Paris, Oct. 25 (Reuters): Gays across France celebrated the launch of the country?s first television channel for homosexuals today, anticipating a pink mixture of fashion, travel, talk, cult movies, music and soap operas.

The launch of ?Pink TV? comes as gays in France are already making headlines with a controversial push to legalise same-sex marriages and calls to enhance the fiscal rights of gay couples. ?The gay wave,? Le Parisien daily said in big letters on its front page on top of a rainbow flag. But the creators of Pink TV say they also want to cater for heterosexuals.

?Pink will not be a ghetto channel, but one to assert gay identity,? its president, Pascal Houzelot, told Le Parisien. ?We want to accompany a positive development in society but remain watchful of movements going the opposite way.?

Houzelot estimated some 3.5 million people in France are gay, some seven per cent of the population, and hoped to attract at least 180,000 subscribers to the private channel. For nine euros ($11) a month, viewers will be able to cheer gay comedians, enter debates on gay rights, enjoy classic films or watch porn movies late at night.

Gay rights activists say the channel could help make homosexuality more acceptable in France, where the conservative government has taken a strong stance against legalising gay weddings or allowing gays to adopt children.

?The gay channel helps to show homosexuality is something normal, which is a good thing,? said Alain Piriou from the Inter-LGBT gay rights group.?It can highlight that gays are just another part of society with their own interests.?

But Piriou said Pink TV, whose launch has caused little controversy so far, would be unlikely to play a major role in the struggle to improve gay rights.