NASA Selects Research Teams for New Virtual Institute

NASA has selected nine research teams from seven states for a new institute that will bring researchers together in a collaborative virtual setting to focus on questions concerning space science and human space exploration.

The teams participating in the Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) will address scientific questions about the moon, near-Earth asteroids, the Martian moons Phobos and Deimos, and their near space environments, in cooperation with international partners.

"We look forward to collaborative scientific discoveries from these teams," said Jim Green, director of the Planetary Science Division of NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. "These results will be vital to NASA successfully conducting the ambitious activities of exploring the solar system with robots and humans."

Based and managed at NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif., the institute will support scientific research and complement and extend existing NASA science programs. SSERVI represents an expansion of NASA's Lunar Science Institute, established at Ames in 2008, to include other solar system destinations.

"SSERVI continues to strengthen the collaboration between exploration and science as we explore the solar system together," said Jason Crusan, director of the Advanced Exploration Systems Division in NASA's Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate in Washington.

SSERVI members include academic institutions, non-profit research institutes, private companies, NASA centers and other government laboratories. The winning teams, which SSERVI will support for five years at a combined total of about $12 million per year, were selected from a pool of 32 proposals based on competitive peer-review evaluation.

The selected SSERVI member teams, listed with their research topics and principal investigators, are:

- Institute for the Science of Exploration Targets: Origin, Evolution and Discovery; William Bottke, Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colo.

- Center for Lunar and Asteroid Surface Science; Daniel Britt, University of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla.

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NASA Selects Research Teams for New Virtual Institute

Stanford Medicine Investigators Awarded $1.37 Million Grant for Children's Cancer Research

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Kathleen Sakamoto, MD, PhD, and Irving Weissman, MD, of the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital, have received a $1.37 million grant from CureSearch for Children's Cancer to research the effects of an antibody that has been shown to be effective against human cancers in animal models.

In a healthy person, when the body makes abnormal cells or when cells become old, the body's scavenger cells, called macrophages, eliminate them. When a person has cancer, the abnormal cells are not eliminated by the macrophages. Researchers under the leadership of Weissman, director of the Institute of Stem Cell Biology and of the Ludwig Center at Stanford, discovered that pediatric brain tumor, leukemia, bone tumor and neuroblastoma cells overproduce a cell-surface protein known as CD47. The overproduction of CD47 on cancer cells tells macrophages "don't eat me," allowing the disease to progress. Weissman's team tested an antibody to block the "don't eat me" signal in a variety of cancer cells and in animals and found that the strategy can be effective.

This grant will support our teams efforts to learn more about the immune systems of pediatric cancer patients, says Sakamoto, the Shelagh Galligan Professor and chief of the division of hematology and oncology, and help pave the way toward our goal of developing new treatments for some of our most vulnerable patients.

About Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital at Stanford

Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital at Stanford is an internationally recognized 311-bed hospital and leading regional medical network providing a full complement of services for the health of children and expectant mothers.Together,our world-class Stanford Medicine doctors, nurses and staff deliver innovative, nurturing care and extraordinary outcomes in every pediatric and obstetric specialty. Packard Childrens is annually ranked as one of the nations finest byU.S. News & World Reportand the only Northern California childrens hospital with specialty programs ranked in theU.S. NewsTop 10. Learn more about our full range of preeminent programs atlpch.organd the Packard Childrens Health Alliance atPCHA.org. Like us onFacebook, watch us onYouTube and follow us onTwitter.

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Stanford Medicine Investigators Awarded $1.37 Million Grant for Children's Cancer Research

MolecularHealth Sponsors Harvard Personalized Medicine Conference

THE WOODLANDS, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

MolecularHealth announced today that it is a bronze-level supporter of the 9th Annual Personalized Medicine Conference, being hosted this week by the Partners HealthCare Center for Personalized Medicine (PCPGM) at Harvard Medical School in Boston. Representatives of the company, including CEO Lloyd Everson, M.D., and Chairman of the Board Friedrich von Bohlen, Ph.D., will attend the conference.

