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SES: 45,000 channels by 2020

Satellite operator SES says that the number of linear TV channels on air will increase by some 50% between now and 2020, taking the overall total to around 45,000 channels.

Satellite operator SES says that the number of linear TV channels on air will increase by some 50% between now and 2020, taking the overall total to around 45,000 channels.

Ferdinand Kayser, COO at SES, speaking at IBC, said they expect the number of HDTV channels to expand by around 250% in the same timeframe. “The expansion is coming from emerging markets, especially in Latin America and Asia, helped by their local analogue switch-off and increased prosperity.” He said SES transmits almost 700 TV channels into India (for Dish TV and Bharti AirTel) of which some 50 are in HD.

SES also demonstrated a 4000-line Ultra-HD live satellite feed to visitors to IBC. He confirmed that SES expected to start U-HD transmissions by 2015-2016, and that they were in discussion with many of Europe’s leading broadcasters about U-HD. – Chris Forrester