Spain’s Supreme Court will meet on June 23 to decide on whether to order the closure of eight DTT channels.
According to El Economista, the decision, which result in a huge blow for Mediaset and Atresmedia, the country’s two leading broadcasters, has caused a confrontation between by vice president Soraya Sáenz de Santamaria and José Manuel Soria, the industry minister.
While the former is in favour of changing the law if necessary to prevent the closure, the latter does not want to interfere in the legal process.
The broadcasters have spent several months pushing to have the audiovisual law amended ahead of the Supreme Court ruling in order to nullify what is expected to be an unfavourable ruling.
If the closure is approved, Mediaset will lose four channels (Energy, Divinity, Boing and FDF) and be left solely with Telecinco and Cuatro. Meanwhile, Atresmedia will have to close Neox and Nova, retaining Antena 3, La Sexta and the new channel replacing Gol TV.
