Lutz
I have to disagree on your figures of FTA (free to air) channels, when I read it I thought there were more so I had a quick check (motor drive at home)
The results surprised me.
Over all three satellites there are app 1000 free to air stations, appx 200+ are english language.
If you concentrate on Astra2/Eurobird which can be picked up on the same setting of 28E and you discount TV sales, foreign language, religious and duplicate (BBC 1 West,BBC 1 South etc)stations you end up with around 80 stations consisting of (approximate figures)
20 General entertainment
20 Music
10 News
10 Movies
10 Special interest
5 Sports
5 Kids
I have counted the half dozen or so +1 hr stations as they are useful
I would be surprised if the average family could not find 30 channels of interest out of that lot.
Another point I briefly hinted at - if you like your regional programming in preference to where ever you happen to be, you just add it to your favourites and you will get it, if you are in reach of the satellite.