Spanish TV channels - changing freqencies

Spanish TV channels - changing freqencies

If you have lost your TDT Spanish TV channels, then this may be due to the fact that many of them have moved to new frequencies! And the old frequencies have been switched off (or will be by tomorrow!)

This is due to the fact that the range of frequencies they used to be transmitted from has to be cleared to make way for mobile 3g and 4g services.

For most people, simply performing a "rescan" on your TDT receiver or TV should bring in the Spanish TV channels on their new frequencies.

If it does not, then maybe you are one of the few unlucky ones who are in a community who has not yet updated the systems at the "head end".

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Paramount Channel : New channel on TDT in Spain

Paramount Channel will begin broadcasting on digital terrestrial television in Spain on Friday, March 30th, with one of the most successful films in the history of cinema, The Godfather.

Paramount Channel will be available free to air and will feature over 600 movies across nine genres, from the 100-year-old film library of Paramount Pictures, as well as a selection of titles from other American studios and the best representation of Spanish cinema.

The channel’s day-to-day programming will bring together blockbusters, classics and some of the most award-winning films in the history of cinema. Eleven movies will air each day, with the most popular hits in primetime and weekends dedicated to family cinema for all audiences.

Movies initially launching on the channel, which launches on March 30, will include The Godfather, American Beauty, A.I, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Fatal Attraction. The network will also include titles from other Hollywood studios and VIMN has already inked deals with Sony and Miramax.

Spanish TV - We can consider ourselves the world leaders in telebasura – trash TV

In Spain, reading levels are very low, educational failure very high and public contempt for culture colossal. However, not everything is lost: we can consider ourselves the world leaders in telebasura – trash TV. Broadcasters have a complete disregard for taste or decency, airing material unsuitable for children at all ours of the day, profiting from scandal and violence, exploiting sex in true macho style, practising trial by television and disseminating mumbo-jumbo and pseudoscience. The news is partisan and sensationalist, the language vulgar and advertising floods the schedules. But as long as audience figures rise, they're allowed to get away with it.

In fact audiences are glued to the screen: the average consumption of television in Spain in 2010 was 234 minutes per person per day.

It would be unjust to say that television in Spain is merely bad. Television in Spain is appalling. The stars of the schedule are sitcoms, whose pathetic acting and bargain basement scripts bely the gusts of canned laughter over every other line. There are reality shows that alienate the contestants as much as the viewers, and political discussions that are as extreme as they are biased. The only news items worthy of the name are transmitted by TVE, a public channel that, now that it has stopped showing advertising, is stimied by financial problems.

While TVE earned 63.5m euros less in 2010 than the previous year and closed its accounts with a loss of 48m euros, the private channels are earning money like never before. The income of Telecinco rose 30.3% during 2010, to 855.1m euros. At Antena 3 they "only" made a net return last year of 109.1m euros, an increase of 79.6% on 2009.

One main channel alone, Telecinco, holds 51% of advertising thanks to a merger of channels allowed last year by the National Commission of Competition. Less plurality, more profit: Telecinco is the channel of Belén Esteban, the ex-wife of a bullfighter crowned by the Spanish audience as the "queen of the people". The people of telebasura.


Javier Pérez de Albéniz blogs on Spanish television at eldescodificador.wordpress.com. English translation by Howard Rouse

sounrce: _http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2011/apr/01/critics-notebook-javier-perez-de-albeniz

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TV in Spain, Frequency changes

It is being reported that some of the TV channels in Spain, on the digital TDT TV system, will, on or around the 1st March, will be changing their frequencies.

TDT is the Spanish version of the UK Freeview TV service, and allows the reception of around 30 to 40 SPanish digital TV chanels via a TV aerial.

This should not pose any real issues, but may require you to perform a rescan on your TDT set top box or TDT TV integrated receiver.

For the atest on TDT TV in Spain and potential new chanenls and frequency changes, visit the TDT TV in Spain section on our forum








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The Simpsons in HD on Antena 3 HD on Spanish Digital TV

Antena 3 has announced that the new season of the Simpsons, wil be broadcast in 16:9 widescreen format and native HD.

