At CABSAT today, leading satellite operator Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) released new data about the TV channels it broadcasts from its 7/8° West video neighbourhood.
An expanding line-up of HD channels
The attraction of the region’s 7/8° West neighbourhood is driven by the growth of High Definition content now broadcast on 187 channels at this position. One visible shift can be noticed when it comes to FTA channels, which is now broadcasting more than 110 HD channels, a 44% increase from January 2017 to January 2018. This acceleration, which once mainly applied to Gulf countries, now applies to the entire region, especially Levantine and North African countries.
HD viewing penetration on the rise
The pace of HD adoption is accelerating in the MENA region. According to Eutelsat’s latest TV Observatory report relating to Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Saudi Arabia, HD-equipped homes at 7/8° West neighbourhood are now reaching 20.6 million (66% of TV homes), up from 10.7 million in 2016.
Source: Eutelsat Press Release