MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to the statement, the so-called compensating scheme was part of the country's switch from analogue to digital broadcasting, as no state aid was disbursed with private broadcasters having financed the transition. In 2011, Spain announced its plans to compensate broadcasters for additional costs.
"This measure provided a selective advantage to terrestrial broadcasters and platform operators over other available technologies. This goes against the principle of technological neutrality and does not appear necessary or proportionate. Spain has already completed the digital frequency switch with no state aid having been granted. Therefore, no recovery will be required," Margrethe Vestager, the commissioner in charge of competition policy, was quoted as saying in the statement.