‘TV most robust growth driver for satellite industry’

Thursday 11 Aug 2011
TV broadcasting continued to drive growth for satellite operators last year, with over 29,000 TV channels distributed by satellite worldwide, according to Euroconsult, Broadband TV News reports.

Growth in the number of channels broadcast was supported by 15 new satellite pay-TV platforms which were launched in emerging regions, for a total of 126 satellite TV platforms serving around 155 million subscribers worldwide.

Capacity demand for TV broadcasting consequently grew by over 9 percent in several regions including Latin America, Russia, the Middle East, Africa and South-East Asia.

The number of HD TV channels worldwide increased by 42% last year to reach around 2,680 (excluding local US networks). 3DTV remains a nascent market with no more than 20 3D channels reported in 2010. Growth of 3DTV should remain very progressive, with ultra-high definition representing another growth driver in the long term.

According to Euroconsult’s just-published report Satellite Communications & Broadcasting Markets Survey, Forecasts to 2020, the fixed satellite sector grew both in terms of transponder demand (+4.4 percent) and revenue, which reached US$10.8 billion in 2010. However, this is set against a backdrop of slowing growth rates. Euroconsult nevertheless maintains an overall positive outlook for the future of the satellite sector.

Pacôme Revillon, CEO at Euroconsult, said: “Connectivity needs and the growth of digital TV in emerging regions, combined with the launch of new generation high throughput satellite systems should continue to drive growth. The value of satellite capacity leasing should consequently grow at 7 percent over the next 10 years”.