.52 million total subscribers, down 2% over last year. Self-pay subscribers were 15.46 million, up 1% from the third quarter 2008.

The self-pay monthly customer churn rate improved to 2% from a pro forma 1.7% churn rate a year ago.

For the nine-month period of 2009, the company reported a net loss attributable to common shareholders of $543 million or $0.15 per share, compared to a loss of $5 billion or $2.76 per share in the previous year period. Pro forma net loss was $416 million or $0.03 per share, compared to a loss of $653.9 million or $0.17 per share in the prior year period.

Total revenue for the period increased to $1.80 billion from $1.04 billion in the year-ago period.

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