The two major private broadcasters, Mediaset and Atresmedia, timed the programming of five of their channels to fade to black at exactly 23.59 on Monday night in compliance with orders from the Industry Ministry to stop broadcasting by May 6th.
Xplora, La Sexta 3, Nitro (Atresmedia), La Siete and Nueve (Mediaset) all ceased to exist at that time, in compliance with orders from the Industry Ministry. The shutdown is the result of a 2012 Supreme Court ruling that cancelled the concessions of additional channels to existing broadcasters on the grounds that they were made without a public bid, thus depriving new operators the chance to join the market.
The five channels had a combined audience share of around 6.7%. Another four channels, including shopping channels, closed down well in advance of the deadline.
Despite the 2012 Supreme Court ruling that the concessions had to be cancelled ‘on the grounds that they were made without a public bid’, there are still apparently no known plans to initiate a competitive tender for new stations.