Ticketmaster to Post Revenue Below Estimates

Ticket seller Ticketmaster Inc. warned it expects to report third-quarter revenue below forecasts because of concerts and other events that were canceled and/or postponed after the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

But the company said, in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, it was encouraged by the ticketing segment’s strong performance in the last week of the quarter, although the ultimate effect of the attacks was not clear.

Analysts expect Ticketmaster earnings of 1 cent to 4 cents a share, with a mean estimate of 3 cents a share for the third quarter, according to Thomson Financial/First Call. A year earlier, the company posted a loss of 3 cents a share.