SES, a leading content connectivity solutions provider, has announced that its Ethiosat platform, located at the 57 degrees East orbital, now reaches 17 million TV households in Ethiopia. This marks an increase of 7 million compared to 2022, with its reach penetration growing to 95%.
The Ethiopian TV market has seen rapid expansion, with the number of TV households increasing by 400% since 2017 to 18.2 million homes now receiving TV content. Additionally, the penetration of HD homes in the market has increased from 48% to 62% since 2021, with Ethiosat’s number of HD TV channels growing from 15% to 62%.
In Ethiopia, direct-to-home satellite remains the primary mode of TV reception, and Ethiosat, hosted on SES’s NSS-12 satellite, is the country’s first-ever dedicated free-to-air (FTA) TV platform. Launched in October 2019, the platform is a result of an agreement between the Ethiopian Media Authority, Ethiopian Space Science, Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC), Association of Ethiopian Broadcasters (AEB), and SES to consolidate all Ethiopian TV channels and broadcast them from one orbital position.
As a global operator of over 70 satellites, with additional satellites under construction, SES is committed to ensuring the long-term service continuity of the Ethiosat platform. This dedication is underscored by the platform’s prime orbital position at 57 degrees East, a strategic location that guarantees its reach and influence in the Ethiopian TV market.
Norbert Hölzle, Global Head of Media at SES, expressed pride in being part of the growth of the Ethiopian TV market through the Ethiosat platform. The increase in TV households and the platform’s penetration confirms the importance of Ethiosat as a reliable source for audiences to enjoy their favourite local programming in the best quality possible.
