EU sees HD proliferation

The European Audiovisual Observatory says the European digital television market continues to be one of the most dynamic in the world, reports Broadband TV News.

Data prepared by the Observatory for the DG Communication of the European Commission shows more than 400 HD channels were operating in the EU as of December 2010.

The Mavise database shows 300 new channels were unveiled in the EU during 2010, and by the end of the year 9 893 channels were established in Europe, 7 600 in the EU itself.

According to Rapid TV News, HD was a clear star in Europe in 2010 with approximately 414 HD channels available in EU by the end of the year, an increase from 274 at the end of 2009.

This includes both HD-specific channels and simulcasts of SD channels. Sport was the most important genre in HD television accounting for approximately a fifth of HD channels.

This was followed by film, generalist and documentary channels. A further boost for the total HD figure may come from a significant number of European public service broadcasters unveiling HD simulcast or HD specific channels.

HD proliferation was boosted by the rollout of new digital TV networks such as IPTV of which two thirds of networks offered HD channels.

While cable operators make up the largest number of digital platforms across Europe with 6 216 by the end of 2010, that figure has remained relatively stable in the past three years, notes Variety.

Greater growth has been seen in pay-DTT, which climbed 28% to 32 platforms between 2009 and 2010, and satellite operators, which saw an increase of 24% to 88% in the same period.