Comcast almost stops losing subscribers in 4Q

It's become the routine in the cable industry that subscribers stream out the door every quarter, hanging up on cable in favor of service from satellite or phone companies. But in the October to December quarter, Comcast nearly managed to stop that flow, giving its profit a lift.

The country's largest cable company said it lost 17,000 TV customers in the fourth quarter, the smallest number of defections in five years. It compares with a loss of 135,000 subscribers in the same quarter a year earlier. Comcast credits added TV channels and better customer service for the better retention. Its stock jumped nearly 6% in morning trading, hovering just below $29.05, which the stock hit on Feb 14 and is near a four-and-a-half-year record high.