Abertis Telecom and the Spanish Ministry of Industry have started HD test transmissions in Madrid and Barcelona on a dedicated DTT multiplex.
TVE HD, Canal+ HD, Telecinco HD and Go TV HD are available in HD in the two cities. The pilot transmissions are only technical tests and do not guarantee a licence for the four channels. The tests are meant to verify the quality of different codecs and data rates.
The new licences will be issued before the launch of new multiplexes, that are due to come on the air this June following the complete digital switchover.
The fact that TVE, Go TV and premium broadcaster Canal+ are taking part in the pilot comes as no surprise, but commercial broadcaster Telecinco was not expected to be interested in taking HD capacity.
About Robert Briel
"In an industry that experiences rapid change and often a confusing subsequent
constant supply of news, it is often refreshing to read an insightful perspective. Broadband
TV News and its editorial team regularly provide a context and
helpful analysis to breaking news.”
Broadband TV News is the must-read publication for those working in the Business of the Multiscreen Television. We deliver news, insight and data direct to your desktop. As well as our constantly updated website you can sign-up to our Daily and Weekly email bulletins. 
Connected TV Forecasts NEW REPORT. The number of TV sets connected to the Internet will reach 551 million by 2016 for the 40 countries covered in this report from Digital TV Research, up from 124 million at end-2010. The report states that this translates to 20% of global TV sets by 2016, up from only 6% at end-2010. Published in November 2011, this 83-page PDF report is the most geographically comprehensive to ever be published.