Sociedad Gestora de Televisión Net TV
Sociedad Gestora de Televisión Net TV, S.A. is a Spanish digital terrestrial television multiplex operator and license holder.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Sociedad Gestora de Televisión Net TV, S.A., commonly referred to as Net TV, is a Spanish company established to operate digital terrestrial television capacity in Spain. It was created in 2000 by a consortium led by Vocento and involving Viaplus, Globomedia, Telson, Radio Intereconomía, Europroducciones, France's TF1 and other minority investors. That same year, the Spanish government awarded Net TV and Veo Televisión digital terrestrial television concessions. Net TV initially received two digital channels, later expanding its licensed capacity to four services in 2005 and again using four-channel capacity after the broader digital television expansion in 2010. The company initially operated its own general-entertainment service, Net TV, which began broadcasting in 2001. A second service, the music-video channel Fly Music, followed in 2005. These early channels struggled to establish substantial audiences in an increasingly crowded Spanish digital television market. Net TV was closed on 3 March 2008 after ranking near the bottom of Spain's terrestrial digital channels. Its programming was partly continued through Vocento's local television outlets, while the Net TV capacity was reorganized for other channel operators. Ownership and programming arrangements changed substantially in 2008. Intereconomía acquired a 25 percent interest in Net TV and replaced the closed Net TV service with Intereconomía TV. Dinamia sold its 20 percent holding to The Walt Disney Company, and Disney subsequently used one of the available services to launch Disney Channel in Spain on 1 July 2008, replacing Fly Music after a short transition period. The arrangement made Net TV an important platform for third-party broadcasters rather than simply a home for an internally produced channel portfolio. Following the Spanish government's 2010 allocation of four channels to multiplex holders, Net TV capacity hosted MTV and La 10 in September 2010. La 10 was a national development of a channel previously associated with Vocento's local stations, but it was withdrawn after weak audience performance. Viacom later took over the service and launched Paramount Channel in Spain in April 2012. Paramount Channel was subsequently renamed Paramount Network in 2018, with Spain becoming the first market outside the United States to adopt that brand. Net TV's operating structure was disrupted by a legal ruling. In December 2012, Spain's Supreme Court annulled the government decision that had expanded Net TV and other multiplex operators from two channels to four, finding that the additional capacity had not been awarded through the legally required public tender process. The ruling was implemented in 2014, forcing several services to leave digital terrestrial broadcasting. MTV moved to pay television on Canal+ on 7 February 2014. Intereconomía, which was experiencing serious financial problems, ended national broadcasting several days later, while continuing in Madrid and Valencia under separate local concessions. Temporary replacement programming included a home-shopping service, which also ended when the relevant licenses were closed in May 2014. The company was also involved in a proposed ownership transaction after Intereconomía's financial collapse. Vocento sought to sell the former Intereconomía 25 percent interest to Viacom, which had separately arranged to acquire the stake from Intereconomía before its bankruptcy proceedings. In 2017, Spanish authorities rejected the proposed transaction on reciprocity grounds, concluding that the arrangement raised concerns because a Spanish company could not hold an equivalent 25 percent broadcasting interest in the United States. The decision preserved the importance of Spanish ownership rules in television licensing and prevented the planned transfer. Net TV is best understood as a regulated television infrastructure and license-holding company rather than as a single continuously branded consumer channel. Its multiplex has carried a succession of Spanish and international services, and the current capacity is associated with Squirrel and Squirrel2. Its history reflects the development of Spain's digital terrestrial television market, including consortium ownership, foreign media participation, channel launches and closures, regulatory intervention, and the consolidation of terrestrial broadcasting capacity.
