Spain to Close Nine DTT Channels

MADRID: The Spanish Supreme Court has ordered nine nationwide DTT channels to shut down by tomorrow, May 6.

Atresmedia closed three channels (Xplora, Nitro and laSexta 3), while Mediaset España switched off two (La Siete and Nueve). The other four channels are Net TV, Veo TV, Marca TV and AXN. These closures reduce the Spanish DTT market from 24 channels to 15.

Previously, the Court declared that the awarding of the nine DTT licenses was illegal, since the process did not follow the correct procedure or was not compliant with all the rules of competition. The commercial broadcasters' association, UTECA, filed an appeal in the Supreme Court, which rejected the motion. UTECA has now filed an appeal in the Constitutional Court that will be heard later this year.