MORE THAN 70 MILLION ASTRA HOUSEHOLDS IN EUROPE

ASTRA is the first satellite system in the world to reach an audience of more than 70 million households. This is one of the key results of the Year End 1997 Satellite Monitor commissioned by Société Européenne des Satellites (SES), operator of the ASTRA Satellite System.

ASTRA continues to lead the market in Europe, reaching 93% of all satellite and cable homes representing 43% of all TV households. At year end 1997 24.8 million households are direct-receiving satellite homes (DTH/SMATV). Year on year, this represents an increase of 1.8 million (8%), proving continued strong demand for ASTRA’s analogue and digital programme offers. At the same time, ASTRA reception in cable networks increased by 1.7 million or 4%, now reaching 45.7 million households.

ASTRA digital households in Europe totalled 1.2 million, reflecting the success of digital packages particularly in France and Spain. Overall growth in the ASTRA market penetration was also driven by the UK, Germany and Poland.

The above results are based on the latest wave of the ASTRA Satellite Monitors which are produced by leading market research institutes. SES regularly commissions wide-scale market research in 22 European countries, applying research standards of the TV industry and using harmonised research methodologies.

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