SES saw a significant improvement in its like-for-like video revenues between the first and second quarters.
As a result, the like-like revenues for H1 were, as €699.7 million, 3.1% down on the same period last year. Reported revenues, on the other hand, were 5.4% higher.
As of June 30, SES distributed a total of 7,741 TV channels, or 4% more than a year earlier. Its HDTV channel grew by 6% to 2,587, while its satellite network also carried 20 commercial UHD channels (up for 16 a year earlier), including regional services.
HD penetration rose from 32.7% to 33.4% in the year to June 30. Over the same period, the proportion of total channels broadcast in MPEG-4 increased from 58.9% to 63.5% of SES’s total TV channels.
SES’s total revenues in H1 amounted to €1,048 million, up 9.6% up on the previous year (-1.5% like-for-like). Net profit amounted to €275.5 million (+21.2%).
Commenting on the results, Karim Michel Sabbagh, president and CEO, said: “SES continues to make a positive start to 2017 and is well positioned to generate sustained growth and improving returns.
“SES Video continues to deliver differentiated services and enhance the viewing experience, with the proportion of integrated solutions nearly doubling versus last year. The improving trend in Q2 2017 underpins our stable outlook for 2017 before the temporary impact of changes due to launch schedule and satellite health, which are expected to result in a slight decline.
“SES Networks’ distributed network capabilities are driving strong growth across our data-centric verticals, expanding with global fixed data, aeronautical, maritime and government clients. The development agreement, signed today, with Boeing is the latest milestone in delivering next generation technology that will form the basis for SES’s future network and will expand the future addressable market.”