This Tuesday September 28 Antena 3 will launch its new channel, a simulcast of the Antean 3 channel in HD

This announcement was made on the same day that Telecinco HD was announced as the first private channel to adopt this format. In some areas Telecinco HD is already available.

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MTV will launch for free on TDT in Spain on September 16

MTV will launch for free on TDT in Spain on September 16

It will start by broadcasting the most spectacular music awards and shocking the world: the MTV Video Music Awards.
At 21:00 Johann Wald will welcome all viewiers with a special program from Los Angeles, on the red carpet at the MTV VMAs. Then the 2010 MTV VMAs will be shown, on MTV Spain, whch will be available for free and with no subscription on TDT.

After the half-hour special, the MTV Video Music Awards 2010 will be broadcast in full and dubbed into Castilian.

The MTV VMAs ceremony brings together the biggest stars in show business and entertainment, and every year it amazes with the exceptional quality of their live performances and surprises that can only happen on MTV.

This year live performances at the MTV VMAs include Linkin Park, Usher, Paramore, Eminem, Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Drake, BoB, Florence & The Machine, and Travi McCoy, Jason and Robyn Derulo.

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Reports: La Sexta to start two more channel on TDT in Spain

Later this year, La Sexta will start a second free channels on TDT, and also start another pay channel on DTT.
This was confimed today by Jose Miguel Contreras, CEO of La Sexta, in the presentation of the 2010/11 season.

"We want to complement La Sexta,which has a very specific audience." Contreras said

On the third pay channel on TDT, the CEO said he hopes to launch in October. Thus, the La Sexta Group will have two open and two payment channels on TDT in Spain.

High Definition Television (HDTV) is also one of their most desired goals "We want to be the first private channel to have HDTV broadcasts."

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Broadcast start dates for new channels on TDT in Spain

Broadcast start dates for new channels on TDT in Spain

The list below shows the start of each channel available;

Canal Nitro : Lunes 23 Agosto a las 13:30 Horas
Nitro Canal: Monday August 23 at 13:30

Canal + Dos : Lunes 23 de Agosto a las 8:00 Horas sustituyendo a 40 Latino ( gracias a moods )
Canal + Two: Monday August 23 at 8:00 am replacing 40 Latino

MTV : 30 de Agosto
MTV: August 30

La 10 : 20 de Septiembre
The 10: September 20

Marca TV : 28 de Agosto a las 9:00 Horas
Brand TV: August 28th at 9:00 hours

Boing : 1 de Septiembre a las 8:00 Horas
Boing: September 1 at 8:00 am

You may need to perform a channel rescan to have these channel included in your TDT Receiver.

Some community digital television systems may need to be upgraded to allow for these new frequencies.


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Canal+ Dos is expected to launch on TDT in Spain on the 23rd August - ie next week.

Today, the 17th AUgust the boxes should have gone on sale.

There was talk of putting the first units in strategic commercial centers and gradually spread throughout the distribution to all areas.

Canal + Dos will be a pay channel on Premium TDT.

YOu will require another card - seperate to the current GOL TV and AXN cards, but the new Canal+ Dos card shouold be conpatiable with most existing Pay TDT recievers and PCMAI readers on TV that are currently used for the GOL TV footlabb cards.

So, they say that anyone who is a Gol TV subscriber can purchase this card and use it in their CAM or receiver without any incompatibility.

The channel is expected to cost €15 per month.
The Channel is currently offering two free months of viewing with new purchases.
It is unknown if other channel will join this line up and make the €15 go further.

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BOING - new childrens channel on TDT in Spain soon

It is anticipated that a new channel, aim for children, will launch on TDT in Spain on September 1.

Boing, will be aimed at children and show children channel on TDT in Spain. Boing is expected to compete for the younger audience with TVE Clan TV.

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MTV on TDT starts test transmissions

MTV on TDT in Spain has started some test transmission.

Videos of Lady Gaga and Beyonce "Telephone" and Shakira "Waka Waka" are available. Between each song there is a promotion that indicates that the channel is a "good idea" and would soon be available on TDT in Spain.

The voice indicates that MTV will begin in September.



