Satellite homes pass 17 million in Germany

The number of German households receiving satellite TV services has passed 17 million for the first time, according to satellite operator SES.

SES said the number of satellite households in Germany increased to 17.1 million during the first half of the year, while cable homes fell by 260,000 to 17.8 million and DTT homes fell by 300,000 to 1.7 million. IPTV is growing in popularity SES said, passing one million homes for the first time.

Satellite is also driving digitisation in Germany, with 85% of satellite homes receiving a digital service, compared to 43% of cable homes. Analogue satellite TV will be permanently shut down in Germany on April 23 2012.

SES’s figures came from its latest Satellite Monitor report, which involved 8,000 interviews held across the country between May and June.