Following the exit of Spanish state broadcaster RTVE from the Euronews consortium, the news channel is now actively pursuing a digital terrestrial licence in the country.
Euronews has been struggling to get distribution in the country following the withdrawal of RTVE in 2007. With Spain now holding the rotating presidency of the European Union, the channel believes it to be the right time to target to the Spanish audience once more.
“We do not understand that Spain does not support a single European news channel,” said Euronews president Philippe Cayla to Spanish newspaper ABC. Euronews has been in contact with Secretary of State for the EU, Diego Lopez Garrido, Secretary of State for Communication, Nieves Goicoechea. “Both have promised a solution during the semester of Spanish presidency of the EU, but the issue has not yet been answered.” According Cayla, “a satisfactory solution would be a DTT licence for Euronews.”
For the past few months, Euronews has been in talks with regional broadcasters and is about to sign a number of agreements with Canal Andaluz, Canal Sur and TV Balear. Basque regional channel ETB has requested a daily ten minute programme in the Basque language.
