Football team Real Madrid has reportedly applied for one of the DTT channels. The team aims to have a DTT licence for nationwide TV coverage with a channel specifically dedicated to the club called Real Madrid TV.

Seven companies have submitted their bids for the six new DTT licences (three HD and three SD) to be awarded by public tender by the beginning of September.

The other candidates are Atresmedia, Mediaset, Prisa, 13 TV, Secuoya and Net TV. The first four have applied for two licences with Prisa and Net TV interested in just one. Each DTT licence will enable the successful bidder to operate a TV channel and up to two licences: one for HD and another for SD. Group Secuoya has announced that, if successful, it will launch one family channel and another dedicated to children.

Veo TV group, which currently has two DTT licences leased to Discovery Max and 13 TV has decided to remain out of the bidding process. All the bidders have had to deposit a €6 million guarantee, an amount that will be returned when the licences are awarded in September.

Currently, following the closure of 9 DTT channels, Spaniards can watch 15 national DTT channels: Six operated by Mediaset (Telecinco, Cuatro, FDF, Divinity, Energy and Boing); Five by Atresmedia (Antena 3, La Sexta, Neox, Nova and Gol TV); Two from Veo TV rented to Discovery Max and 13 TV; Two from Net TV rented to Disney Channel and Paramount Channel. With the new channels, and if there is no more closing of channels (The Supreme Court could rule the closure of 8 additional channels) the DTT offer available will be 21 DTT channels with a national coverage and with new potential media groups breaking into the market.

Categories: Articles, Broadcast, DTT/DSO