--------------------------------------------------------------------- The Evening Bridge - January 25, 2006 --------------------------------------------------------------------- TOP STORY -- BellSouth, the main telephone provider in nine southeastern states, said that hurricane-related costs contributed to a more than 54 percent drop in fourth-quarter profit despite solid gains in DSL customers and a minor increase in revenue. The Atlanta-based telco said it earned $618 million (34 cents/share) for the three months ending Dec. 31, compared to a profit of $1.36 billion (74 cents/share) in the same period a year ago.
Our valued sponsors: Pace Electronics - http://www.pacemso.com/sky/Jan06/LineBug/?RefSalesSrc=6003&referrer=SkyLineBug Applied Telcomm - http://www.appliedtel.com IPTV WORLD FORUM - http://www.iptv-forum.com The Weekly BRIDGE Research Report - http://www.mbc-thebridge.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hot & Not --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hot Close Pts. + % Chg 52-Week MCCC 5.88 0.21 3.70 % 4.75 - 7.59 SEAC 8.29 0.19 2.35 % 5.07 - 17.00 CVG 17.20 0.39 2.32 % 12.57 - 18.67 T 25.22 0.56 2.27 % 21.79 - 25.60 COMS 4.51 0.09 2.04 % 2.96 - 4.74 Not Close Pts. - % Chg 52-Week BDR 2.08 - 0.15 - 6.70 % 1.59 - 4.05 DST 57.16 - 3.60 - 5.92 % 44.20 - 62.34 CSGS 21.12 - 1.09 - 4.91 % 15.74 - 24.76 WGATE 1.80 - 0.06 - 3.23 % 1.61 - 6.03 PAX 0.91 - 0.03 - 3.18 % 0.37 - 1.74 DOW 10,710 -2 NASDAQ 2,261 -5 S&P 500 1,265 -2 --------------------------------------------------------------------- At the Bell --------------------------------------------------------------------- CSG Systems announced an extended agreement with Bright House Networks to provide customer care and billing support to its Tampa, Fla. and Livonia, Mich. divisions --- Ask Jeeves introduced the beta version of Ask Deutschland, the company's most recent expansion in Europe --- TBS appointed NDS Group as exclusive iTV games and enhanced television applications developer for the Asia Pacific region and will deploy Cartoon Network interactive content on selected Asian Pacific digital platforms --- Charter Communications announced late Tuesday it plans to issue $400 million worth of senior notes to repay debt. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Analyze This --------------------------------------------------------------------- Craig Moffet of Bernstein Research on DirecTV's price hike: "As we have noted in response to the price increases already taken by Comcast and EchoStar, the market narrative of "intensifying competition" has become so deeply ingrained in consensus thinking that it is now taken to be gospel. But in the face of continued price increases for all operators, it is worth questioning whether that consensus view is supported by the facts." He added, "Prices continue to rise for all competitors, and EchoStar's total video ARPU is rising no faster than that of its competitors and peers. For value-oriented customers, EchoStar remains the 'cheapest game in town.'" --------------------------------------------------------------------- PrimeTime Players --------------------------------------------------------------------- Close Pts. + % Chg 52-Week T 25.21 0.55 2.23 % 21.79 - 25.60 BLS 27.44 0.52 1.93 % 24.32 - 28.29 CVC 24.87 - 0.08 - 0.32 % 22.50 - 33.90 CBS 26.40 - 0.50 - 1.86 % 24.83 - 27.40 CHTR 1.15 - 0.02 - 1.71 % 0.88 - 2.00 CSCO 18.57 0.24 1.31 % 16.83 - 20.25 CMCSA 27.29 - 0.22 - 0.80 % 25.35 - 34.50 CSGS 21.12 - 1.09 - 4.91 % 15.74 - 24.76 DTV 14.04 0.02 0.14 % 13.17 - 16.79 DISCA 15.33 - 0.08 - 0.52 % 13.51 - 16.30 DISH 27.20 - 0.04 - 0.15 % 24.44 - 32.42 GMSTE 3.06 0.00 0.00 % 2.24 - 5.95 GE 32.76 - 0.20 - 0.61 % 32.67 - 37.34 IACI 29.00 0.04 0.14 % 23.49 - 55.50 L 8.17 0.00 0.00 % 7.59 - 10.71 LBTYA 21.37 - 0.15 - 0.70 % 21.32 - 52.32 MCCC 5.88 0.21 3.70 % 4.75 - 7.59 MSFT 26.40 0.12 0.46 % 23.82 - 28.25 MOT 22.69 0.14 0.62 % 14.48 - 24.99 NNDS 41.50 - 0.61 - 1.45 % 29.27 - 45.13 NWS 16.70 - 0.29 - 1.71 % 14.76 - 18.63 OPTV 2.81 0.05 1.81 % 2.07 - 3.45 OUTD 14.58 - 0.16 - 1.09 % 12.57 - 17.49 PAX 0.91 - 0.03 - 3.18 % 0.37 - 1.74 PLA 15.41 0.26 1.72 % 11.80 - 15.88 Q 5.94 0.07 1.19 % 3.30 - 5.95 SFA 42.85 0.01 0.02 % 26.73 - 43.90 SSP 48.65 - 0.22 - 0.45 % 44.85 - 52.91 SIRI 5.92 0.02 0.34 % 4.42 - 7.98 STM 18.80 - 0.41 - 2.13 % 13.96 - 19.90 TWX 17.15 - 0.12 - 0.69 % 16.10 - 19.00 TIVO 5.32 - 0.11 - 2.03 % 3.45 - 7.75 VZ 31.38 0.49 1.59 % 29.13 - 37.11 VIA 43.30 - 0.13 - 0.30 % 38.67 - 43.59 DIS 25.44 - 0.55 - 2.12 % 22.89 - 29.99 XMSR 27.17 - 0.13 - 0.48 % 26.16 - 37.31 ===================================================================== For all the industry critical news - see: The BRIDGE War Room - http://www.mbc-thebridge.com/research.cfm SkyREPORT - http://www.skyreport.com SkyRETAILER - http://www.skyretailer.com The BRIDGE - http://www.mbc-thebridge.com -------------------------------------------------------------------- -To modify your subscription to The Evening Bridge, visit http://www.mbc-thebridge.com/register.cfm We welcome your comments and suggestions. Contact the editor at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Data and information is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended for trading purposes. MBC is not liable for any errors or delays in the content or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. --------------------------------------------------------------------- © MBC 2006 165 South Union Boulevard, Suite #280 - Lakewood - CO 80228 - tel. 303-271-9960 - fax 303-271-9965
