Discovery to Launch New Free-to-Air Channel in Spain

MADRID: Unidad Editorial (UE) and Discovery Networks International are bringing a new free-to-air channel to Spain, launching in January 2012.

The new service will be a factual-entertainment channel, complementary to Discovery’s portfolio of pay-TV offerings. The as-yet-unnamed service will offer content from Discovery’s channels and will also offer news and current-affairs programming in prime time that is created by UE.

Antonio Fernández-Galiano, the president of Veo Televisión and CEO of Unidad Editorial, said: “This is an important agreement with Discovery Networks, the biggest non-fiction media company in the world. We are developing in the spanish market a new and innovative project that combines the successful formula of Discovery with the informative strength of Unidad Editorial.”

Dee Forbes, the president and managing director of Discovery Networks Western Europe, added: “The launch of a free-to-air channel in Spain gives us the opportunity to increase the size of our Spanish business and reinforces our commitment to the Spanish market. We have a predominantly paytv business across Western Europe, but in some markets such as Spain, where DTT is the dominant TV platform, the addition of a free to air channel, gives us an opportunity to share our content with the widest possible audience.”

Marinella Soldi, the general manager of Discovery Networks Southern Europe, commented: “We are very excited about this partnership. Partnering with Unidad Editorial to launch a DTT channel is a step change for our Spanish TV business. It gives us the opportunity to bring Discovery’s high-quality factual programs to the widest possible Spanish Audience. Discovery has launched successful free to air channels in other European markets, including Italy and Germany. This new agreement provides opportunities for us to further increase our investment in the Spanish market and expand our distribution to nearly 100 percent of Spanish households.”