Read this: Euro1080, a division of the former and now bankrupt Belgian TV services company Alfacam, broadcast HDTV channels to break the pan-European stalemate of "no HD broadcasts mean no HD TVs bought means no HD broadcasts ..." and kick-start HDTV interest in Europe. The HD1 channel was initially free-to-air and mainly comprised sporting, dramatic, musical and other cultural events broadcast with a multi-lingual soundtrack on a rolling schedule of 4 or 5 hours per day.
Now answer this question, if there is an answer (If it cannot be answered, return "unanswerable"): What was Euro1080 hoping to kick-start by broadcasting HDTV channels?
HDTV interest in Europe