SES Astra has reported an increase in the number of HD channels transmitted through its satellite system. Astra now carries 26 HD channels across Europe, including services from BSkyB, Discovery, National Geographic and History Channel in the United Kingdom; Canal+, M6 and TF1 in France; and Premiere, ProSieben, Sat.1 and Anixe in Germany. The total was 24 channels at the end of 2006. Citing Screen Digest, the company said the number of HD channels across Europe had risen to 36 by the end of 2006, compared with six in 2005.
Industry estimates expected the number of HD channels to more than quadruple to around 160 by 2010. Almost nine million Western European households were projected to receive HDTV by satellite in 2010, representing 60 percent of the anticipated total number of HDTV households. SES Astra expected its own system to carry around 100 HD channels by then.
The company presented the increase as evidence of Astra’s role in European digitisation and the expansion of HD services, as well as growing broadcaster interest in HDTV.
