OTT solutions are widely being promoted as the future of broadcasting, however, as audiences demand greater image definition, can they deliver the content in optimum quality? And what role does satellite play?
Markus Fritz, Eutelsat's EVP of Commercial Development and Strategic Partnerships, explains how satellite fits into this evolving landscape, and how hybrid satellite and OTT solutions can help broadcasters optimise their services and reach more homes.
How are consumer viewer habits changing?
Viewing habits are diversifying as people want to watch content wherever and whenever. OTT solutions meet this demand, but the strength of traditional linear TV remains inherent. The television is a central part of our daily lives with professional production and governance making it a trusted resource. It is also the only medium enabling advertisers to reach several million homes at once.
Satellite TV is still growing and will continue to do so for many years to come. Euroconsult's 2017 Satellite Communications and Broadcasting Market Survey foresees an additional 4,200 satellite TV channels over the next ten years, and the broadcast of close to 45,700 channels by 2026. A recent study of global pay-TV subscribers by Dataxis saw a 3% growth in satellite TV subscribers between 2016 and 2017, taking the pay-TV audience to 245 million homes. Satellite delivery continues to gain market share worldwide, and is predicted to grow by 50 million homes between 2016 and 2021 to 430 million homes - 26% of the global market according to Digital TV Research 2016.
We are seeing a move, however, towards more hybrid solutions involving both DTH and OTT, with OTT often used in addition to traditional services as consumers want more on-demand content, along with new ways to access it. In the United States, for example, a 2017 comScore report on cross-platform usage found live TV viewing still dominated total viewing time by 84%. Two-thirds of OTT households use streaming to supplement their traditional reception means, be it cable or satellite, and watched more than five hours of live TV for every one hour of OTT content.
What about network quality?
OTT services depend on a shared network, where the bandwidth is used by a number of services. This can lead to quality issues when large amounts of internet bandwidth are consumed. During peak hours, and for popular content such as sports or TV series, OTT distribution amplifies network overloading which can cause buffering, delays, poor picture quality and even loss of service. Obviously, this has a major impact on customer satisfaction.
Image quality is increasingly important to audiences, as we see with the acceleration in take-up of HD and UHD (Ultra HD). Our latest research on the TV market in MENA showed the number of Free-to-Air channels broadcasting in HD at the leading 7/8 West video neighbourhood increased by 44% in just one year, and 66% of homes at 7/8 West are equipped for HD reception. To meet this demand, bandwidth requirements are increasing
While UHD delivery can be challenging via OTT platforms, even in Europe, satellite bandwidth handles UHD seamlessly. This is why already five UHD channels have chosen the HOTBIRD satellites to feed both DTH and terrestrial networks in Europe and MENA. Satellite delivery guarantees an optimal service quality, as bandwidth is entirely dedicated to the video service, unlike OTT where bandwidth is shared with other services, and amongst all the viewers.
How is satellite adapting to mobile viewing?
Previously limited by the absence of a return link, the satellite user experience is catching up, as Eutelsat's multiscreen video delivery solution SmartBEAM and terrestrial technologies provide alternate return paths. We work closely with customers to design solutions and extend footprints, helping them maximise reach and monetisation, and enter markets that would otherwise be impossible today.
SmartBEAM uses a combination of satellite and Wi-Fi to deliver IP-native video content to end-users, giving access to TV programmes on portable devices. Russia's leading TV operator Tricolor TV has recently launched the SmartBEAM solution to enable consumers in hotels, airports, railway stations and other public venues to watch a bouquet of 50 TV channels on their mobile devices without consuming their mobile data allowance. SmartBEAM gives users better picture quality compared to unmanaged terrestrial networks and Tricolor can guarantee quality of service to end-users.
What are the benefits for broadcasters choosing a hybrid satellite/OTT delivery solution?
Satellites are a very cost-effective way to reach large numbers of people, particularly in regions with widely dispersed populations and in challenging environments. They cover all households within the footprint, including those unable to access OTT services due to insufficient internet bitrates, enabling you to supply all citizens with a similar service across regions instantaneously, and maximising your route to market as they deliver to all networks.
