Development of television channels in Europe remains stable. - Against a background of national economic crises and competition from new modes of content delivery, the development of television channels in Europe remains stable, according to the most recent statistics provided by the MAVISE database. Of a total of 8,900 television channels, 7,400 are established in the European Union, and 7,900 in the EU and the candidate countries. A further 1,000 channels are available in these countries but are broadcasting from third countries (including a large number of satellite channels from outside Europe). Regional and local channels represent about 40% of the total channels available. Among the channels available in the EU and candidate countries, cinema (and fiction) and sport channels represent the two most predominant channel genres (if local and regional channels are excluded), with 644 and 575 channels, respectively. In 2011, 375 new television channels were launched in the European Union. Unlike in previous years, where sport was the dominant genre of new channels, in 2011 the growth of HD channels had a major impact on the overall growth of the market. At the end of 2011 there were approximately 612 HD channels available in Europe, an increase from 414 at the end of 2010 (and 274 at the end of 2009). Sport remains the most important genre in HD television (approximately 20% of HD channels), followed by film and general interest channels (each around 15% of the total). The distribution of HD television channels also continues to grow. In 2011, satellite packages offered more than 50 HD channels in Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and more than 30 in Germany, France and the Netherlands. The strongest HD offers on cable are available in Portugal (40+), the Netherlands and Germany (30+). At the end of 2011, more than 30 HD channels were made available in IPTV packages in Switzerland, Poland, Portugal and the Netherlands. At the end of 2011, 31 pay-TV platforms were available in 19 European countries. HD channels are now available on DTT networks in 18 countries (as compared to three networks at the end of 2009). There are an estimated 20 3D channels broadcasting (or testing) in Europe, and they tend to provide a mix of content, such as sport, films and special events. The EU deadline for switch-off of digital terrestrial television is fast approaching (by the end of the year). In 2011, a further three EU member states completed the transition: Cyprus, France and Malta, bringing the EU total to 15. A further eight EU countries (the United Kingdom, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Slovakia) are expected to complete the analogue switch-off in 2012. Delays are expected in Bulgaria, Poland, Romania and possibly also Hungary. Switch-off has also taken place in non-EU countries, such as Switzerland, Iceland, Croatia and Norway. (IL/transl.fl)