Spain

[ES] Renewal of Concessions for National TV Broadcasters and Tender for National Free-to-Air DTTV Concessions

IRIS 2000-4:1/9

Alberto Pérez Gómez

Entidad publica empresarial RED.ES

On 10 March 2000, the Spanish Government decided to renew the concessions awarded in 1989 to the national private broadcasters Canal Plus-Sogecable, Antena 3 TV and Gestevisión-Telecinco for a new ten-years period. The conditions of the concessions will remain the same, with just one exception: these broadcasters must start providing Digital Terrestrial Television (DTTV) services no later than two years after the renewal of those concessions. For these purposes, the National Technical Plan on DTTV reserves a programme service for each of the three private broadcasters in a digital multiplex. These private broadcasters will have to share that multiplex with the public national broadcaster TVE.

The Government has invited tenders with a view to granting two new concessions for the provision of the public service of national DTTV. The successful companies will manage a free-to-air digital television programme service each. The Government must grant the licenses before November 2000.

The Government also granted ten concessions for the provision of national Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) services, and it invited tenders with a view to granting two new concessions for the provision of national DAB services. The Government must grant these licences also before November 2000.