Growth in number of European television channels and platforms despite crisis . More than 245 new television channels were launched in Europe in 2009, bringing the total number of European television channels to 7200 at the end of 2009, according to the European Audiovisual Observatory. According to the latest information from the MAVISE database and data collected by the Observatory in the 2009 edition of its directory, the number of television channels and platforms has continued to grow in Europe (European Union plus the candidate countries, Croatia and Turkey), in spite of the economic downturn. Of these 245 new channels, the most popular are sports channels (38 created in 2009), followed by children's channels (17 new ones in 2009). Amongst the most recent channels, there are some new public channels for digital terrestrial television networks, but also more than 150 new special interest channels for the cable, satellite and IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) networks, plus many local television channels. At the same time, the Observatory notes the demise of 220 channels in 2009, including around 100 local Spanish channels. Additionally, Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) is on the increase: it is now fully implemented in six European countries where switch-off of analogue territorial broadcasting has taken place (Germany, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden) and is scheduled for 2010 in Austria, Malta, Spain and Slovenia. There are now more than 730 European channels broadcast on European DTT networks, including more than 300 local and regional channels. There are still more than 4000 cable operators in the 29 European countries in question, but this figure has dropped slightly as the sector continues to consolidate. In line with the development of DTT in Europe, the number of countries distributing pay DTT services has increased, from 14 at the end of 2008 to 20 by the end of 2009. At the end of last year, there were more than 7200 television channels in Europe. If channels based outside Europe are also taken into account, this makes in excess of 8600 channels available on the screens of European television viewers. Of the 7200 European channels, more than half are regional or local channels, 43% are national channels and 6% international. In addition, one in every 10 European channels is public in Europe. This proportion remains relatively stable, both for national and international channels (9.8%) and for regional and local channels (11.1%). If the geographical origin of the European television channels is taken into account (not including local and regional channels), the United Kingdom is top of the list by some margin, with 1033 channels. Nearly half of all channels established in this member state, however, broadcast in other European countries and this figure includes the various versions in other languages emanating from a single "mother" channel". Behind the United Kingdom are Italy (388), France (297), Germany (227) and then Spain (195). The concentration of the establishment of channels in a few countries is considerable, as five countries account for nearly two thirds of all channels, whilst in half of the European countries, fewer than 40 channels are registered. That said, these figures pertain to the establishment of the channels rather than their availability. For example, there are just 10 national channels established in Ireland, but more than 500 channels can be viewed on Irish television screens. Cinema (and fiction) channels and sports channels represent the two predominant types of channel in Europe, not including regional and local channels, with 496 and 419 channels respectively. These two kinds of channels, which generally show exclusive content, represent considerable stakes for the broadcasting platforms. Behind them come more traditional entertainment channels (318), and general channels (281). (I.L./transl.fl)