Spain will begin a major restructuring of its free-to-air digital terrestrial television network on November 5 with the progressive rollout of DVB-T2 Ultra High Definition broadcasts.
The technological transition will require television viewers across the country to retune their receiver equipment to reorganise broadcast spectrum and access new Ultra High Definition (UHD) signals, while standard High Definition (HD) broadcasts will remain available concurrently for conventional devices.
Digital Terrestrial Television, known in Spain as TDT, serves as the main transmission infrastructure for free over-the-air television. The deployment of DVB-T2 technology provides greater bandwidth efficiency, allowing broadcasters to deliver 4K image quality and improved audio fidelity over existing terrestrial frequencies.
RTVE public channel upgrades and accessibility
As part of the public television package, state broadcaster Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) will expand its high-definition broadcasts by launching La 2 UHD on November 5. The move comes one year after the public network introduced its first ultra-high-definition channel, La 1 UHD, in February 2024.
The introduction of La 2 UHD will allow viewers to watch the public channel's cultural programming, documentaries, and feature film catalogue with enhanced image resolution, superior color fidelity, and higher sound performance. RTVE operates La 2 as its dedicated cultural and documentary network alongside its main generalist channel, La 1.
RTVE will also launch RNE Accesible, an evolution of its previous RNE para todos initiative designed specifically for hearing-impaired audiences. The accessible service will incorporate live subtitling, sign language interpretation, and a direct video stream broadcast from the main studio of Radio Nacional de España, the public broadcaster's national radio service.
Launch of new national channel La Septima
The channel reorganisation scheduled for November 5 will coincide with the nationwide launch of La Séptima, a new general-interest television channel. The national broadcast license was awarded to the corporate entity Servicios Integrados Entretenimiento Televisivo, operating under the acronym SIETE.
Backed by Spanish media executive José Miguel Contreras, La Séptima will focus its daily schedule on live news coverage and general entertainment programming. Contreras has previously served as a prominent television producer and executive across major Spanish broadcasting ventures.
The new network has assembled an on-air roster of experienced Spanish media personalities, including journalists Javier Ruiz, Verónica Sanz, Alba Carrillo, Noor Ben Yessef, and Rocío Delgado. Ruiz is a long-standing news anchor and economics commentator in Spanish television.
National television reach and Technical Plan framework
The broadcast overhaul arrives at a time of high viewership for traditional over-the-air television in Spain. Free-to-air digital terrestrial television currently accounts for nearly 80 percent of total audiovisual media consumption across the nation, with statewide signals reaching close to 99 percent of the Spanish population.
The November changes represent the initial phase of Spain's National Technical Plan for Terrestrial Digital Television. The government regulatory framework was established to guide the gradual transition of national television channels toward higher transmission resolution standards and more efficient radio spectrum management.
Streaming app TDTChannels expands channel catalogue
Alongside the changes to conventional over-the-air broadcasting, internet-based television platforms are also updating their offerings. Spanish streaming application TDTChannels has refreshed its digital catalogue by adding 29 free television channels and four radio stations, while also restoring the streaming feed for Disney Channel.
TDTChannels is a popular open-source platform in Spain that aggregates legal, publicly available television and radio streams into a single interface for mobile, web, and smart TV platforms. The newly added radio stations on the platform include Sant Vicenç, Ràdio Abrera 107.9FM, SER Radio Haro, and NPR USA.
The platform's expanded lineup places a strong emphasis on sports content, incorporating dedicated feeds from the Real Federación Española de Patinaje and the Real Federación Española de Balonmano. Additional sports offerings include El Larguero from Cadena SER, AS, Sport, ElevenTV, El Chiringuito Inside, and Televixin Malta sport.
TDTChannels has further expanded its broadcast coverage by adding national and international news outlets including La RAZÓN, ABC, El Mundo, Infobae Argentina, Conexión Berazategui Argentina, Canal 6 Honduras, Canal 10, and Canal 11 Honduras. The update also includes Chilean channels EnerGeek Radio Chile, EnerGeek Retro, and EnerGeek Fan, alongside El Sótano Club (Ten), Canal 9 Soria, Telemedina Canal 9, Xaloa Telebista, Altoaragón Televisión, Huelva Conecta, 8TV La Janda, Ahora TV, and two event windows from Mediaset Infinity.
The expansion of digital streaming options on TDTChannels comes as the platform removed several local broadcast channels from its dial, including Radio Buñol TV, Ibiza Global TV España, TeleRibera, and Almansa TV.
