Spain: pay-TV on DTT?
September 13, 2007
From David Del Valle in Madrid
The Spanish TV networks are considering launching pay-TV services and content on the free-to-air digital terrestrial platform following the Italy’s example. They have been making a technical trial in Extremadura, west of Spain, aimed at knowing what type of content the consumer would be interested in and testing technology.
The most enthusiastic broadcasters are La Sexta, through production company Mediapro, and DTT operators Net TV and Veo TV. Mediapro is weighing up the possibility of offering football on pay-per-view through the DTT platform.
The Government is willing to change the legislation to allow pay-TV services to be distributed through DTT. “Currently, according to the law, it is not possible to launch pay DTT channels in Spain, but if the sector makes the request, we will study it because we do not want to limit the development of this technology, above all when technnically it is possible”, said Francisco Ros, State Secretary of Telecommunications.