p04,6,8-10,12-14,16-17 Euro50 NovDec09v3 9/11/09 14:30 Page 12
Euro 50 > Leaders in broadband and pay-TV Digital TV Europe
November/December 2009
Romain Bausch CEO, SES
SES, led by Romain Bausch, has turned in a strong operational and
financial performance as the satellite industry had a successful year,
despite the economic downturn. During the first six-months of the
year, SES increased capacity utilisation to 80.5% from 1,101 transpon-
ders. SES Astra’s fleet currently carries 78 HD channels serving the
European market. SES has since also signed a number of new agree-
ments highlighting its push into Africa and the Middle East (the
YahLive joint venture in the Middle east; launch of Pathfinder’s DTH
bouquet in Nigeria) as well as pushing HD in Europe with the signing
up of broadcasters to the HD Plus platform in Germany. The launch
of the Astra2Connect two-way satellite broadband service in a num-
ber of territories, means Astra now has agreements with 15 cus-
tomers in 14 European countries, serving 45,000 households.
Neil Berkett CEO, Virgin Media
Highlights from the last year We made history this summer with the
completion of Britain’s first next-generation broadband network. By
upgrading our technology we’re able to offer ultrafast 50Mbps broad-
band to over 12 million homes across the country and continue to inno-
vate with a customer pilot testing 200Mb broadband speeds.
Lessons learned from the downturn The continued importance of lis-
tening to your customers. Making sure you focus on what’s most impor-
tant to your customers helps ensure they stay with you, providing a sus-
tainable quality customer base for future growth.
Last year’s most important development Digital Britain was a signif-
icant moment for the industry. The report identified some of the key
issues facing the industry and set a framework to help find the solutions.
Goals for the next 12 months We’re working to expand our fibre-optic
Despite strong competition from BSkyB Virgin Media has continued to network and have identified around 500,000 new homes that we could
successfully market broadband and triple play services and has contin- add, including 50,000 this year. I’m looking forward to bringing next-
ued to innovate with attractive services such as its 50Mbps broadband generation broadband to thousands more people over the next 12
offering and iPlayer on TV. Under Neil Berkett, the cable operator grew months.
its TV subscriber base to 3.7 million at the end of September, with over
50% of customers taking at least three services. Likely breakthrough service or technology You just have to look at
Spotify to see the great demand for online music over the past 12
Age 54 months, but next year will be the year online music really comes of age.
We need commercial music services that align the interests of rights
Education Holds a BCA from Victoria University, New Zealand owners, internet service providers and consumers in order to solve the
problem of illegal file sharing. It is precisely such innovative services
Career path He joined NTL, Virgin Media’s predecessor, as chief operat- that will help secure the UK’s place at the forefront of the digital revolu-
ing officer in September 2005 and played a key role in driving the com- tion.
pany’s merger with Telewest, the subsequent acquisition of Virgin Mobile
and the rebranding of the combined companies’ residential operations Favourite film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
under the Virgin brand in February 2007. He was appointed CEO of
Virgin Media in March 2008. Before joining Virgin Media he was manag- Life outside work When I’m not working I like nothing better than
ing director, distribution, at Lloyds TSB. spending time with my family, simply relaxing.
Visit us at at www.digitaltveurope.net
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