Search results : 342

On 27 November 2012, the Supreme Court declared null and void the decision of the Council of Ministers of 16 July 2010, which awarded an entire multiplex to each of the existing national commercial broadcasters (Antena 3, Gestevisión Telecinco, Sogecable, Veo TV, NET TV and La Sexta), for non-compliance with the applicable Audiovisual Law (see IRIS 2010-4/21). What was challenged was not the spectrum allocation itself, a matter that the Court understands to be mainly a technical issue, but the procedure that was followed for the allocation of frequencies. The licences were awarded without any public...

On 18 July 2012, the Spanish Supreme Court declared null and void all local allocations of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) granted at the beginning of 2006 by the Generalitat Valenciana (Valencian regional government). The Court found that the Generalitat had lacked objectivity and impartiality in the allocation process. The plaintiff at the action is Tele Elx, the first local television that had broadcast in the Valencian Community. In first instance, the Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Valencia (Valencian High Court) rejected its complaint, whereas the Supreme Court has upheld its arguments. The...

On 24 August 2012 the Council of Ministers approved a plan, entitled Plan de Impulso de la TDT y de la Innovación Tecnológica (Promotion Plan for DTT and technological innovation), which aims to support high definition television and 4G mobile broadband services but which will also affect DTT services. Since the switch-off of analogue terrestrial television took place in April 2010 in Spain (see IRIS 2010-6/24), it was decided that the frequencies to be released, best known as the digital dividend, would be mainly dedicated to the provision of 4G services. Nevertheless, the allocation of television...

On 13 July 2012, the Spanish Minister of the Treasury, Mr. Cristóbal Montoro, announced the next VAT rate increase in Spain with respect to cultural industry services (cinemas, concerts and theatres) as of 1 September 2012. Specifically, the rate should increase from the current 8% to 21%, instead of 10%, which was the first proposal, as these services have always been included in the group of reduced tax rates. But as from 1 September 2012 these cultural services should belong to the group of services to which the general rate applies, which will also be increased from 18% to 21%. Therefore, the...

In her regular report to the OSCE Permanent Council on 21 June 2012 the themes highlighted by OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović were Internet regulation and journalists’ safety. The report covers the period from 29 March to 21 June 2012. “A global struggle for control of the Internet is under way,” Mijatović told the council, which is the governing body of the organization. “There are competing views about rights, freedoms, security and regulations online. The discussions of freedoms and rights and the discussions around security often appear to be running on parallel...