History
Sociedad Gestora de Televisión Net TV was formed in 2000 as a Spanish broadcasting consortium. Its founding shareholder group included Vocento, Viaplus, Globomedia, Telson, Radio Intereconomía, Europroducciones, TF1 and other minority investors. In the same year, Net TV and Veo Televisión received digital terrestrial television concessions from the Spanish government. Net TV was initially assigned two DTT channels, with its permitted capacity increasing to four channels in 2005. The company's first principal service, Net TV, began broadcasting in 2001 as a general-entertainment channel. Fly Music was added in 2005 as a music-video service. Neither channel established a strong audience position. Net TV ended its own broadcast on 3 March 2008, after which its capacity was used by other operators. Vocento's local stations continued to carry some programming associated with the service. The ownership and channel structure changed during 2008. Intereconomía acquired a 25 percent stake and replaced Net TV with Intereconomía TV. Dinamia sold a 20 percent interest to The Walt Disney Company. Disney Channel subsequently launched on 1 July 2008, replacing Fly Music after a short interim period. This established Net TV as a platform for external media companies and branded services rather than only an operator of a single in-house channel. In 2010, the Spanish government expanded the available capacity of multiplex operators to four channels. Net TV used the expanded allocation to launch MTV and La 10 in September. La 10 had previously operated as a brand linked to Vocento's local television stations, but its national service closed after poor audience results. Viacom then took over its slot in 2012 and launched Paramount Channel in April of that year. The film channel was later rebranded Paramount Network in 2018. The expansion was challenged on legal grounds. In December 2012, Spain's Supreme Court annulled the government's decision to increase Net TV's offering from two channels to four. The court found that the additional channels had not been awarded through the public tender procedure required for broadcasting licenses. Implementation of the ruling in 2014 led to the removal of multiple channels from Net TV capacity and coincided with a broader closure of nine digital television services. MTV left free-to-air broadcasting on 7 February 2014 and moved to Canal+ pay television. Intereconomía, which had suffered financial difficulties and lost several prominent presenters, announced the end of its national broadcast several days later. Its programming continued in Madrid and Valencia under separate concessions. A home-shopping service temporarily used some of the vacated capacity but ceased broadcasting on 6 May 2014, when the court ruling was fully implemented. After Intereconomía entered bankruptcy reorganization in 2015 and later proceeded toward liquidation, Vocento attempted to sell the former Intereconomía 25 percent interest to Viacom. Viacom had also arranged to acquire the interest directly from Intereconomía before the insolvency process. The Spanish government rejected the proposed transaction in 2017, citing reciprocity concerns relating to foreign ownership of broadcast media. The decision illustrated the continuing role of national ownership and licensing rules in Spain's television sector. Net TV's later role has been primarily that of a regulated multiplex operator and license holder. Its capacity has hosted a succession of Spanish and international services, including Net TV, Fly Music, Intereconomía TV, Disney Channel, MTV, La 10, Paramount Channel and Paramount Network. The multiplex is currently associated with Squirrel and Squirrel2. The company's history therefore tracks the evolution of Spanish DTT from its early consortium-based launch through channel experimentation, foreign media participation, court-imposed license reductions and a more consolidated broadcasting environment.
- 2018
Paramount Network replaces Paramount Channel branding
[1]The Spanish service adopted the Paramount Network name, an early international use of the new brand.
- 2017
Viacom stake transfer is rejected
[1]The Spanish government blocked the proposed transfer of the former Intereconomía interest to Viacom on reciprocity grounds.
- 2014
Several services leave DTT
[1]The court ruling was implemented, leading to the departure of MTV and Intereconomía from national terrestrial broadcasting and the closure of replacement services.
- 2012
Supreme Court voids the channel expansion
[1]The Supreme Court ruled that the increase from two to four channels had not followed the required public tender process.
- 2012
Paramount Channel launches
[1]Viacom took over the La 10 slot and introduced Paramount Channel in Spain.
- 2010
MTV and La 10 launch
[1]Two additional services began using Net TV's expanded DTT capacity.
- 2008
Disney Channel enters the Net TV platform
[1]Following changes in the shareholder structure, Disney Channel launched on Net TV capacity in Spain.
- 2005
Fly Music is added
[1]Net TV added a second service, Fly Music, and its available channel capacity expanded to four.
- 2001
Net TV begins broadcasting
[1]The company's general-entertainment channel started broadcasting on Spain's digital terrestrial television platform.
- 2000
Net TV is formed and receives a DTT concession
[1]A consortium led by Vocento and joined by several Spanish and international media investors formed Net TV. The Spanish government awarded the company digital terrestrial television capacity.
