In the initial days of digital broadcasting Spain was one of the European success stories. By 2002 the country was, together with the UK and Sweden, at the forefront of developments in digital satellite television and leading the way towards digital terrestrial. Today, however, after arbitrary political decisions, a major bankruptcy of their digital terrestrial operator (Quiero TV) and increasing mistrust regarding the overall impact of switchover in the sector, Spain is lagging behind its neighbours. Recent consolidation in the satellite pay-TV (Canal Satelite/Via Digital) and cable markets (Ono/Auna) was not without difficulties, while the digital terrestrial market remained on standby, with a millionaire transmission network heavily under-used. The UK, France and Italy have in the meantime successfully launched DTT achieving high levels of penetration in a short time.

Spain is now trying to catch up. From tomorrow, Spaniards will enjoy 20 new digital terrestrial channels. The re-launch (finally) of DTT is expected to re-boost confidence in the potential growth of the sector. Three multiplex channels have gone to each of the old commercial broadcasters, a full multiplex (four channels) has been given to the public broadcaster (RTVE) and there are two channels for the new digital terrestrial operators Veo TV and Net TV. All are obliged to contribute to the promotion of DTT, with at least one spot per day for one month each trimester.

The launch of DTT is a first step, but there are already a number of fundamental problems with Spain�s transition to digital. First and foremost, although switch off is scheduled for April 2010 (two years earlier than initially planned), a sound digital strategy is lacking and there is incredulity among various players as to the feasibility of the new date.

Second, the focus of the digital transition is solely on digital terrestrial. Luke has already posted his views on this. In October, the �Asociacion Pro TDT� was created, as required by law, to work for the promotion of DTT in collaboration with public administration. The Association (which does not yet have a website�.any bells ringing here?) integrates all broadcasters, as well as Abertis Telecom. The members have initially provided a funding of 480,000 Euro. This organisation is something in the line of Digital UK �formerly SwitchCo� but with the main difference that it is not technologically neutral. Big problem here.

Third, the leader of the digital transition is unsurprisingly -but not uncontroversially- the public service broadcaster RTVE, but one wonders how effectively a company with a 7,500 million Euro debt (figures from July 2005) will manage. In fact, their leadership at the moment is close to zero, and maybe it is better this way.