Advanced Television

Eutelsat serving 274m homes in key regions

January 9, 2015

Figures from satellite operator Eutelsat on the number of homes receiving channels broadcast by eight of its flagship television neighbourhoods serving Europe, North Africa and the Middle East reveal that a total of 274 million homes are now either equipped for Direct-to-Home (DTH) reception or connected to a cable or IP network offering channels broadcast by a Eutelsat satellite, up from 207 million in 2010 (+32 per cent).

Seventy per cent of the 393 million TV homes in the footprint analysed watch channels brought to them by a Eutelsat satellite.

All eight 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 confirmed as leading TV reception mode

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 per cent) and increasing its market share from 53 per cent to 58 per cent. This growth in particular reflects strong demand for channels broadcasting from two neighbourhoods:

  • The Hot Bird neighbourhood, whose pay-TV platforms and strong free-to-air line-up have driven steady expansion 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.

Reception trends in Western Europe

Eutelsat’s TV Observatory also 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 per cent to 58 million homes from 54 million in 2010 and accounting for one in three homes. Exclusive DTT reception has risen to 48 million from 44 million homes, while cable has declined to 44 million homes from 50 million. IPTV has increased from a modest base of 10 million homes to 29 million in 2014 (of which 15 million in France).

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.

Michel Azibert, Eutelsat’s Chief Commercial and Development Officer, said the research confirmed that satellite remains the backbone of digital broadcasting infrastructure, delivering channels to homes on a DTH basis and enabling operators of cable and IP networks to enrich and diversify their line-up. “Eutelsat has invested in high-performance satellites to address both long-standing and developing television regions and we will continue to leverage our experience in order to offer enhanced value to our customer base, develop new video markets, notably in Latin America and Asia, and support the expansion of this thriving industry,” he advised.

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