Report: 9,800-Plus Channels Operating in Europe

STRASBOURG: The number of high-definition channels operating in the European Union rose to 414 by the end of 2010, according to the European Audiovisual Observatory, out of a total 9,893 networks available across the continent.

Sports is the dominant genre in HD TV, accounting for about 20 percent of the channels, followed by film, general entertainment and documentary. The year also saw rapid development in the forms of distribution of high-def TV, which is now available on IPTV, DTT, cable and satellite.

The data also indicates that 300 new channels launched in the E.U. in 2010, bringing the number of channels in member states to 7,622. Sports, again, accounted for the highest number of new channels, 47. The gains were also led by adult content (32 channels), entertainment (26), HD simulcasts (25), followed by documentary (19) and lifestyle (16). Of the new channels, 22 came from public broadcasters.

Last year also saw the closure of 118 channels, of which 16 were entertainment services, 11 porn channels and 9 home-shopping networks.

Of the total 9,893 channels in Europe, 60.2 percent are regional or local channels and 39.8 percent are national and international channels. Of the total, 1,222 are in the U.K., followed by Spain (1,180), Italy (1,059), Hungary (558), France (550) and the Netherlands (421).