Spaniards can already apply for the grants to adapt their aerials to watch DTT as a result of the digital migration the country is now facing due to the so-called digital dividend.

From now until June 30th 2015 an Internet application through the website red.es is available to fill in a form to apply for the aid to finance the resetting of the aerials. The state subsidies range from €100 and €550 depending on the number of affected multiplexes in each block of flats. An invoice and an installation bulletin of the DTT adaptation must be included in the applications to get the money back from the Government.

The retuning must take place before the end of the year as a result of the allocation of the digital dividend to 4G operators. The Government estimates that the total cost to readjust the aerials will be €286 million (in comparison with the €800 million estimated in the previous plan) with an average cost per household of €22.60, affecting 55 per cent of the population.

The cabinet recently approved a new DTT Technical Plan that laid down that broadcasters must free up the 800 MHz band to the benefit of 4G operators in a process that should be completed before January 1 2015.
The new DTT map in Spain is now composed of eight multiplexes against the current 10 with private TVs operating five multiplexes (instead of the current six), regional TVs managing one multiplex (compared to the current two) and RTVE, the public national broadcaster, with one and a half multiplex (instead of the existing two).

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