According to NSR’s new report, Global Direct-to-Home (DTH) Markets, 2nd Edition, satellite television has proven its resilience in tough economic climates, driven primarily by a larger section of viewers choosing television as a cost effective means of entertainment. A total of 99 DTH operators beam over 13,800 channels to 114 million subscribers generating over $65 billion in subscription revenue as of the end of 2008 – and the collective pie continues to grow.

Revenues of mobile satellite service operators grew to over $1.2 billion last year, despite the adverse impact of the economic crisis on some of the industry’s key vertical markets according to EuroConsult. Industry wholesale revenues are expected to continue growing over the next decade, by a rate of 8% (ten-year CAGR).

The Middle East market has seen the recent addition of new Fixed Satellite Serivces (FSS) operators who are betting on the potential of Direct-to-Home (DTH) and broadband services via satellite in the region. But is the market really there for these services?

What drives demand for FSS satellite capacity?

Strategy Analytics and D. I. S. Consulting announced at the IBC 2009 show in Amsterdam that their latest prediction for the global broadcast and professional media production market heralds a return to growth in 2010. After a severe downturn in most industry segments during 2009, the analysts expect global revenues to increase by 4.8% next year. The results was presented at Strategy Analytics’ annual Analyst Breakfast during this year’s IBC in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Sunday 13th September.

According to NSR’s new report, Global Assessment of Satellite Supply & Demand (GASD), 6th Edition, commercial satellite operators saw a very good year in 2008 with revenues up substantially. More importantly, most satellite operators have yet to report any substantial damage from the global economic crisis and, assuming recovery is solidly in place by the end of 2009, it appears that they will largely escape unscathed.

ABI Research expects Location Based Services revenues to grow at 156% from $1.7 billion in 2008 to $2.6 billion in 2009. By 2014 global LBS revenues will have surpassed $14 billion.

At the opening of CeBit Fair in 2006  Viviane Reding Member of the European Commission (EC) responsible for Information Society and Media said: "Mobile TV seems set to become the next high growth consumer technology," She then went on to argue in favor of harmonized European wide spectrum in order to facilitate Mobile TV. Three years later on May 13, 2009 the EC announced the award of two S-Band satellite licenses. Thus opening the door for the winning operators - Solaris Mobile and Inmarsat - to provide broadcast mobile satellite TV and other services throughout Europe.

In a study released July 27, 2009 entitled "The Market for Commercial Communications Satellites: 2009-2018," Forecast International is projecting deliveries of approximately 262 commercial communications satellites destined for geostationary or medium-Earth orbit, worth $38.7 billion, during the next 10 years. The low-Earth-orbiting (LEO) market, comprising satellites primarily for the provision of mobile communi-cations, will see production of 142 spacecraft worth about $2.7 billion.

 Euroconsult released September 3rd its latest findings on the satellite-based Earth observation sector. According to its new report "Satellite-Based Earth Observation, Market Prospects to 2018" there will be over $1 billion in annual data sales in 2009 — a figure expected to nearly quadruple by 2018 — indicating the commercial Earth observation sector is establishing itself as a legitimate source of revenue growth for the global economy.

In a study released July 27, 2009 entitled "The Market for Commercial Communications Satellites: 2009-2018," Forecast International is projecting deliveries of approximately 262 commercial communications satellites destined for geostationary or medium-Earth orbit, worth $38.7 billion, during the next 10 years. The low-Earth-orbiting (LEO) market, comprising satellites primarily for the provision of mobile communi-cations, will see production of 142 spacecraft worth about $2.7 billion.