While OTT costs rise with the number of viewers, satellite costs remain fixed, making it a more cost-effective solution for large pay-TV platforms. In Western Europe, satellite is more cost-efficient than OTT from 50k viewers. In emerging markets, this threshold drops to just 15-20k viewers for an average daily viewing time of 30 minutes.
Combining the best of both worlds, a hybrid offer of linear TV reception via satellite and on-demand services via OTT will be the most viable, future-ready solution to deliver a rich portfolio of video content. By enabling clients to reduce the complexity and cost of their operations in a new digital world, we continue to enhance satellite efficiency, enabling clients to maximise their service potential while minimising the complexity to do so.
Share
Faceboo
Most recent headlines
11/12/2025
Dalet, a leading provider of cloud-native, end-to-end media workflow solutions, ...
06/12/2025
In a live broadcast from the Reagan National Defense Forum, L3Harris Chair and CEO Christopher Kubasik joined Morgan Brennan on CNBCs Closing Bell: Overtime. Ku...
06/12/2025
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. A new survey from Pixitmedia by Datacore revealed a major shift in the Media & Entertainment industry in media archiving, with 85% of resp...
06/12/2025
HACKENSACK, N.J. LiveU has announced that the national public broadcaster Czech Television has completed one of the largest LiveU live production deployments fo...
06/12/2025
NEW YORK The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) presented the Excellence in Production Technology Emmy Award to NASA+ and Dr. Tom Leight...
05/12/2025
2025 Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame: Curt Gowdy Jr. - Master Storyteller, Nati...
05/12/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Veritone's Sean King on the Power of Mining Video, Audio DataThe company's Data Refinery offers users total control and governance over da...
05/12/2025
Platinum White Paper: Inside the Nashville Predators' Unified, Flexible, Sca...
05/12/2025
Netflix Reaches Agreement To Acquire Warner Bros. Following Planned WBD SplitThe deal does not include WBDs sports assets like TNT Sports (US, UK, LatAm), Euros...
05/12/2025
FOX Sports Returns to Indianapolis for Primetime Broadcast of Big Ten Championsh...
05/12/2025
SVG Summit 2025 Preview: Digital Engagement & Monetization Workshop Tackles the ...
05/12/2025
Atlanta United Lights Up New Emory Healthcare Studio With First Live Broadcast f...
05/12/2025
As Messi Takes the Pitch, MLS, Apple, NEP Roll Out Largest MLS Cup Production Ev...
05/12/2025
ESPN Enters College Football's Most Intense Month With Elevated Workflows fo...
05/12/2025
It's about that time! Awards season is in full swing, and the Film Independe...
05/12/2025
Every year, Spotify Wrapped offers a personalized look back at the audio that defined your year. It's a snapshot of your listening habits, designed to tell ...
05/12/2025
In 2025, Spotify's EQUAL, GLOW, and RADAR programs celebrated women, LGBTQIA , and emerging artists who turned moments into milestones. From breaking record...
05/12/2025
In our latest blog, we explain how Wi-Fi 7 rollouts can drive consumer loyalty with value-add services such as consumer cybersecurity. We also explore how this ...
05/12/2025
LOS ANGELES Netflix announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion....
05/12/2025
NEW YORK Nielsens Gracenote has launched Gracenote Content Connect, a new ad platform that provides agencies, brands, supply-side platforms (SSPs) and demand-si...
05/12/2025
NEW YORK In an most important update to the workings of deal-based programmatic advertising, IAB Tech Lab has released version 1.0 of its Deals API for public c...
05/12/2025
NEW YORK Pass the turkey. Pass the stuffing. Pass the cranberry sauce. All are common requests of Americans celebrating Thanksgiving Day with family and f...
05/12/2025
NEW YORK Iris, the new cloud-connected camera control platform, has officially launched with features that turn virtually any PTZ camera into a software-connect...
