• by Wayne Friedman , July 31, 2014

DirecTV posted 5% higher second-quarter revenues as a direct result of nearly 5% higher-than-average monthly subscription bills, as well as added Latin America business, due to the FIFA World Cup.

The satellite TV company’s revenues hit $8.1 billion, while its average rate per unit -- its average monthly bill to consumers --added on 4.6% to $103.26, for a substantially higher growth rate than its competitors. Time Warner Cable, for example, has seen a 1.7% hike to $106.98.

Second-quarter net income was up 22% to $806 million, beating estimates. U.S. revenues rose 6% higher to $6.27 billion. Subscribers were at 20.231 million, versus 20.021 million for the same time period in 2013.

DirecTV also made gains from subscriber growth in Latin America businesses -- now at 12.4 million up 543,000 net subscribers. Sky Brazil subscribers gained a net 137,000 to total 5.6 million. Some of these gains resulted from demand for the FIFA World Cup.

Revenues for DirecTV Latin America were up 6% to $1.79 billion. DirecTV PanAmerica gained 4.6% to $778 million and Sky Brazil grew 7.3% to $1.01 billion.

DirecTV now has 39 million total worldwide subscribers.

DirecTV has agreed to be purchased by AT&T for $48 billion, which is undergoing governmental review. DirecTV stock’s in mid-day trading was mostly unchanged -- up 0.12% to $86.35.