ES: Government Blocks Digital System

In Spain, the government introduced regulations on 31 January that block the sale of decoders for Canal Satellite Digital’s (CSD) first broadcasts in the country. The government argues that there must be a standardisation of the decoding device, otherwise CSD would be able to establish a monopoly over the Spanish market. CSD is owned by Spain’s biggest media group, Grupo Prisa; it launched the first Spanish domestic digital TV service on 30 January, in conjunction with France’s Canal Plus. CSD has called the government’s move an abuse of power and alleges that it has been prompted by the government’s desire to prevent CSD from gaining a head-start over a rival, government-backed service starting in March.