By Stuart Thomson

Satellite operator SES has signed multi-year capacity agreements totalling more than €75 million(US$ in backlog with multiple German private and public broadcasters.

The operator said that the majority of renewals span several years and will enable millions of satellite TV households across Germany to continue watching SD and HD content.

The renewal deal span both commercial and public broadcasters including; QVC Germany – the live shopping broadcaster which is renewing both SD and HD channels; Seven.One Entertainment Group, whose offering continues to be available in SD; Media Broadcast Satellite GmbH (MBS), which is renewing capacity for SD channels; pubcaster ZDF, which is renewing its HD offering; and High View, which recently signed an extension with SES and has just launched additional channels.

SES said that the latest video contract extensions illustrate how both private and public broadcasters across Germany are using its satellites at the prime 19.2° East orbital slot to directly reach more than 17 million satellite TV homes.

“Whether for news, entertainment, live sports, shopping or public service, audiences continue to demand access to a wide range of high-quality video content,” said Global Head of Media at SES, Norbert Hölzle.

“The size of these deals and length of the contracts highlight that for both private and public broadcasters the most efficient way to reach millions of households and build the biggest audience is through satellite – today and well into the future.”