SES Astra Continues to Expand Its Satellite Services

SES Astra has been a leading provider of satellite services for decades, with a presence in over 50 countries around the world. Its reach is truly global.

The company has made significant investments in its infrastructure, including the launch of new satellites that offer improved coverage and capacity. This expansion has enabled SES Astra to provide high-quality services to a wider range of customers.

With its extensive network of satellites, SES Astra is able to deliver a wide range of services, including broadcast, broadband, and telecommunications.

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SES Astra is a satellite fleet that provides a wide range of services to broadcasters and content providers around the world. It offers a diverse selection of channels to audiences in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

SES Astra has a long history, having been launched in 1995. The fleet has undergone several upgrades and expansions over the years.

SES Astra's satellites are located at the 19.2°E orbital position, which allows them to reach a large portion of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. This strategic location enables the fleet to provide services to a vast and diverse audience.

SES Astra's services include broadcast, broadband, and data communications. The fleet provides a platform for broadcasters to reach their audiences, and for content providers to distribute their services.

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SES Astra played a significant role in introducing digital TV, HDTV, and 3D TV in Europe. The company supported new HDTV channels and pressed for standards, founding the European HDTV Forum and the HD ready TV specification.

SES Astra was involved in the development and roll-out of commercial 3D TV services for Europe. In September 2010, the company announced an initiative with major European broadcasters and the consumer electronics industry to support the introduction of 3D TV in Europe.

Europe's first commercial 3D TV channel, Sky 3D, launched from the Astra 28.2°E position on 1 October 2010. SES Astra was also a member of the Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV) consortium, promoting an open European standard for hybrid set-top boxes.

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WDR, a leading German public broadcaster, has a clear mission to deliver reliable and high-quality free-to-air regional TV news and entertainment content.

Their goal is to reach millions of households with their programming, as evidenced by their partnership with SES to secure an additional transponder for High Definition (HD) programming on ASTRA 19.2 degrees East.

WDR's commitment to HD quality is reflected in their decision to start broadcasting their entire programming in HD format on March 3, 2021, including popular shows like "WDR Lokalzeit".

This move will benefit viewers who own HD-capable television sets, ensuring they receive the best possible viewing experience.

Christoph Mühleib, Managing Director of ASTRA Deutschland GmbH, emphasizes the importance of this partnership in fulfilling WDR's needs and enabling future developments in broadcasting technology.

WDR's dedication to providing high-quality content is evident in their continued efforts to expand their HD capacity and reach a wider audience.

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HD capacity has come a long way in recent years. Astra satellite broadcasts were received in over 135 million households in Europe and North Africa by the end of 2011, with 16 million households watching high-definition TV channels via Astra satellites.

The number of households receiving high-definition TV channels is impressive. In 2011, 16 million households watched high-definition TV channels via Astra satellites.

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SES Astra has been at the forefront of introducing new technologies to Europe. They supported the introduction of digital TV, HDTV, and 3D TV in Europe, and were involved in the development of the HD ready TV specification.

WDR, a leading German public broadcaster, has expanded its partnership with SES to secure an additional transponder for High Definition (HD) programming on ASTRA 19.2 degrees East orbital position. This will allow viewers in the region to receive WDR's entire programming in HD quality.

The number of households watching high-definition TV channels via Astra satellites is a testament to the growing demand for HD content. Here's a breakdown of the number of households receiving Astra services via different means in 2011:

This shows that cable headend was the most popular method of receiving Astra services in 2011, followed by direct-to-home and IPTV networks.

Expansion into new markets has been a significant trend in broadcasting developments. The rise of streaming services has enabled companies to reach a global audience.

Companies like Netflix and Amazon Prime have successfully expanded into international markets, offering their services in multiple languages. This has allowed them to tap into new revenue streams and increase their user base.

The growth of online streaming has also led to an increase in the production of original content. This has resulted in a rise in the number of TV shows and movies being produced specifically for streaming services.

According to a recent report, the number of original TV shows produced for streaming services has increased by 50% in the past year. This trend is expected to continue as more companies invest in original content.

The expansion of broadcasting has also led to the development of new technologies. For example, the use of 5G networks has improved the quality of live streaming, allowing for higher definition and lower latency.

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The ORF and SES Astra have extended their partnership, ensuring the continued distribution of ORF TV and radio programs via satellite.

This agreement involves the broadcasting of ORF 1 HD, ORF 2 HD, ORF III HD, ORF Sport + HD, and regional programs from the Austrian states, as well as the ORF radio fleet.

Satellite broadcasting is a crucial aspect of TV reception in Austria, with a market share of over 50% in TV households.

The ORF's Director for Technology and Digitalization, Harald Kräuter, emphasizes the importance of satellite broadcasting for the ORF's distribution strategy.

The partnership between the ORF and SES Astra is a long-standing one, with SES Astra having been a key partner in the distribution of ORF and other national and international channels.

The agreement ensures that ORS customers will continue to receive their programming via satellite.

The ORS's Business Director, Michael Wagenhofer, is pleased to continue this successful partnership with SES Astra.

The extension of the agreement confirms the importance of satellite broadcasting for Austria, particularly given the country's diverse topography.

Christoph Mühleib, Geschäftsführer SES Germany, highlights the benefits of satellite broadcasting for reaching every household in Austria.

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At the end of 2011, SES Astra's satellite broadcasts reached an impressive 135 million households in Europe and North Africa.

A significant portion of these households, 57.6 million, received Astra services directly via a dish.

In addition to direct-to-home services, 67.8 million households received Astra services via a cable headend.

A smaller but still notable number of households, 9.8 million, received Astra services via an IPTV network.

The satellite constellation was broadcasting an impressive 200 high-definition television channels.

In total, 16 million households were watching high-definition TV channels via Astra satellites.

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