LUXEMBOURG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Global satellite operator SES S.A. (Paris:SESG)(LuxX:SESG) announced today that satellite has further increased its technical reach in Germany, its largest single market. According to the newest research, 17.1 million German households now watch television directly via satellite (Direct-to-Home), a gain of 430,000 households in the first six months of the year. The number of digital satellite households rose to 14.5 million, representing a digitalisation rate of 85 per cent and leaving 2.5 million analogue satellite households to be converted to digital reception until the analogue switch-off date end of April next year.
Cable has decreased its reach, now transmitting to 17.9 million homes, 260,000 less than half a year before. The digitalisation rate of cable infrastructures is 43 per cent. Digital terrestrial TV lost 300,000 households and now reaches 1.7 million homes.
These are the results of the most recent Satellite Monitor, a study that SES ASTRA conducts on a European scale every year. In Germany, SES ASTRA conducts these studies every six months in partnership with the regional regulatory authorities (Landesmedienanstalten) and through the market research institute TNS Infratest.
Long version of the release is available under: www.ses.com
About SES
SES (Paris:SESG)(LuxX:SESG) wholly owns the market-leading satellite operators SES ASTRA and SES WORLD SKIES and participations in Ciel in Canada and QuetzSat in Mexico, as well as a strategic participation in satellite infrastructure start-up O3b Networks. SES provides outstanding satellite communications solutions via a global fleet of 46 satellites. For further information: www.ses.com