Satellite operator SES reported today its revenue increased by 5.5% to EUR 1.828 billion (US$2.41 billion) in 2012 compared to EUR 1.73 billion (US$2.28 billion) in 2011 raising profit by 5% to EUR 648.8 million (US$855 million).

SES also reported a 5.6% increase in EBITDA to EUR 1.346.6 billion (US$1.775 billion) compared to EBITDA in 2011 of EUR 1.274.6 billion (US$1.68 billion).

Romain Bausch, President and CEO, said 2012 was a highly successful year even with the German analogue broadcasting switched off, taking EUR 108 million (US$142.37 million) out of SES revenue.

Hispasat, increased its revenue in 2012 to 200.3  million euros, (US$264.1) increasing by 6.85% over the previous year largely because of increase in volume of business in Latin America.

Hispasat, the Spanish satellite communications operator, said consolidated EBITDA stood at 161.1 million euros (US$212.29), 4.15% more than in 2011, and the EBITDA margin continued to remain above 80%. The company also recorded new investment of 168.2 million euros (US$221.8) in 2012, increasing the company´s net equity by 6.23% from 2011.

As broadband subscribers approach 635 million globally, the latest figures published by the Broadband Forum and prepared by broadband industry analysts Point Topic reveal that hybrid fiber access (FTTx) has experienced the highest market gain over the past year. Of the 54 million new broadband subscribers added in the year leading up to 3Q 2012, 26 million are being served with fiber (48%). Overall, fiber deployments have now passed cable to account for 19.7% of the total broadband market.

SES  announced today that satellite continued to increase its household reach in Germany last year, with 18.07 million households receiving their TV directly from satellite at the end of 2012. This increase of 524,000 households from year-end 2011 (plus 3 percent) is despite the switch-off of the analogue satellite signal in April 2012 and is driven by continued strong consumer demand for the large programme offer and quality of satellite TV, especially in High Definition (HD).

Bob Zitter, EVP and CTO of Home Box Office (HBO) and Daniel Danker, General Manager of On Demand at the BBC, leading industry players in the OTT space, are set to deliver keynotes at next month’s TV Connect in London. The conference and exhibition, now in its ninth year, has evolved to reflect the changing nature of the converging connected entertainment ecosystem, which increasingly looks towards services, content and user-experience, rather than just technology, to drive the market.

Liberty Global, Inc. said on Thursday it posted a loss of $331 million, or $1.27 per share, on the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to a profit of $322.8 million, or $1.21 per share, during the same period last year.

The international cable TV and Internet provider controlled by media mogul John Malone, however, posted a full-year 2012 net profit of $323 million, or $1.21 per share, on revenues of $10.3 billion, a 6 percent increase from 2011.

Western Europe leads adoption of new media technology as smartphone penetration rises 27% a year according to a new ZenithOptimedia study of 19 advanced markets. ZenithOptimedia tracked the adoption of three new media technologies – IPTV, smartphones and tablets – and forecast their penetration to 2015.

Among the findings of the study include:

- Smartphone penetration to double from 36% in 2012 to 72% in 2015

Eutelsat Communications reported revenues of $848.71 (euro 633.6) million and net income of US$ 239.13 (euro 178.5) million for the first half of fiscal year 2012-2013 cementing its position as one of the world’s biggest satellite operators.

Michel de Rosen, CEO of Eutelsat Communications, said he is pleased with the company’s robust results with revenue growth of over 5% and an EBITDA margin exceeding 79%. He said the company’s record backlog of €5.4 billion underscores Eutelsat’s long term visibility on revenues and cash flows.

Arabsat has signed an agreement with the Hellenic Telecommunication Organization (OTE;), one of the largest telecom groups in South Eastern Europe, for the acquisition of its 99.05% equity participation in Hellas-Sat Consortium Ltd.The share purchase agreement was signed upon an aggregate consideration of €208 million  (US$ 280 mil).

The purchase price represents 99.05%, of:

• An enterprise value of Hellas-Sat, amounting to €157 million, which corresponds to 7 times the EBITDA of Hellas Sat for 2012, and

Liberty Global is set to acquire UK-based Virgin Media in a stock and cash merger valued at about US$ 23.3 billion creating one of the world’s leading broadband communications company covering 47 million homes and serving 25 million customers across 14 countries.