DEVELOPMENT OF SATELLITE TV DISTRIBUTION AND BROADCASTING

European satellite communications are steadily growing but the same ca nnot be said of satellite TV, which has been the main driver so far. T he number of satellite transponders in orbit will more than double in the next four years; satellite broadcasting, however, is moving into a period of consolidation but some uncertainty about the time needed fo r profitability of individual channels. Indecision about the regulator y framework for MAC transmissions and unknowns about the much-promoted high-definition TV do not make clear predictions possible. The emerge nce of business communication and links to Eastern Europe generally wi ll diversify satellite communications. However, the dominance of the n ational telecommunication administrations will remain for some time, d espite the European Commission's push for reregulation and the success of SES/Astra in direct-to-home broadcasting.