Digital+
 |
|
| Canal+ | |
| Sociedad Anónima | |
| Industry | Satellite broadcasting |
| Predecessor |
|
| Founded | 21 July 2003 |
| Defunct | 8 July 2015 |
| Headquarters | Tres Cantos, Spain |
|
Area served
|
Nationwide |
| Products | Pay television |
| €80.2 million (2009) | |
| Parent | Telefónica, S.A. |
| Website | http://www.plus.es/ |
Canal+ was a Spanish satellite broadcasting platform. It was previously known as Digital+ since its launch in 2003, and recently since 2011 as Canal+, being named after its main premium channel.
Formed on July 23, 2003 as a result of the equal merger of Via Digital (owned by Telefónica) and Canal Satélite Digital (owned by Sociedad de Television Canal Plus, S.A.), it was the largest pay-TV broadcaster in Spain.
The company used to be a subdivision of PRISA TV with shares held by Mediaset Espana and Telefónica. In October 2011, Digital+ changed its name to Canal+.
Before the creation of Digital+, there were two pay-TV companies in Spain: Vía Digital, owned by Telefónica and which operated through Hispasat, and Canal Satélite Digital, property of Prisa TV, which used Astra for their services.
The economic loss of both them in the early years and Telefónica’s none investment in its division motivated the fusion process between them for merging, apart from the government. The process finished on May 8, 2002. The agreement closed the acquisition of Vía Digital by Prisa TV, carrying out a capital increase in 23% for Vía Digital shareholders. The resultant company would take in 2.5 million subscribers.
However, the agreement was subject to CNMC intervention. After several months of consideration, on August 28, 2002 CNMC published a report in which the organization recognized that the existence of both satellite companies was unviable, but it warned of fusion’s danger to free competition, in markets like movies and sports broadcasting, as well as in pay-TV channels production.
On November 13, CNMC Defense Court sent the definitive report to the government, containing 10 conditions, including PPV’s cession to cable companies, and limitations in football clubs rights contracts renewals. Days later, on November 29, Ministers Council approved the fusion, with an increase to 34 conditions (24 more ones than CNMC requested).
These requirements didn’t satisfy anyone: companies involved in integration of the two companies (Prisa TV, Vía Digital and Telefónica) as well as affected business because of it, such as Telecinco, Mediapark (Teuve), cable companies joined in ONO and AOC throughout Auna had brought administrative appeals before Supreme Court.
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