This conference is one of the most important events of the year for those of us involved in personalized medicine, said Dr. Everson. MolecularHealths goal is to provide personalized, precision treatment support to cancer patients and their medical teams, which aligns perfectly with the PCPGMs mission to accelerate the integration of genetic knowledge into clinical care.

MolecularHealth will offer an end-to-end service that supports healthcare providers and their patients through the molecular diagnostic processcollecting tumor samples, analyzing the samples, and interpreting the results using a proprietary analytics platformall to generate safer, personalized cancer treatment choices. The company is backed by Dietmar Hopp, co-founder and former chairman and CEO of SAP.

ABOUT MOLECULARHEALTH

MolecularHealth delivers on the promise of personalized, precision medicine. By using advanced proprietary information technologies to sift through terabytes of genetic and molecular test findings in a fraction of the time needed for current manual analysis, MolecularHealth provides doctors and patients with faster, more accurate insights into the role genes play in the progression and treatment of an individuals cancer. Eight years in development by a multidisciplinary team of doctors, scientists and IT experts, MolecularHealth works in partnership with some of the worlds leading healthcare and information technology companies, including the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, SAP AG, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company has headquarters in The Woodlands, Texas; Basel, Switzerland; and Heidelberg, Germany. Visitwww.molecularhealth.comfor more information.

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MolecularHealth Sponsors Harvard Personalized Medicine Conference

RBCC Explores Promising New Breakthroughs in Regenerative Medicine

NOKOMIS, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

With the regenerative medicine market expected by many analysts to explode in value to more than $35 billion by 2019, biotech innovators Rainbow Coral Corp. (RBCC) are targeting incredible new breakthroughs in the industry ripe for marketing and development.

Forecasters across the globe are calling regenerative health the future of medicine, and with good reason. In recent years, major discoveries in the usage of adult stem cells and biologics have led to promising advances in the treatment of illnesses from chronic back pain to leukemia and even AIDS.

With new, uniquely patentable regenerative therapies being developed all over the U.S., RBCC is reaching out to emerging industry leaders regarding development partnerships that could significantly boost the companys bottom line.

So many current medical treatments focus on reducing pain and suffering rather than addressing their cause, said RBCC CEO Patrick Brown. A market revolution is now underway as new advances allow us increasingly to repair afflicted organs and systems using non-invasive methods. Its a new day in healthcare.

By acquiring or partnering with up-and-coming regenerative therapy companies, RBCC plans to be well-positioned to capitalize on the big growth in store for the industry. The company invests in technology developed to compete in the biotechnology industry alongside Amgen (AMGN), Dendreon Corporation (DNDN), Smith & Nephew (SNN) and Pharmaceutical Product Development (NASDAQ:PPDI).

For more information on RBCCs other biotech initiatives, please visitwww.rainbowbiosciences.com.

About Rainbow Biosciences

Rainbow Biosciences, LLC, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rainbow Coral Corp. (OTCBB:RBCC). The Company continually seeks out new partnerships with biotechnology developers to deliver profitable new medical technologies and innovations. For more information on our growth-oriented business initiatives, please visitwww.RainbowBioSciences.com. For investment information and performance data on the Company, please visitwww.RainbowBioSciences.com/investors.html.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

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RBCC Explores Promising New Breakthroughs in Regenerative Medicine

Research and Markets: Personalized Medicine and Companion Diagnostic Market Q3 2013 research Report

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vws6jn/personalized) has announced the addition of the "Personalized Medicine and Companion Diagnostic Market Q3 2013 - A Strategic Analysis of Industry Trends, Technologies, Participants, and Environment" report to their offering.

'Personalized Medicine and Companion Diagnostic Market Q3 2013 - A Strategic Analysis of Industry Trends, Technologies, Participants, and Environment' is a cutting-edge comprehensive report on the personalized medicine industry and its impact on the health system. This report tackles the growing market interest in pharmacogenomics, companion diagnostics and the associated market environment.

