[SatNews] SES (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) has further increased its household reach in the Benelux countries in 2012 to more than 1.2 million homes. With a 19 percent increase compared to the previous year, Belgium topped the Benelux growth in ASTRA satellite homes. In Luxemburg, the number of household receiving programs directly from the SES fleet increased by 16 percent. These, and other new details, are the result of the annual market research SES Satellite Monitor.
The study also showed that 980,000 satellite homes in the Benelux are now capable of receiving transmissions via the 23.5 degrees East orbital position, an increase of 12 percent in 2012. In the Netherlands, 93 percent of all satellite homes are now tuned into the 23.5 degrees East orbital position, only six years after its introduction as new DTH spot for this market. In total, SES now reaches 97 percent of all satellite homes in the Benelux. In addition, all major cable and IPTV providers in the Benelux are using the SES satellite fleet for the redistribution of one or more channels. As a result, the total SES reach in the Benelux amounts to 11.8 million households, 94 percent of all Benelux TV homes.
HD is an important element driving the continued growth of SES’ satellite reach in the Benelux countries, as witnessed by a wide range of Dutch and Belgian HD channels via Canal Digitaal, TV Vlaanderen and TéléSAT, the M7 Group-owned satellite TV platforms for the Netherlands and Belgium. The orbital position 23.5 degrees East is also used for the transmission of the Luxembourg TV channels such as RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg and Chamber TV.
The SES Satellite Monitor also confirms the increasing popularity of satellite reception among people travelling in the Benelux and beyond. More than half a million Dutch and Belgium households receive television and radio channels via the SES satellite fleet on vacation, thereby benefiting from its Europe-wide footprint coverage. The recreational satellite users can now also opt for internet via satellite provided by SES Broadband Services and its Benelux partner Hertzinger.
