The emission of the channels of terrestrial digital television (TDT) for the cable will be obligatory, but not free. The Executive has prepared a draft of regulation of liberalization of the cable in which some conditions are included to the diffusion of digital channels in the platforms of multimedia services offered by the cableoperadores.

According to public the economic journal Five Days, the current writing of the regulation, which has been already presented to the Cabinet but which has still to be a pass like Royal decree, contemplates the demand of the operators of television and of the companies of cable of supporting negotiations so that they come to commercial agreements of development of the channels.

Since there began the emission of the new digital television on November 30 of last year, the televisions have showed his opposition to transfer free these signs for his diffusion in the platforms of the operators of cable. For his part, the companies of cable have supported that they have the right and the obligation to express these channels, according to a well-known beginning like must carry, therefore it must be free. Even the operators Ono and R they threatened in March to refuse to spread 20 channels if it forced them to be paid by it.

In particular, the biggest pitfall is in certain contents of extra cost of the terrestrial digital television. According to the share-out, RTVE has assigned a finished múltiplex (four channels) more a channel in another múltiplex; Antenna 3, Telecinco and Sogecable, three digital channels; and The Sixth one, I See and Net, two.

The sign of the channels that at present is expressed in analogical (TVE1, 2, Telecinco, Antenna 3, Four, The Sixth one) raises less problem for the televisions at the time of transferring it for his diffusion in the cable, according to sources of the sector.

Nevertheless, the plan of some chains of preparing programmings and specific bundles for some of his exclusive channels of digital television (as it is the case of the Channel 24 Hours, Clan / channel TVE 50 Years and Teledeporte of RTVE; Antenna. Neox and Antenna. It nongoes, of Antenna 3; Telecinco Sport and Telecinco Estrellas, of Telecinco; CNN + and Sogecable Latin, of 40, and The Sexta2, of The Sixth one) one sees like a pitfall for the operators, who claim an economic compensation for his emission.

As added problem, the televisions argue that, frequently, the emission of the channels across the platforms of the cable does not calculate exactly the hearing to them for his chain, with what they cannot obtain advertizing yield of the relative increase of the hearing of these channels.


To plan the transition

Also, the regulation will impose other obligations to the televisions as regards the TDT. Between others, one will demand from the chains of television that should present a planning of how they are going to carry out the digitization and, in his case, of how they will carry out the analogical blackout for regions and cities, in such a way that the end of the analogical emission is not carried out at the same time in the whole Spanish territory. The deadline fixed by law for this transition is in April, 2010.

Also, the draft of the regulation foresees to fix intermediate period of coverage demanded from the televisions to be able to realize a pursuit of the evolution. The dates established in the national technical Plan of the terrestrial digital television (90 % of the population before December 31, 2008 and 95 % of the population before April 3, 2010) are supported. But, like complement, it is established that in July, 2007, the coverage of the terrestrial digital television must reach 85 %; in July, 2008, 88 % and in July, 2009, 93 %.


(Five Days, 10/06/06)