Individualized, targeted or personalized medicine aims to increase the efficacy of therapeutics via genetic testing and companion diagnostics. Personalized therapeutics and associated companion diagnostics will be more specific and effective thereby giving pharma/biotech companies a significant advantage to recuperate R&D costs. Personalized medicine will reduce the frequency of adverse drug reactions and therefore have a dramatic impact on health economics. Developmental and diagnostic companies will benefit from lower discovery and commercialization costs and more specific market subtypes.

This report describes the current technologies that are propelling the personalized medicine and companion diagnostic market. It examines the current genetic diagnostic tests and companion diagnostic assays that are in use by the medical and pharmaceutical industry today. Current developments in personalized medicine and the pharmacogenomics revolution are discussed. The emerging trends that appear in key markets such as the US, UK, Germany and France are elucidated and analyzed. This study reveals market figures of the overall personalized medicine market and also sub-market figures. Forecast projections and future growth rates are provided to give the reader a forthcoming perspective of this growing industry.

The study also provides a comprehensive financial and product review of key players in the personalized medicine industry. Strategic drivers and restraints of this market are revealed and market opportunities and challenges are identified.

In summary, the personalized medicine and associated companion diagnostic market have huge opportunities for growth. This industry will revolutionize the healthcare system and will improve therapeutic effectiveness and reduce the severity of adverse effects. It has enormous potential for investment and the emergence of genetic-based in vitro diagnostics.

Key Topics Covered:

Executive Summary

Introduction

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Research and Markets: Personalized Medicine and Companion Diagnostic Market Q3 2013 research Report

Tao Institute of Mind and Body Medicine Founder Jingdaun Yang, MD, Board-Certified Psychiatrist, Signs With Top Agent …

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - Nov 6, 2013) - Tao Institute of Mind and Body Medicine, in association with Tao of Living LLC, is pleased to announce that their founder, Jingdaun ("JD") Yang, MD, board-certified psychiatrist, has signed with top agent Alan Morell of Creative Management Partners for Dr. Yang's series of Books, TV and Product Licensing.

Dr. Yang said: "We're very excited about our Integrative Medicine Network (IMN) Model, which I spoke to many agents about before personally selecting top agent Alan Morell, who understands the full potential of our IMN initiatives".

"Working with Dr. Yang on a 'Master Strategy' for IMN is very exciting since he is the international expert on classic forms of Chinese herbal Medicine, specializing in acupuncture. Dr. Yang is the leading spokesperson for this sector with his innovative and proven model of success. I view his integration of medication, psychotherapies, Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, neuro-emotional technique, nutritional and dietary management for patients' health and wellness ideal for Literary works; television networks as well as products for shopping channels," said Agent Alan Morell.

About Jingdaun Yang, MD:Jingduan Yang, MD, FAPA, Integrative Psychiatry & Natural Medicine, Medical Director, Locations: Marlton, NJ | Bryn Mawr, PA | Philadelphia, PA | New York, NY

Dr. Yang is a leading physician, board-certified psychiatrist and international expert on classic forms of Chinese Medicine.He uniquely incorporates acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, neuro-emotional technique, nutritional and dietary consultation, psychotherapy and medication management in the care of patients with a variety of emotional and physical illnesses.

Following family tradition, he is a fifth generation teacher and practitioner of Chinese medicine, specializing in acupuncture.Dr. Yang received his medical and neurology training at the Fourth Military Medical University in Xian, China. He then completed a research fellowship in clinical psychopharmacology at Oxford University in the United Kingdom.When he relocated to the United States, Dr. Yang worked as a professor at the Minnesota Institute of Acupuncture and Herbal Studies, while obtaining all necessary credentialing to be a licensed U.S. physician.He then completed residency training in psychiatry at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

Dr. Yang has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters in his fields of expertise, and he has been a speaker at several national and international conferences and academic forums. In 2008, awarded with the Bravewell Fellowship, Dr. Yang completed a 2-year long prestigious Integrative Medicine Fellowship at the University of Arizona.This Fellowship had been launched in 2000 by internationally recognized integrative medicine pioneer Dr. Andrew Weil.Dr. Yang has been a certified Neuro-Emotional Technique practitioner since early 2011.Dr. Yang is the founder and medical director of Tao Integrative Medicine.

