ANGA CABLE 2011 – COLOGNE. The competitors of German cable operators are betting on hybrid devices for the future, we learned at the Pay TV and On Demand session.
Satellite provider SES-Astra is rolling out its HD+ platform and will enhance the functionality with connected TV services using the HbbTV standard, “the best of both worlds”, according to Wolfgang Elsäser, managing director Astra Deutschland. “The full benefit of broadcast television from satellite and on-demand via the internet. This presents a new business model for the broadcasters as well.”
Peter Kerckhoff, head of content and media partnering at Deutsche Telekom, talked about the Entertain Sat hybrid service the operator is launching. He expects the VOD to grow from €20.5 million today to €100 million in 2014.
However, he said the “new TV” has still a small market share; in 2014 about 10% of all TV sets in Germany are expected to have two-way interactivity, a figure set to grow to 25% in 2020. Deutsche Telekom is aiming for 3 million IPTV homes for its Entertain service in 2013.
