The Spanish Administration is set to approve later this month a public tender to award 5 new DTT licences from September which will compensate Atresmedia and Mediaset with new channels and will open the door to a new entrant in the market.

The government is reportedly planning to compensate the two largest TV companies in Spain, Atresmedia and Mediaset, for the loss of three and two DTT channels respectively, following the Supreme Court’s ruling to close down 9 DTT channels. So Atresmedia, which currently operates five channels, would gain two new DTT licences whereas Mediaset, operator of six channels, would get one DTT licence, with both operating seven DTT channels each. The fourth DTT licence would be awarded to the catholic channel 13TV and the fifth would be probably granted to an International group.

The new DTT licences will be awarded in September with four being on HD and one on SD. In the meantime, the Supreme Court has to decide whether to close down another 8 DTT channels, a decision to be announced shortly.

Categories: Articles, Broadcast, DTT/DSO