In addition, Dr. Yang is the Director of Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture Program at the Jefferson Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine and Assistant Professor of psychiatry and emergency medicine at the Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals. Dr. Yang is currently on the faculty of the Center for Integrative Medicine of University of Arizona. Dr. Yang is a board member of the International Network of Integrative Mental Health and Mental Health Issues for Diabetes. Dr. Yang is a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a member of both the American Medical Association and the American Medical Acupuncture Association.

For further information, go to: http://www.taoinstitute.com http://www.creativemanagementpartners.com

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Tao Institute of Mind and Body Medicine Founder Jingdaun Yang, MD, Board-Certified Psychiatrist, Signs With Top Agent ...

BG Medicine Reports 2013 Third Quarter Financial Results

Capital Health Accountable Care Organization LLC Adopts BGM Galectin-3(R) Test

Network of Laboratories in U.S. Offering BGM Galectin-3Test Expanded

Full-Year 2013 Product Revenue and Cash Burn Guidance Confirmed

WALTHAM, Mass., Nov. 6, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BG Medicine, Inc. (BGMD), the developer of the BGM Galectin-3 Test, today reported financial results for the third quarter of 2013.

The Company reported product revenues of $1.0 million, a 65% increase from the $0.6 million in revenues reported in the third quarter of 2012. Net loss for the third quarter was $3.7 million, a 46% improvement from the $6.8 million net loss reported in the third quarter of 2012. Operating expenses in the quarter declined by 42% from the same period in the prior year. Net loss per share in the quarter was $0.13 compared to $0.34 for the third quarter of 2012. Operating cash burn decreased by $1.5 million, a 27% decrease, to $4.0 million compared to $5.5 million in the same period of 2012.

"We continue to make significant progress in addressing the fundamentals of our business," said Paul R. Sohmer, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer. "We believe that we are setting the table for our go-forward success."

Q3 2013 Highlights

"We expect to drive adoption of the BGM Galectin-3 Test and grow our near-term revenues by leveraging: 1) the new CMS payment rate; 2) demand from physicians, health care provider groups, such as accountable care organizations and community health improvement collaboratives, hospitals and regional clinical laboratories; 3) the expanding network of laboratories offering galectin-3 testing; 4) the utility of our current FDA cleared and CE Marked indications for use; and 5) clinical research data that affirm the near-term significance of galectin-3 testing for patients with chronic heart failure," Dr. Sohmer continued. "Longer term, we expect to grow revenues from the future introduction of new patient selection tools that may incorporate new clinical indications for the BGM Galectin-3 Test, as well as, other biomarkers or combinations of biomarkers that we identify from our analyses of appropriate clinical cohorts, including the BG Medicine sponsored BioImage Study."

For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, product revenues grew 76% to $2.8 million from the $1.6 million reported for the same period in 2012. Net loss per share was $0.52 in the first nine months of 2013 compared to $1.04 for the same period of 2012. Operating cash burn decreased by $3.7 million, a 22% decrease, to $12.8 million in the first nine months of 2013 compared to $16.5 million in the same period in 2012. At September 30, 2013, the Company's unrestricted cash and cash equivalents totaled approximately $11.3 million.

"We will continue to aggressively manage our spending," added Dr. Sohmer. "Notwithstanding our ongoing commercial and development activities, we expect to continue to reduce our operating expenses. In fact, we believe that operating expenses in 2014 will be approximately 33% lower than what we are currently forecasting for the full year 2013. In addition, we will now consider our options for financing."

