Blockbuster Inc , the largest U.S. movie rental chain, posted a larger-than-expected third-quarter loss it said was due primarily to write-offs of debt financing costs and the sale of its Irish unit.

Shares of Blockbuster fell 9 cents, or 10.8 percent, to 74 cents after closing at 83 cents on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday.

Blockbuster's net loss was $116.8 million, or 60 cents per share, for the third quarter ending October 4, compared with a loss of $17.8 million, or 9 cents per share, in last year's third quarter.

Third-quarter revenue fell about 24 percent to $910.5 million from $1.2 billion a year earlier. That was below analysts' average forecast of revenue of $1.01 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

(Reporting by Gina Keating and Laura Isensee; Editing by Gary Hill)