Free-to-Air Satellite TV to reach 9 million unique homes by 2025 in Brazil

Once considered a declining technology, Free-to-Air (FTA) satellite television is making a strong comeback in Brazil. This resurgence is fueled by the migration of households from analog C-band to digital Ku-band, a move mandated by the government to free up the 3.5 GHz spectrum for 5G deployment. Before the transition, an estimated 30 million Brazilian households relied on C-band satellite TV. With this spectrum now repurposed for 5G, many viewers have turned to other TV services, making it difficult to determine the exact number that will migrate to Ku-band and use FTA Satellite TV. However, early adoption figures indicate strong growth. Officially named Television receive-only (TVRO), this technology refers to a kit, an earth station used for the reception of TV signals via satellite directly to the home. It is now available on two key satellite platforms: SAT HD Regional, which operates via the StarOne D2 satellite (owned by Globo and designated for public migration policy), and Nova Parabólica, a Sky brand using the Sky Brasil 1 satellite. Both platforms offer around 80 Free-to-Air channels, covering national and regional content. As seen in the chart below, these two services are driving the rapid expansion of FTA satellite TV in Brazil.   To ensure a smooth transition, the Brazilian government has distributed over 4 million free TVRO kits since Q4 2023 , with tens of thousands of new installations every month and 3 million homes expected to migrate in the second semester of 2024. Dataxis estimates that this trend will continue, with an estimated 9 million households using TVRO by 2025 and 11 million by 2029, discounting the overlaps with other TV technologies. This reinforces the importance of satellite television in Brazil, particularly in remote areas with limited broadband access. This research highlight is based on our data coverage of Pay TV Distribution in Latin America. Please contact us to get a demo and see the depth of our service.

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