PRAGUE (Bloomberg) — Central European Media Enterprises, which operates television stations in eastern Europe, posted a third-quarter loss as the weaker dollar made its euro- denominated debt more expensive.

The loss was $18.8 million, compared with a profit of $3.9 million a year earlier, the Bermuda-registered company said yesterday.

That compares with median estimate for a loss of $3.6 million by six analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News. Sales rose 55 percent to $174.8 million.

The US dollar's 7.8 percent drop against the euro in the period from a year earlier created a non-cash loss for the broadcaster, whose debt is denominated in euros, analysts such as Ceska Sporitelna SA's Radim Kramule said before Central European Media reported earnings.