Playboy Enterprises’ Loss Narrows

Playboy Enterprises Inc. reported a narrowed fourth-quarter net loss aided by growing cable television channels and better results in online businesses.

For the quarter, Playboy lost $11.7 million after all costs, or 47 cents a share, compared with last year’s net loss of $29 million, or $1.19 a share, including restructuring expenses of $3.7million and a $24-million tax-related charge.

Fourth-quarter revenue fell slightly to $77.97 million from $79.5 million in 2000’s fourth quarter, primarily because of the advertising market slump that has affected all publishers, and newsstand sales of the magazine, which had fewer A-list celebrities on the cover last quarter.