Spain

[ES] Analogue Terrestrial TV Switch-Off Complete

IRIS 2010-6:1/24

Trinidad García Leiva

Universidad Carlos III, Madrid

Digital switchover was achieved as planned in Spain in April 2010. The migration, which took place in three phases beginning in 2008, was progressively implemented throughout the 73 technical areas into which the country was “divided” by the National Technical Plan on DTTV (see IRIS 2008-9: 9/11). On 30 March, 84 of the 90 technical projects of the implementation plan were definitively switched off, while the whole process was completed before the official deadline of 3 April.

As of March 2010 and according to Impulsa TDT - the association created by broadcasters to promote the adoption of DTT - the following were the main statistics of the service: national public service channels reached 98.36% of the population, whereas commercial services accounted for 98.79%; penetration stood at 89.3% of TV households and, although there were still analogue receivers to be converted, it was estimated that the total figure for DTT receivers stood at over 31 million.

In an official presentation on 30 March 2010, the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade welcomed DTT. Minister Miguel Sebastián outlined the positive outcome of the coordination between stakeholders, as well as the fact that Spain switched off two years ahead of the 2012 deadline suggested by the European Union. The migration process is said to have created 40,000 jobs, boosted the activity of more than 10,000 companies and mobilised approximately EUR 12,000 million. The Ministry distributed free of charge more than 130,000 set-top boxes available to vulnerable groups.