05/12/2025
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. Netflix announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion....
05/12/2025
NEW YORK Iris, the new cloud-connected camera control platform, has officially launched with features that turn virtually any PTZ camera into a software-connect...
05/12/2025
WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission has approved AT&T's $1.02 billion acquisition of spectrum from UScellular in a decision that was issued sho...
05/12/2025
The Best Coldplay Songs: 21 Tracks That Shoot for the Stars From Yellow to Viva La Vida, Fix You to Paradise, this playlist goes back to the start.
December ...
05/12/2025
Zafris Lecture Series Brings Nabil Ayers to Berklee The 32nd annual James G. Zafris Distinguished Lecture series was held on Thursday, November 13, with guest...
05/12/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Unveils the First Look for Land of Sin' - Premier...
05/12/2025
Introducing New Perks to Help You Get Even More from LinkedIn Premium Published on Dec 5, 2025 Categories: Company News, Product News
LinkedIn Corporate Co...
05/12/2025
Friday 5 December 2025
A new Game of Thrones Tale: Official trailer for Sky Exc...
05/12/2025
Back to All News
Don Lee, Lee Jin-uk, and Lalisa Manobal to Star in Netflix Act...
05/12/2025
Tis the season of giving once again and this year we've taken our Give Back Fridays' concept and turned it on its head.
In the autumn we were approach...
05/12/2025
Brayden Gogis doesn't remember a time when he wasn't completely fixated on games in all forms. In preschool, when they asked us to dress up as what we ...
05/12/2025
The Grinch steals the spotlight as the theme for The Late Late Toy Show 2025
Tune in tonight at 9:35pm on RT One and worldwide on RT Player
#LateLateToyShow...
05/12/2025
RT Announces New Presenters of Flagship News Programmes
New RT Six One News co-presenter Tommy Meskill
Sarah McInerney & Justin McCarthy join Morning Ir...
04/12/2025
ToolsOnAir Blackmagic Design HyperDeck Event Presets for just:in mac pro 2025 & ...
04/12/2025
ToolsOnAir AJA Ki Pro Event Presets for just:in mac pro 2025 & just:in linux
More Details:Starting with version 5.5, both just:in mac pro and just:in linux sol...
04/12/2025
Wangu Kanuri from Kenya and Godwin Asediba from Ghana are two of this years finalists for Thomsons Young Journalist of the Year Award. The pair are runners-up i...
04/12/2025
SVG Sit-Down: ProximaVision's Claudio Lisman on Why Tethered Drones Could Be...
04/12/2025
SVG Campus Shot Callers: Imry Halevi, Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Co...
04/12/2025
Platinum White Paper: LiveU Lightweight Sports Production: A Step Change in Spor...
04/12/2025
London to Riyadh: DAZN brings the boxing glamour to new production levels for Be...
04/12/2025
Analysis: Paramount bets on the battering ram' with Champions League play By Callum McCarthy, Editor-at-Large
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 - 10:12
Print ...
04/12/2025
Space City Home Network Launches SCHN DTC App for Astros and RocketsThe Rockets and Astros were previously the lone NBA and MLB teams without a DTC appBy Jason...
04/12/2025
SVG Summit 2025 Preview: Content Workflows Workshop Spotlights Evolution of Spor...
04/12/2025
New Sponsor Spotlight: Geotech's Patrick Wambold On the Unreal Engine Revolu...
04/12/2025
Curt Gowdy Jr. - Master Storyteller, Nationally and RegionallyBy Jason Dachman, Editorial Director, U.S.
Thursday, December 4, 2025 - 1:52 pm
Print This Sto...
04/12/2025
(L-R) Rebecca Lichtenfeld, Mohammadreza Eyni, Sara Khaki, and Judith Helfand att...
OTT solutions are widely being promoted as the future of broadcasting, however, as audiences demand greater image definition, can they deliver the content in optimum quality? And what role does satellite play?