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TVE HD now reaches 63% of the population on TDT in Spain

TVE HD now reaches 63% of the population but have to wait to 2015 for it reaches 98%

Spanish Television coverage continues to expand its high definition channel with TVE HD, now coming to 63% of the population and can be seen in 40 provinces.

The public broadcaster want that by February 2011 90% of the population, and 98% by 2015, receives TVE HD and the best quality picture on their TV.

Valencia, Alicante, Tarragona, San Sebastian, Santander, Almeria, Aguilas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas, Cáceres, Badajoz, Leon, Jaén, Toledo and Pamplona are some of the provinces that have are able to receive TVE HD. This is in addition to Madrid, Barcelona, Zamora, Zaragoza A Coruña who have been receiving the signal for a few months.

In total 63% of the population, 28 million people, should be able to receive TVE HD, via their TV aeiral and a TDT HD receiver, be it a HD TV with built in TDT receiver, or a seperate HD TDT settop box.

The expanding coverage in TVE HD, and HD on TDT in general is the result of the bringing into operation of a second transmitter / receiver that emits a replica of the channel and the channel TVE Teledeporte HD tests, and better TDT encoding technology.TVE HD now reaches 63% of the population but have to wait to 2015 for it reaches 98%

Spanish Television coverage continues to expand its high definition channel with TVE HD, now coming to 63% of the population and can be seen in 40 provinces.

The public broadcaster want that by February 2011 90% of the population, and 98% by 2015, receives TVE HD and the best quality picture on their TV.

Valencia, Alicante, Tarragona, San Sebastian, Santander, Almeria, Aguilas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas, Cáceres, Badajoz, Leon, Jaén, Toledo and Pamplona are some of the provinces that have are able to receive TVE HD. This is in addition to Madrid, Barcelona, Zamora, Zaragoza A Coruña who have been receiving the signal for a few months.

In total 63% of the population, 28 million people, should be able to receive TVE HD, via their TV aeiral and a TDT HD receiver, be it a HD TV with built in TDT receiver, or a seperate HD TDT settop box.

The expanding coverage in TVE HD, and HD on TDT in general is the result of the bringing into operation of a second transmitter / receiver that emits a replica of the channel and the channel TVE Teledeporte HD tests, and better TDT encoding technology.

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Antena Nitro New channel on TDT in September

Announced a few weeks ago, Antena.Nitro is one of the future TDT channels that has raised more expectations among all that have been presented so far.

Antena.Nitro will be a channel devoted exclusively to male viewers, thus completing the group's offer Antena 3 on TDT that already has Antena.Nova (female audience) and Antena.Neox (young audiences).

To get you started, the group has decided to move forward little by little some elements of its new channel before its official launch, through its corporate website: www.antena3.com/nitro.

Most of the content of the channel will primarily be major USA drama series, such as 24 and Flashpoint

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MTV on TDT in Spain - for free to watch

The music channel MTV will join the TDT in Spain from September and will do free to air with no subscription it has announced. Viacom, owner of MTV, and NET TV has announced having signed an agreement for MTV to be available for free on terrestrial digital television. Until now the Spanish version of MTV could only see through pay TV. The network's programming will be the usual music, comedy shows, news and events.


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TDT in Spain - Digital Terrestrial Television (Spains version of UK Freeview) frequency changes timetable

Digital Terrestrial Television (TDT in Spain) providers will have to change the frequencies before January 1, 2015.

Users will also be required to re-tune and adjust their TV reception systems and probably community TV distribution systems, although not required to install new decoders and antennas.

This was stated by the Deputy Director General of Planning and Spectrum Management, Ministry of Industry and Tourism, Antonio Fernandez Paniagua.


The frequency change will not be done overnight and for a time two transmission frequencies for each channel on TDT in Spain will coexist in order to have time to adapt.

The Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce will soon make available a calendar of the process, which has to be completed by January 1, 2015, although the intention of the Ministry is to bring forward that date and carry out an information campaign among citizens.

This change will release part of the airwaves for wireless broadband is to "break the digital divide so that access to high speed internet also reach those in isolated rural areas", explained the Industry Ministry official

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Possible loss of TDT Reception in the summer for the Costas

Reports of heat affecting TDT (Spanish TV)reception.

