Archive notice: This article was originally published on October 21, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
According to SES Astra, the number of high-definition television channels carried via the Astra satellite system increased significantly during the previous three months. At the beginning of October 2008, Astra broadcast 55 HD channels—13 more than in August and an increase of 30 percent, the company said. The SES Group, including SES Astra, SES Americom, and SES New Skies, currently carries a total of 137 HD channels.
“The rapid growth in HD channels clearly shows that HDTV is taking off in Europe,” explained Alexander Oudendijk, Chief Commercial Officer of SES Astra. The growing number of leading broadcasters choosing Astra demonstrates that Astra has become the leading platform for premium HD content, he said.
With 55 HD channels, the satellite operator considers itself Europe’s most important HDTV platform. From its principal orbital positions, Astra distributes HD channels from leading European pay-TV providers, including Sky in the United Kingdom, CanalSat in France, Premiere in Germany, Digital+ in Spain, Viasat in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland, Canal Digitaal in the Netherlands, TV Vlaanderen in Belgium, and SKYLink in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The platform also carries HD channels from major European public broadcasters including the BBC in the United Kingdom, Arte in Germany, ORF in Austria, and TVP in Poland.
