Shares in DirecTV surged almost 6 percent Wednesday after the satellite TV provider announced better-than-expected earnings and strong subscriber growth.

DirecTV reported net income of $356 million (29 cents per share), nearly triple the $121.2 million (9 cents) for the same period a year earlier thanks to subscriber growth and average sales per customer increases.

Sales for the nation’s largest satellite provider gained 16 percent to $4.18 billion. The El Segundo company said that subscribers increased by 275,000 in the quarter, bringing the total customer base to nearly 16 million.

Liberty Media Corp. Chairman John Malone took control of the company last year in a $25 billion stock swap with News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch.

Shares in DirecTV rose 5.5 percent ($1.32) in midday trading to $25.29.