Satellite strengthens grip on German TV distribution

The number of German homes taking satellite TV increased by 3% year-on-year to 18.07 million at the end of 2012, according to figures compiled by satellite operator SES.

The increase of 524,000 households came despite the switch-off of analogue satellite broadcasts. According to SES, satellite serves 47% of German TV households, compared with 44% for cable, down 3%. Satellite also accounts for 59% of the overall German digital TV base, compared with 30% for cable. Digital-terrestrial TV grew by 220,000 homes to 2.05 million, after a fall in 2011. IPTV remained unchanged at 1.26 million.

According to SES, 44% of satellite homes received HD by the end of the year, up two million on 2011. Cable grew its HD base by 1.27 million to 4.53 million or 27% of cabl households. The number of HD households grew by 3.1 million to 13.1 million overall.