SES still has reminders of the switch off of German analogue channels on its Astra satellites. €42.6 million in revenue from a four-month period prior to switch off on April 30, 2012 is included in first-half revenues of €910.5 million.
“SES is growing in all markets. Although the German analogue switch-off in April 2012 limits the comparison with the prior year period, the underlying growth has accelerated,” said President and CEO Romain Bausch.
Operating profit was flat at €408.6 million compared to €411.5 million in the first six months of 2012.
The German HD+ platform continues to develop well, with 2.7 million active households at
the end of June 2013, of which 1.2 million are paying customers.
The platform is on course to exceed its target of 1.25 million paying households by the end of the year.
SES has three more satellite launches scheduled for 2013, which the company says will accelerate revenue growth in the second half of the year.