SES: HD at 33%, 16 UHD channels
July 29, 2016
By Chris Forrester
SES has revealed its H1 numbers, with the Luxembourg-based satellite operator reporting its fleet now carries 16 commercial Ultra-HD channels, and that its portfolio of 2,422 HD channels represents 32.7 per cent of the total 7,164 channel count (and HD growth is up 12.1 per cent y-o-y).
The growth in commercial UHD channels is dramatic. This time last year there were none. That growth is guaranteed to continue with Sky’s commitment and other expectations from the pay-TV and commercial sectors.
There’s other good news, with fresh contracts in the aeronautical sector (with Gogo, Panasonic and Global Eagle), and new DTH platforms helping boost its Video segment (which now represents 70 per cent of revenues, compared with 66 per cent at this time last year).
CEO Karim Michel Sabbagh said that the SES consolidation of O3b’s revenues would start on August 1. This full year, O3b’s revenues are expected to double to more than $100 million.
Sabbagh confirmed that H1 numbers overall were down 4.2 per cent (at €957 million) which impacted EBITDA which also fell back 5.4 per cent (to €700 million) and an EBITDA margin down from 73.5 per cent to 73.1 per cent. Its all-important contracted backlog fell back €100 million to €7.3 billion.
As at June 30th SES had 1.550 available transponders (up from 1.518 a year ago). For its full year, SES says it is expecting overall revenues to be between €2.01 billion – €2.05 billion, and with an EBITDA margin of some 73-5 per cent-74 per cent.