UPDATE 3-DirecTV profit falls, subscriber growth raises costs

* Q1 EPS $0.20 vs estimates $0.32

* Q1 rev up 7 pct to $4.9 billion

* Added 460,000 U.S. subscribers

* Sees adding more than 1 mln net subs in 2009

* Shares down 1.4 percent (Adds analyst's comment, outlook, background)

By Yinka Adegoke

NEW YORK, May 7 (Reuters) - DirecTV Group's (DTV.O) said on Thursday its first-quarter profit fell due to an increase in spending to attract and retain subscribers.

The company beat analysts' expectations by adding more than 460,000 U.S. customers, well ahead of its own forecast for around 275,000 net additions, because of more aggressive marketing, the launch of a partnership with AT&T Inc (T.N) and the U.S. digital TV transition.

The U.S. satellite operator raised its 2009 net subscriber growth outlook, saying it now expects to add more than 1 million new customers. The company is based in El Segundo, California.