Universal Electronics Inc.

The Cypress supplier of universal remote controls and other devices for home video and audio equipment said net income for the fourth quarter increased 58% to $3.8 million, or 51 cents a share, from $2.4 million, or 36 cents a share, for the fourth quarter of 1998. Sales grew 36% to $33.3 million.

Universal, the top maker of remotes that operate any electronic device regardless of manufacturer, said profit was boosted by strong demand from U.S. cable-TV operators and European satellite companies. Cox Communications Inc. and MediaOne Group Inc. use Universal products for digital cable, which has more channels than analog and features such as music.

“The more competition is out there, the happier we are, because we want to supply all of them,” Universal Chairman and Chief Executive Camille Jayne said in an interview. “Very few consumers want a remote coming to them that doesn’t work in their VCR, TV and CD player.”

Universal expects earnings this year to rise 14% to about $1.25 a share and sales to rise 19% to $125 million, Jayne said. It hopes to sell its set-top box equipment to new customers such as AT&T; Corp., slated to become the No. 1 U.S. cable operator once it completes its $61-billion acquisition of MediaOne later this year, she said.

Net income for 1999 totaled $7.7 million, or $1.10 a share, 38% higher than the $5.6 million, or 85 cents a share, recorded for 1998. Sales increased to $105.1 million from $96.1 million, which included $7.2 million from the company’s discontinued North American retail business.