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This year’s Satellite Monitor survey showed continued growth across Europe (+2 million households) and Africa (+2 million households). At SES’s prime orbital neighbourhood of 19.2 degrees East, SES’s satellites now serve an unparalleled 118 million households or over 43 percent of all European TV homes. The number of TV homes receiving HD content from 19.2 degrees East also continued to increase to 84 percent, representing an increase of almost 30 percent over the past five years. 

In Africa, SES has also seen its TV reach increase in the Ethiopian TV market as a result of establishing Ethiopia’s first-ever dedicated TV platform, Ethiosat, on NSS-12 at 57 degrees East. The TV penetration in Ethiopia has tripled compared to four years ago and is at 49 percent in YE 2020.

The following table shows the 2020 Satellite Monitor regional breakdown of SES’s TV home reach:

Overall, SES’s reach to TV homes is marginally down this year largely due to a change in reporting methodology implemented by the regulatory authority in India requiring a new definition of active subscribers.

Additionally, key trends have been identified in the European market:

• HD and UHD growth – satellite remains the platform of choice for HD, representing nearly 40 percent of HD TV homes and almost the same as cable and IPTV homes combined. In addition, UHD screens increased 5 percentage points since 2019 and are now present in 20 percent of European TV homes.

• OTT content is complementary – Over-the-top TV complements and does not replace linear TV. Over the past five years OTT TV has grown by 138 percent whereas traditional linear TV – whether through satellite, cable, IPTV or terrestrial – has largely remained stable.  

“An industry bellwether report, this year’s Satellite Monitor survey once again confirms SES’s established leadership position in terms of our global reach combined with our focus on delivering the most immersive viewing experience through HD and UHD content. The COVID-19 pandemic has driven content consumption higher than ever, and in large parts of the world, linear TV remains the primary choice for people to consume news and information. We will continue to innovate to enable our video customers to reach as many audiences as possible via multiple screens,” said Steve Collar, CEO at SES.