Coinstar's third-quarter profit up

Bellevue-based Coinstar, operator of coin-counting machines and the Redbox movie-rental kiosks, posted a bigger third-quarter profit, helped by the recent sale of its entertainment business.

For the three months ended Sept. 30, Coinstar made a profit of $41.4 million, or $1.34 a share, up from $4.5 million, or 16 cents, a year ago.

Quarterly revenues rose 45.5 percent to $296 million.

Coinstar sold its entertainment division, which includes kiddie rides and gumball machines, in September to National Entertainment Network, of Louisville, Colo., to focus on its Redbox and coin-counting businesses.

The company also announced today that James Blanda, 66, a partner with executive services and consulting firm Tatum, will become interim chief financial officer on Nov. 10. As previously announced, John Harvey will resign as CFO on Nov. 9. Coinstar said it continues to look for a permanent replacement.

The company's stock closed Thursday up 57 cents, or 1.8 percent, to $31.87.

Amy Martinez: 206-464-2923 or amartinez@seattletimes.com