Satellite continued to increase its household reach in Germany last year, with 18.07 million households receiving their TV directly from satellite at the end of 2012, according to research by the operator SES.
The increase of 524,000 households from year-end 2011 (plus 3%) is despite the switch-off of the analogue satellite signal in April 2012 and is driven by continued strong consumer demand for more channels, especially in HD.
These are the results of the Astra TV Monitor 2012 that SES presented today in Munich a study based on 6,000 interviews in Germany.
Satellite further developed its position as the infrastructure of choice for TV reception in Germany, serving 47% of all TV households in 2012. Cable reached a share of 44%, a decline by 570,000 households versus the previous year (minus 3%) to 16.7 million households.
In digital TV, satellite reached a record level of 59% of all digital TV households, compared to cable with 30% (Cable is the only infrastructure where analogue TV is still available).
Digital terrestrial reception posted an increase, after a decline in 2011, reaching 2.05 million households at the end of 2012 (plus 220,000). IPTV, was virtually unchanged at 1.26 million households (plus 10,000).
HDTV continued to be the main growth driver of the technical household reach. 44% (7.9 million) of all satellite households watched HD at the end of the year, nearly two million more than before. Cable grew its HD reach by 1.27 million to 4.53 million households, 27% of all cable households.
In total, the number of HD households in Germany increased to 13.1 million (from 10.0 million in 2011).
The number of HD channels on satellite was 63 at the end of 2012, an increase of more than 20 from the previous year.
“Satellite has further extended its leadership as the infrastructure of choice for TV reception in Germany,” said Wolfgang Elsaesser, managing director Astra Deutschland.
“Our Astra TV Monitor 2012 clearly shows: consumers understand that satellite is the most attractive reception mode and TV infrastructure in Germany. The gap of 1.4 million households compared to cable exceeds even our most optimistic forecasts.
“We will continue to invest in growth and technological innovation, and HD will continue to drive our success and that of the hardware industry, retailers and broadcasters. The excellent performance of HD+ reflects very well the high consumer demand for premium quality television and consumers’ willingness to pay a supplement for a value-adding service.
“Our Astra TV Monitor shows that the interest of households in HD remains strong and will further drive the demand for hardware and content in the highest broadcasting quality.”
