SES Astra has said the satellite system now reaches over 109 million households across 35 countries. The figures, taken in early 2007 as part of the annual Satellite Monitor, shows that 47.2 million homes receive their signals directly from the satellite representing an increase of 2.2 million compared to the previous year. The remainder receive their signals through feeds from local cable companies or shared antenna systems.
Digital reception witnessed a dramatic increase of 19.6 million homes bringing the total of digital households to 80.7 million across 35 countries. Put into perspective this means that one third of European households are now receiving digital TV signals. Germany, Europe’s largest TV market, added 6.3 million digital DTH homes to the Astra system. This takes Astra’s digital reach in Germany to 8 million homes.