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BG Medicine Reports 2013 Third Quarter Financial Results

UNLV, UNR close to plan that would create medical school in Southern Nevada

By Paul Takahashi (contact)

Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013 | 6:40 p.m.

The presidents of UNR and UNLV are close to signing a preliminary partnership agreement that could lead to a school in Southern Nevada that would mint medical doctors.

Nevada System of Higher Education Chancellor Dan Klaich, UNR President Marc Johnson, University of Nevada School of Medicine Dean Tom Schwenk and UNLV President Neal Smatresk are expected to sign an agreement by the end of this week.

The agreement, or memorandum of understanding, outlines a vision for UNR and UNLV to work together to create a UNLV medical school that would open in the next several years and eventually become independent, Klaich said. University leaders finished drafting the memorandum Monday night; it has yet to be released to the media or public.

Klaich announced news of the agreement during an UNLV Lincy Institute forum Tuesday morning that explored the case for a M.D.-granting medical school in Las Vegas.

The forum featured a presentation on the UNLV medical schools potential economic impact as well as a panel discussion with community leaders. The event attracted a small but powerful group of state legislators, higher education leaders and representatives from Southern Nevada business organizations. Las Vegas is the largest metropolitan area in the United States without an allopathic medical school

The idea for a UNLV medical school has been brewing for decades. Currently, UNR operates the University of Nevada School of Medicine. Medical students take their classes in Reno and complete their practical training at UMC in Las Vegas.

In March, Regent Mark Doubrava -- a graduate of both UNLV and UNR's medical school -- began drumming up public support for a second medical school at UNLV. He envisions one that would educate high-quality physicians, spur medical research, attract new medical businesses and make Las Vegas a mecca for medical tourism.

Although the University of Nevada School of Medicine has a presence in Las Vegas, Doubrava argued it has not served Southern Nevadas health needs by solving its shortage of physicians. Efforts to expand the medical schools footprint in Southern Nevada have been inadequate, Doubrava added.

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UNLV, UNR close to plan that would create medical school in Southern Nevada

Grand Theft Auto [GTA 3] – Walkthrough Let’s Play – 8 Ball – Give Me Liberty #2 – Video


Grand Theft Auto [GTA 3] - Walkthrough Let #39;s Play - 8 Ball - Give Me Liberty #2
Watch more funny Grand Theft Auto III videos in playlist - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8wZKON07iXVK92lMpT8ON-FAXxfumPpX Grand Theft Auto III is a ...

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Grand Theft Auto [GTA 3] - Walkthrough Let's Play - 8 Ball - Give Me Liberty #2 - Video

Grand Theft Auto San Andreas Gameplay / SSoHThrough Part 77 – Back to Liberty City – Video


Grand Theft Auto San Andreas Gameplay / SSoHThrough Part 77 - Back to Liberty City
If you enjoyed the video please leave a like - I #39;d really appreciate it, thanks 😀 Too bad shotgun rain is too good for me Grand Theft Auto San Andreas playl...

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Grand Theft Auto San Andreas Gameplay / SSoHThrough Part 77 - Back to Liberty City - Video

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes: Universe in Peril (3DS/Vita) Walkthrough Part 21 – Liberty Head Boss – Video


LEGO Marvel Super Heroes: Universe in Peril (3DS/Vita) Walkthrough Part 21 - Liberty Head Boss
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes: Universe in Peril part 21 (Nintendo 3DS walkthrough). This video contains the boss mission for chapter 11 in LEGO Marvel Super Hero...

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LEGO Marvel Super Heroes: Universe in Peril (3DS/Vita) Walkthrough Part 21 - Liberty Head Boss - Video

Liberty Global Posts Wider Quarterly Loss as Investments Suffer

Liberty Global Plc (LBTYA), the cable company controlled by billionaire John Malone, reported a wider quarterly loss after debt and interest expenses grew.

