Telefonica Media, Telefonica’s media subsidiary, and Spanish digital terrestrial operator Onda Digital’s shareholders (Endesa, Union Fenosa and Telecom Italia) are studying the possibility of merging the two digital platforms in some way. Telefonica Media has created a working group led by Hispasat’s former managing director Gabriel Barrasa to examine ways in which the merger could be done. Onda Digital’s shareholders have established a similar group.

Alberto Salazar Simpson, president of AIE, the group made up of Onda Digital’s shareholders, said the existence of three platforms in Spain was one too many. “It’s necessary to end up only with two platforms,” said Simpson. An agreement would give Via Digital access to a total of 850,000 subscribers (Onda Digital’s potential starting subscriber base of 450,000 and Via Digital’s existing 400,000 subscribers).

Onda Digital is meanwhile negotiating with Canal Satélite Digital to secure PPV football rights. If it succeeds Via Digital’s negotiating position could be weakened. Canal Satélite Digital sources maintain that it is the prospect of an Onda-Canal Satélite football deal that has prompted Via Digital to start merger negotiations with Onda. Other sources say, however, that former Via president Pedro Pérez resignation was the result of having been pressed to negotiate this merger.

Onda Digital began testing on November 15 and has said that regular transmission will begin by next March. Onda’s main shareholder is Retevision with 49 per cent. Another important stakeholder is Catalan producer Media Park (which produces eight thematic channels for Via Digital).