SES has increased its reach in 2013 to 291 million worldwide and 151 million in Europe.
The figures from the latest Satellite Monitor represent an increase of 5% both in Europe and worldwide from 276 million in 2012 and 258 million in 2011.
“Our reach is on a stable growing path. On the satellite side we’ve increased by 7 per cent, while our reach in cable has remained stable, while IPTV is also expanding,” said Mario Hubert, Senior Market & Business Analyst, SES.
India is providing significant growth with an additional five million homes across the two SES-delivered platforms.
Across Europe, 35% of TV homes are receiving their signals via satellite, an increase of one percentage point; 29% do so via terrestrial means, 27% via cable and 9% via IPTV. Half of the 151 million European satellite homes are subscribing to pay-TV, and as Hubert points out 86 million homes are now watching HD, as opposed to having the display and not connecting it to anything.
Three quarters of satellite homes receive programmes from SES; 81 per cent of homes watching HD do so via SES.
On the key orbital slots; 114 million homes are connected to the prime 19.2 degrees East orbital slot, 13 million to 28.2 degrees East and 7 million to five degrees East.
Asked about the potential for Ultra HD, Hubert referred to the role of HD, suggesting pay-TV operators such as Sky and Canal plus would be the first to have a channel, when was up to them.
