SES ASTRA, an SES company (Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG), has announced
today that the number of High Definition (HD) channels broadcast via
the ASTRA Satellite System has increased significantly. ASTRA today
transmits 26 HD channels across Europe (24 at year-end 2006),
including HD offers from BSkyB, Discovery, National Geographic and
History Channel from the UK, CANAL+, M6 and TF1 from France and
Premiere, ProSieben, Sat1 and Anixe from Germany. Meanwhile, the total
number of HD channels in Europe has increased to 36 at year-end 2006,
compared to six in 2005*. Until 2010, the number of HD channels is
expected to quadruple to around 160 different channels. SES ASTRA
expects to transmit around 100 HD channels by 2010. According to
industry estimations, nearly 9 million households in Western Europe
are expected to watch HDTV over satellite in 2010*, representing 60
per cent of all expected HDTV households.
"The increase of HD offers on ASTRA shows that our satellite
system is continuing to play a leading role in digitalisation and the
extension of HD offers across Europe", says Alexander Oudendijk, Chief
Commercial Officer of SES ASTRA. "The increase also highlights the
rising interest of broadcasters in HDTV and the advantages that the
ASTRA Satellite System offers to broadcasters: high bandwidth, widest
geographical reach and best transmission quality. We are certain that
the further acceleration of the HD development will support a
continuous and consistent transition from analogue to digital
broadcasting."
* Source Screen Digest
About SES ASTRA www.ses-astra.com
SES ASTRA is the leading Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite system in
Europe, delivering services to some 107 million Direct-to-Home and
cable households. The ASTRA satellite fleet currently comprises 13
satellites, transmitting more than 1,700 analogue and digital
television and radio channels. SES ASTRA also provides satellite-based
multimedia, internet and telecommunication services to enterprises,
governments and their agencies. With 19 High Definition (HD) channels
available via its satellites today, ASTRA is also the most important
HDTV broadcasting platform in Europe. ASTRA's prime orbital positions
are 19.2(degree) East, 28.2(degree) East and 23.5(degree) East.
SES ASTRA is an SES company (Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG). SES wholly
owns three market-leading satellite operators, SES ASTRA in Europe,
SES AMERICOM in North America, and SES NEW SKIES, which provides
global connectivity as well as coverage. The Company also holds
strategic participations in AsiaSat in Asia, Star One in Latin
America, SES Sirius in Europe, Ciel in Canada and Quetzsat in Mexico.
Americom Government Services provides network solutions and bandwidth
to the US government and its contractors. SES provides outstanding
satellite communications solutions via a fleet of 44 satellites on 33
orbital positions around the globe. Additional information on SES is
available at: www.ses-global.com
