As it waits for a resolution to its pending merger with rival XM, (NSDQ: XMSR) Sirius Satellite Radio is the one turning in stronger results. Revenue in Q3 grew 45 percent to $241.8 million from last year’s $167.1 million, fueled by a 50 percent increase in total subscribers. Net adds came to 524,938 during the period, bringing its total base to 7.7 million, from 5.1 million a year ago. The gains helped the company narrow its net loss by 26 percent, to $120.1 million ($.08 per share) from $162.9 million ($.12 per share) in the year-ago period. For the year, the company expects revenue to top $1 billion on 8 million total subscribers. Other highlights:

-- ARPU, excluding advertising and Hertz-related business, slipped slightly in the quarter to $10.29 from $10.73.

-- Advertising revenue grew 19.7 percent, although it’s still a small fraction of the business at $8.5 million.

-- Unlike XM, which saw its costs per gross subscriber additions jump in the quarter, Sirius (NSDQ: SIRI) paid $103 per gross subscriber add, down from $114 in the year-ago period. This is expected to near $100 by the end of the year.

Release | Webcast | Transcript

• Earnings: XM Q3 Revenues Jump 20 Percent; Losses Grow To $145 Million
• Earnings: Subscriber Growth, Rising Revenues Help Slim Sirius’ Q2 Net Loss 44 Percent