Disney Channel goes FTA in Spain, not UK

The Disney Channel - all of whose global operations have so far been subscription-only - is to go free-to-air on digital terrestrial in Spain.

The move could be extended to other countries in the future, the company said yesterday, but is unlikely to be repeated in the UK.

John Hardie, managing director of Disney's channels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said DTT was spreading rapidly in Spain and the change would bring a significant extension in reach.

Advertising will be introduced on the popular channel for the first time when the change is made on July 1. Previously it was primarily distributed with basic subscription cable services.

Hardie said a pay-TV model remained suitable in many markets, including the UK: "We start with the very clear objective of maximising the reach of the Disney Channel, but always in a business sensible way.

"In different markets we find different situations. In the UK there is a well developed pay market so we decided to stick to a model there of basic subscription.

"In Spain we saw the growth of DTT seemed to be accelerating much faster than the growth in the pay-TV market so we decided to change the business model here."

Digital switchover is scheduled to be completed in Spain during 2010, two years ahead of the UK and France.