The net loss widened to $830.1 million, or $2.09 a share, from $22.4 million, or 8 cents, a year earlier, the London-based company said in a statement yesterday. Revenue rose 74 percent to $4.37 billion, missing analysts $4.42 billion average estimate, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Liberty Global blamed the loss on its investments in derivative instruments, as well as higher expenses from interest and income taxes. Malone said in July that hes willing to take on debt to expand his European operations because he expects the cost of paying back loans to decline as economies improve and inflation rates rebound from crisis levels. The company generated about 90 percent of its revenue from Europe last year.

Interest expenses increased to $605.7 million from $351.8 million a year earlier while debt and lease obligations more than doubled to $854.1 million from $363.5 million, the company said. Losses from derivative investments, investments that can be used to hedge risk, rose to $675 million from $569.9 million. Earnings last year were helped by a sale of interest in Austar United Communications in the second quarter.

Liberty Global shares fell as much as 1.7 percent to $74.74 in extended trading after the close in New York. The stock had climbed 21 percent this year.

As part of the companys expansion, Liberty Global bought the U.K.s Virgin Media Inc. this year. Dutch pay-TV provider Ziggo NV (ZIGGO) said last month it rejected a takeover offer from Liberty Global, and Malones company was outbid for Germanys Kabel Deutschland Holding AG (KD8) by Vodafone Group Plc (VOD) in June.

Liberty Global maintained its stock-buyback program during the merger campaign, repurchasing $500 million worth of shares last quarter.

We remain on track to complete our two-year target for $3.5 billion of buybacks by mid-2015, Chief Executive Officer Mike Fries said in yesterdays statement.

Liberty Global added 314,000 subscribers last quarter. That beat the 223,000 additions that Vijay Jayant, an analyst with ISI Group, predicted. Customer additions in western Europe are improving as competitive pressures in some markets abate and the company lost fewer analog cable TV customers than expected, Jayant said in a note to investors.

Higher sales of triple-play packages, which combine phone, TV and Internet service, contributed to customer additions, Liberty Global said.

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Liberty Global Posts Wider Quarterly Loss as Investments Suffer

Liberty Media Misses on Earnings, Revs

Liberty Media Corp. (LMCA) reported disappointing financial results for the third quarter of 2013, with earnings per share of 63 cents lagging the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 68 cents. Quarterly GAAP net income was $76 million compared with $221 million in the year-ago quarter.

The total revenue was $1,110 million compared with a mere $154 million in the prior-year quarter but fell below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,130 million.

The top-line upswing can be attributed to significant contribution from Liberty Medias majority controlling stake in SIRIUS XM Radio Inc. (SIRI). In addition to SIRIUS XM, the company has stakes in both Live Nation Entertainment Inc. (LYV) and Charter Communications Inc. (CHTR). Liberty Media currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

In the second quarter of 2013, Liberty Medias adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization came in at $379 million compared with a meager $30 million in the year-ago quarter. Quarterly operating income was $248 million as against $10 million in the prior-year quarter.

During the first nine months of 2013, Liberty Media generated $889 million of cash from operations compared with $53 million in the prior-year period. Free cash flow in the reported period was $757 million as against $48 million in the year-ago period.

At the end of the first nine months of 2013, Liberty Media had $2,446 million of cash and cash equivalents against $2,745 million at the end of 2012. The total debt, at the end of the reported quarter, was $4,881 million compared with $540 million at the end of 2012. At the end of the third quarter, the debt-to-capitalization ratio was 0.15 compared with 0.08 at the end of 2012.

