On Friday 5 August, the European Commission concluded that the Spanish regime compensating terrestrial private broadcasters for carrying out parallel broadcasting in analogue and digital during the process of the digitisation of the terrestrial television signal was in breach of EU state aid rules.
No aid has been granted yet, meaning that no recovery will be required, the Commission explained. "This measure provided a selective advantage to terrestrial broadcasters and platform operators over other available technologies (Ed: satellite, cable), which goes against the principle of technological neutrality and does not appear necessary or proportionate", said the commissioner for competition, Margrethe Vestager.
The switch from analogue to digital broadcasting freed up a part of the radio-electric spectrum previously used for broadcasting. In this context, Spain placed a parallel broadcasting obligation on broadcasters, requiring them to broadcast both analogue and digital signals during the switch-over period in order to avoid interruptions of service for viewers. In 2011, Spain notified its plans to offer broadcasters compensation for the additional costs brought about by this parallel obligation. The Commission opened an in-depth investigation the following year (see EUROPE 10602). (Original version in French by Elodie Lamer)