There have been reports in some Spanish media outlets that the heat during the summer is having an affect on the TDT TV signals across the Costas.

According to reports, emergancy work is being donw on many transmitters, with some more repeaters being installed in some areas affected.

This may mean that some popele may lose some channels.

But as an emergany measure, some channels are being made available on some other frequencies - that are less affected by the heat.

It may be that a rescan on your TDT receiver is required.

It may mean that some community TV systems in Spain will have to be upgraded with new frequency modules to make sure the community TV installations receive these emergancy TDT frequencies.

Possible Loss of Spanish TDT TV signals in Spain

This and further information can be found on our website and Satellite TV forum:

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Some Changes to TDT – Important Sky Card Information – Sky Boxes switching off

Some Changes to TDT – Important Sky Card Information – Sky Boxes switching off

TDT is the Spanish Digital Television service available via your TV aerial. With TDT you can receive around 30 digital Spanish Channels. Although there are no UK or English channels on TDT, you can, in many cases, change the language of certain UK and USA imported programmes from the dubbed Spanish into English. In most cases this can be done by simply pressing the “Audio” button on the remote control.

Sony Entertainment TV no longer available

One of the TDT channels that transmitted a number of American TV imports was the Sony Entertainment Channel – SET. However, you may have noticed that in the last few weeks it is now unavailable, or you are getting a “channel scrambled” message. This is because SET is no longer being broadcasted on TDT. It has been replaced by AXN. However, AXN is the second pay channel on TDT, the first being GOL TV.

To watch these Premium TDT channels you require a Premium viewing card, and a TDT receiver or a TDT Integrated TV with the ability to read the card. Currently a monthly subscription of around 15euros is required for access to both Gol TV and AXN.

High Definition Channels on TDT

Over the coming year some more HD TDT channels will become available. I say more, as in some areas of the Valencia area it is possible to receive Canal 9 HD. Later in the year TVE, and Telecinco are expect to launch their TDT HD channels. In order to receive these TDT HD channels you will require either a TDT HD set top box, or a TV with a built in TDT HD receiver.

Important Sky Card information

As many are aware Sky TV recently replaced their viewing cards from the Blue with Yellow house cards to the all white cards. On the 1st March 2010 all the old blue yellow house cards were deactivated and no longer “unlock” any of the Sky TV channels.

The new white cards have also thrown up a few interesting surprises.
Sky card require a constant signal from the satellite to “keep the cards alive”. If the cards do not receive this “keep alive” signal over a few weeks, then the cards can “go to sleep”. If the cards have “gone to sleep” then one the encrypted channels you will see a message informing you that “This is the wrong cards for this set top box”.

The old blue Sky cards could be “woken up” by leaving them in ANY Sky digibox over a period of 24 / 48 hours, and the channels would eventually reappear. However, the new white Sky cards can only be woken up by leaving them for 24/48 hours in the Sky box that he cards were originally activated in.

Sky Boxes Switching Off Randomly

Since the beginning of March 2010, some Sky boxes have been experiencing an issue where they are switching off at random times, even if you have turned off the Autostandby feature on the Sky box.

The Autostandby feature automatically puts the Sky box into Standby mode if the box has been switched on and no remote control buttons have been touched for 4 hours – supposedly helping you save some power by not having the box turned on all the time.

However, on the Pace 430N Sky receivers, a software update from Sky has been causing the boxes to shut down at random times. You can confirm your make of Sky box by looking at the sticker that should be on the bottom of your box. By pressing Services, 4, 5 and accessing the System Details, software version 3.8.8 is the one that is causing the issues. All other Sky boxes and software versions are at the moment OK.

You can correct this problem yourself, by performing a manual software update which rolls back the software to the previous working version.
This process should be done in the morning, and only if you are getting the background music playing when you enter the Sky menu system, as the frequency for the software download may not be available on small dishes or in the afternoon, and performing it when the frequency is not there could damage your Sky box.

