[opendtv] News: Spain overhauls TV market

  • From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: OpenDTV Mail List <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sat, 30 Jul 2005 07:42:55 -0400

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.
 
 
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