http://www.advanced-television.com/2005/news_archive_2005/Aug1_Aug5.htm Spain overhauls TV market From David del Valle in Madrid Spain's Government has approved an important package of measures that will reshape the Spanish TV market in the coming months. A cabinet meeting has approved a new DTT Technical Plan that paves the way for the launch this Autumn of a free-to-air DTT platform with 21 channels. The new DTT rule sets April 2010 as the deadline for the analogue switch-off (two years earlier than initially expected) and allocate the DTT frequencies. Until 2010, state broadcaster RTVE - which will lead the platform, playing a similar role to the BBC in the UK - will operate six channels; private broadcasters (Antena 3 TV, Tele 5 and Canal Plus), three DTT channels each; digital operators Net TV and Veo TV and the new analogue channel, two each. When digital migration is completed, will operate one multiplex (four channels), except for RTVE with two. The Government has also decided to open the commercial TV market up to a new entrant by approving the launch of a new analogue TV channel, with a coverage of around 70 per cent of Spain. The licence will be awarded through a public tender before the end of 2005. The new channel will have to be in operation six months after licence award, broadcasting at least 12 hours per day and covering 20 per cent of the population. The cabinet meeting also agreed to allow pay-TV operator Sogecable to turn its pay-TV channel into a free-to-air service, although it has imposed several conditions on the acquisition of football and movie rights. The new FTA Canal Plus will be also obliged to broadcast 24 hours before December 2005. Finally, the Government has approved legislation - now to be passed by the Parliament - that will reform public television, establishing a new legal and financial framework for state-owned RTVE. The aim is to put an end to the chaotic financial situation of the group and turn it into a politically independent company. Accordingly, the general director of the group will no longer be appointed by the Government, but by the RTVE's board of directors (10 members named by the Parliament, the Senate and trade unions). RTVE's management will be carefully controlled by the Parliament and by a yet-to-be formed Audiovisual Council. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways: - Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at FreeLists.org - By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word unsubscribe in the subject line.