RealNetworks Inc. added 50,000 paying subscribers in the fourth quarter,
pushing its "SuperPass" subscriptions numbers past the 900,000 mark.
But it was the smallest quarterly subscription increase in 2002, indicating
that there may be some slowdown in online subscriber growth. In the first three
quarters, RNI added between 100,000 and 150,000 subscribers in each quarter.
RNI attributed the drop to fewer live sporting events, since the Major League
Baseball and National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing seasons ended early
in the fourth quarter.
Still, the 900,000 total means RNI receives 49 percent of its revenue from
subscriptions, a huge leap from 22 percent a year ago.
Overall, the company generated $46.2 million in revenue in the fourth quarter
and posted a net loss of $2.5 million. For the full year, RNI generated $182.7
million in revenue and posted a net loss of $38.4 million.
CEO Rob Glaser predicted that subscription growth will continue in 2003, but
not at the same pace as 2002.