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Liberty Media Misses on Earnings, Revs

Liberty Global Reports Q3 & YTD Results

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Liberty Global plc (Liberty Global or the Company) (NASDAQ: LBTYA, LBTYB and LBTYK), today announces financial and operating results for the three months (Q3) and nine months (YTD) ended September 30, 2013. Some of the information below concerning Virgin Media relates to periods prior to our ownership of the business. Highlights for the 2013 periods as compared to the same periods for 2012 (unless noted) include:

Liberty Global's President and CEO Mike Fries commented, The third quarter results that we issued today reflect the first full quarter with Virgin Media in our consolidated figures. Adjusting to include their results for the full nine-month period, YTD combined revenue and OCF were $13.1 billion and $5.8 billion, respectively, reflecting rebased revenue growth of 4% and OCF growth of 5%. Meanwhile, our combined Adjusted Free Cash Flow increased 24% to $968 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.

These results were driven by the continued appeal of our market-leading bundles, featuring the most advanced video and broadband services available. Weve added over 870,000 subscribers YTD, with Q3 additions of 314,000 representing a 64% sequential increase over our second quarter RGU additions. In the U.K., penetration of our TiVo product is approaching 50%, while Horizon TV has been launched in four European markets, most recently in Germany and Ireland. On the broadband front, weve been substantially increasing maximum download speeds above 200 Mbps in many markets, and at the same time refocusing the feature bundles in most of our fall campaigns to include broadband tiers ofat least 100 Mbps."

M&A highlights for Q3 include substantial progress on our Virgin Media synergy plans, and the recently announced sale of substantially all of Chellomedia's assets (the "Chellomedia Sale"). With respect to Virgin Media, we now expect to achieve up to double our initial $180 million estimate of combined synergies for OCF and capital expenditures once the integration process is substantially complete. In addition, the Chellomedia Sale is expected to close in Q1 2014 and the resulting 750 million ($1.0 billion) in proceeds will provide us with increased flexibility to invest in more strategic content going forward.

Our balance sheet remains strong with long-dated, fixed maturities and $5.5 billion of consolidated liquidity6 before considering the $1.0 billion of proceeds to be received from the Chellomedia Sale. With an average long-term debt tenor of seven years, we have demonstrated strong and reliable access to the capital markets while lowering the average cost of our debt by 80 basis points over the last twelve months to 6.7%. Weve also been actively returning capital to shareholders through stock buybacks with approximately $1.0 billion spent this year, including nearly $500 million in Q3 alone. As a result, we remain on track to complete our two-year target for $3.5 billion of buybacks by mid-2015.

Subscriber Statistics

At September 30, 2013, we provided a total of 47.8 million services, consisting of 21.8 million video, 14.1 million broadband internet and 11.9 million telephony subscriptions, to our 24.5 million unique customers. During Q3 2013, we increased our total RGUs by 316,000, driven by 314,000 organic additions and a small acquisition in Switzerland. From a product perspective, our Q3 organic RGU additions reflect broadband internet and telephony additions of 214,000 and 153,000 RGUs, respectively, and a loss of 53,000 video subscribers. Of particular note, our broadband internet additions represented a record third quarter performance and our video RGU attrition was our best Q3 result since 2007.

In terms of comparative performance, our third quarter RGU additions were broadly consistent with our Q3 2012 additions of 320,000. However, sequentially, our Q3 RGU additions increased by 64% as compared to our reported 191,000 RGU additions for Q2 2013. This sequential growth was driven by our European operations, particularly our Central and Eastern European (CEE), Belgian and British businesses, as nine out of twelve markets delivered improved performance.

Geographically, our Q3 RGU additions consisted of 222,000 in Western Europe, 49,000 in CEE and 42,000 in Latin America.7 For Western Europe, our German business, led by strength in broadband, delivered 124,000 RGU additions in Q3, a similar result to our additions in Q2 2013. Our Q3 subscriber gains were negatively impacted by the loss of approximately 16,000 RGUs related to a December 2011 loss of a housing contract. Another key contributor to growth in Western Europe was our Belgian operation. Supported by the launch of compelling new triple-play bundles, Telenet posted record third quarter RGU additions of 48,000, which compares favorably to 34,000 in Q3 2012 and 17,000 in Q2 2013.

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Liberty Global Reports Q3 & YTD Results