With a share of 32%, satellite DTH is the primary television reception mode in Europe, according to the Eutelsat TV Observatory.
The TV Observatory zoomed in on general trends in DTH, cable, IPTV and DTT reception in more mature Western European markets where 15 countries were surveyed, accounting for 179 million TV homes. DTH is confirmed as the main mode for TV reception in Western Europe, up 7% to 58.1 million homes from 54 million in 2010.
Exclusive DTT reception has risen to 48.2 million from 44.2 million homes, while cable has declined to 44.3 million homes from 49.5 million. IPTV has increased from a modest base of 10 million homes to 28.7 million in 2014 (of which 15 million in France).
“OTT and IPTv are thought to be eating away from satellite reception, but we do not see that happening,” said Markus Fritz, Eutelsat Director of Commercial Development and Marketing, during a press briefing on the just release figures, “Rather the opposite with in increasing number of IPTV operators taking feeds from satellite.”
“Eutelsat is also growing faster than the average satellite market,” he added.
The total audience of the Hot Bird satellites in Western Europe has continued to expand, reaching 67 million homes in 2014, up from 62 million in 2010.
A total of 274 million homes are now either equipped for DTH reception or connected to a cable or IPTV platform offering channels broadcast by a Eutelsat satellite, up from 207 million in 2010 (+32%). 70% of the 393 million TV homes in the footprint analysed today watch channels brought to them by a Eutelsat satellite.
All eight Eutelsat neighbourhoods continue to experience audience growth. Eutelsat’s established Hot Bird neighbourhood remains in pole position, standing at 138 million DTH, cable and IP homes, up from 122 million in 2010. The fastest growth was recorded for Eutelsat 9A whose audience, principally concentrated in Western Europe, has risen from five million to 14 million, attracting nine million new cable and DTH homes since 2010.
DTH remains the leading reception mode within the combined audience of the Eutelsat neighbourhoods measured, accounting for 160 million homes, up from 110 million in 2010 (+45%) and increasing its market share from 53% to 58%.
The Hot Bird neighbourhood expanded to 66 million homes in 2014 from 52 million in 2010.
Eutelsat’s 7/8° West neighbourhood (shared with Nilesat) whose DTH base in the Middle East and North Africa has risen to 52 million in 2014 from 27 million homes in 2010, with an offer of over 1,000 channels – a doubling of the number of channels in 2010.
