[Satellite TODAY 08-02-10]  Eutelsat saw its 2010 full-year revenues increase more than 11 percent over its 2009 year-end results to 1.05 billion euros ($1.37 billion), with net profits increasing 9 percent to 269.5 million euros ($352.1 million), the operator announced in its latest financial results, released July 30.
    In a statement, Eutelsat CEO Michel de Rosen said the company benefited from rapid take-up of its in-orbit expansion program, which the company began in 2007. “Our strategy puts us at the heart of the most dynamic markets of the digital economy —television and broadband in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Our backlog has increased by 24 percent in one year to 4.9 billion euros ($6.4 billion), reflecting the strength of our orbital positions in markets with high potential for growth.”
    The operator saw revenue increases across all its business segments. It generated 742 million euros ($969.3 million) in video-based revenues ¬— an increase of more than 9 percent compared to the previous year and representing more than 70 percent of Eutelsat’s overall revenues.
    The number of TV channels broadcast by Eutelsat’s fleet at the end of 2010 was 3,662, marking an increase of 471 channels compared to the same stage last year. The number of HD channels on Eutelsat’s channels also increased to 155, up 80 percent from 2009. 
    Eutelsat’s data and value added services performed strongly, increasing 12 percent to 200 million euros ($261.3 million) in 2010. Data and value added services now account for about 20 percent of Eutelsat’s overall revenues.