The design of SES NEW SKIES' existing in-orbit fleet, as well as future spacecraft, offers current and prospective direct-to-home operators some of the highest Ku-band transmission power available for the distribution of digital programming packages direct to consumers' homes using ultra-small antennas.

Direct-to-home (DTH) broadcasting requires powerful transmission capabilities to deliver digital quality video and audio to antennas as small as 75 centimeters. SES NEW SKIES' NSS-7 satellite features broad, high-power Ku-band coverage of the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The spacecraft's West Africa spot beam is so powerful it was selected by BT Broadcast Services to launch a DTH platform throughout Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal for Media Overseas.

SES NEW SKIES' powerful NSS-6 pan-Asian satellite offers some of the highest Ku-band power available to customers throughout Asia and the Indian Subcontinent, making it an ideal platform for DTH transmissions. Given the sweeping coverage of both the NSS-7and NSS-6 satellites, as well as the flexible connectivity between their beams, SES NEW SKIES can offer DTH operators the ability launch in select markets and potentially grow their service beyond the initial service area depending upon demand.