1 Unplug your sky box from the power
2 Press and hold the BACKUP button on the Sky box – not the remote control.
3 Still pressing the Back up button, reapply the power.
4 Keep pressing the back up button on the Sky box until RED YELOW and GREEN light glow on the front panel of the box. A “Downloading” message may also appear on the screen
5 Once these lights have appeared you can release the Back up button, as the box has now started the software download.
6 The Sky box will reboot once the download has been completed. You can confirm if the correct software has been downloaded by going once again into the System Details (Service, 4, 5) and checking that the Software version is now 3.7.6

I should better reiterate that this process should only be down if you can get the download frequency (11778) indicated by the background music on the sky menu screen, that you may also have to re add those “extra” ITV1, C4 and Five channels you have added into your Other Channels lists, and that you perform this upgrade at your own risk and I cannot be held liable if it fails and / or damages your Sky box.

This and further information can be found on our website and Satellite TV forum:

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TDT via satellite - interesting survey results

A recent survey saw that an overwhelming 98% responded that they wanted a Satellite DTT as in other countries.

Many of the current problems of TDT reception are due to grey areas, where TDT signals are either very weak or nonexistant. In Spain 1.5% of the population live in these TDT grey areas, which rises to over 35% if you count areas bloccked by buildings. A total of more than 2 million households would receive NO TV in a position today and another 3.5 million million have pixilation, Fadding or white noise along the coast.

This could be solved by TDT by satellite

According to the latest survey on satellite DTT, 97.7% of Internet users who responded to the consultation want access to TDT channels via satellite for free, as in most European countries, such as France, Italy and the UK (Freesat).

Unlike in Spain, the governments of these countries have opted for open models in the distribution of DTT by the alternative pathway of the satellite, making it easier for all who want access to this modality.

The result is that any French citizen, English or Italian has only to approach a distributor (dealer or supermarket) to buy the receiver and the corresponding card (if required - not in the UK, but in France - TNTSAT) for a price of around 100 euros.

Another difference is that in these cases the package is available by satellite is the same as the land based transmitters and includes the HD channels and pay channels.

In Spain access to satellite DTT is much more restricted because we have to go to an installer approved by Abertis and meet certain requirements and procedures, which lengthen the process and make it expensive: The installer goes to the user's home (which should be in shaded area) to check that there is no possibility of receiving the TDT signal and draws up a report submitted by Abertis. Abertis gives its approval and delivery to the user keys that can unlock the receiver and the card (also approved by Abertis). Once these unlocked, the installer returns the address of the user to proceed to the final installation. The average cost of a satellite installation of DTT in Spain is around 400 euros.

In addition, each receptor is only for a TV and its reception capacity is limited to two transponders on Hispasat.

The survey, which was attended by 8545 Internet users, giving results very clear about how you should distribute satellite DTT in Spain:

- 8348 people, 97.69% of participants want a cheap satellite DTT and free access, as in other countries.

- 1.33% DTT Satellite wants a free access, no matter the price.

- 0.44% The states that do not need satellite DTT in Spain.

- 0.41% is satisfied as currently distributed by Abertis.

And the 0.12% estimated that DTT is not necessary as some satellite channels are available in packages of payment.



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Will UK TVs work in Spain?

Will UK TVs work in Spain?

Generally yes.

However the tuner inside the TVs may be different as

Spain uses VHF and UHF and the UK only UHF.

Any external equipment like DVD players, or satellite receiver will also work, as long as they are connected via a SCART, component or HDMI cables.

You may find you are unable to watch Spain analogue TV services, as they use a different frequency for their audio, so you may get a picture but no audio. This is not so much an issue as Spain has now moved to Digital Terrestrial TV.
 
 





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UK TV In Spain Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive Freesat in Spain?
Can I watch Sky TV in Spain?

These and many more questions are always being asked as people try to decide what is the best way to receive UK TV channels in Spain on the various satellite and digital terrestrial services.

With this in mind, we have created a number of pages which tries to answer all your UK TV in Spain questions.

Frequently Asked Questions - UK TV in Spain

Frequently Asked Questions - Freesat TV In Spain

Frequently Asked Questions - Freeview TV in Spain

Frequently Asked Questions - Sky TV in Spain

Frequently Asked Questions - TDT in Spain

If a specific question is not answered on these pages then you can always try our forum - http://www.satandpcguy.com/forum/