Products and positioning
A Spanish regulated digital terrestrial television platform and multiplex operator that provides channel capacity to domestic and international broadcasters.
General-entertainment television channel · 2001
Net TV
The company's original flagship digital terrestrial channel began broadcasting in 2001. It offered general entertainment but was withdrawn on 3 March 2008 after weak audience performance. Some associated programming continued through Vocento's local television outlets.
Music television channel · 2005
Fly Music
Fly Music was a music-video service added to Net TV's platform in 2005. It recorded very low audience rankings and remained only temporarily available after ownership and programming changes in 2008, before Disney Channel took over its capacity.
Children's and family television channel · 2008
Disney Channel
The Walt Disney Company's Disney Channel began free-to-air terrestrial broadcasting in Spain on 1 July 2008 using Net TV capacity. Its arrival represented a major shift from Net TV's original internally branded services toward carriage of established international media brands.
Film and entertainment television channel · 2012
Paramount Channel / Paramount Network
Viacom launched Paramount Channel in Spain in April 2012 after taking over the La 10 slot. The service focused on films and was renamed Paramount Network in 2018. Spain was the first country outside the United States to use the Paramount Network name.
Digital terrestrial television channels
Squirrel and Squirrel2
Squirrel and Squirrel2 are the services identified as currently occupying Net TV's multiplex capacity. The available reference material does not provide further programming, ownership or launch details.
Brand decisions
2017
Attempted transfer of the former Intereconomía stakeM&ABackground
Following Intereconomía's insolvency and liquidation process, Vocento sought to transfer its former 25 percent interest to Viacom.
Action taken
The Spanish government rejected the proposed transaction on media-ownership reciprocity grounds.
Aftermath
Viacom did not complete the proposed acquisition of the interest, reinforcing the role of national ownership restrictions in Spanish broadcasting.
2012
Challenge the legality of the four-channel expansionOtherBackground
The Spanish Supreme Court reviewed the government's decision to expand Net TV and other multiplex operators from two channels to four.
Action taken
The court annulled the expansion because the additional capacity had not been awarded through a public tender.
Aftermath
The ruling was implemented in 2014 and caused several channels to leave national DTT broadcasting.
2012
Launch Paramount Channel in SpainProduct launchBackground
La 10 had closed after poor viewership, creating an available service slot on the Net TV platform.
Action taken
Viacom took over the slot and launched Paramount Channel, a movie-oriented service.
Aftermath
The service continued under the Paramount Network name from 2018.
2008
Replace the original Net TV service with partner channelsStrategyBackground
The original Net TV channel had weak audience performance and ranked near the bottom of Spain's DTT services.
Action taken
Net TV closed its branded channel, while Intereconomía TV and Disney Channel took over associated capacity.
Aftermath
The operator increasingly functioned as a platform for third-party broadcasters and international television brands.
Recent events
- 2018
Paramount Channel is renamed Paramount Network in Spain[1]
Product generation
The Spanish service adopted the Paramount Network name, becoming the first market outside the United States to use the new brand.
- 2017
Proposed Viacom acquisition of the Intereconomía stake is rejected[1]
M&A · Regulation
Spanish authorities rejected a proposed transfer of the former Intereconomía interest to Viacom on media-ownership reciprocity grounds.
- 2014
MTV leaves Spanish free-to-air television[1]
Regulation
MTV ended its terrestrial broadcast on 7 February and moved to pay television on Canal+.
- 2014
Intereconomía ends national terrestrial broadcasting[1]
Bankruptcy · Regulation
Intereconomía stopped broadcasting nationally from Net TV capacity amid financial difficulties, although it continued in Madrid and Valencia under separate concessions.
- 2012
Supreme Court invalidates the four-channel expansion[1]
Regulation · Lawsuit
Spain's Supreme Court ruled that the expansion of Net TV's available channels had been unlawful because the additional licenses were not awarded through a public tender.
- 2012
Paramount Channel launches in Spain[1]
Product launch
Viacom took over the La 10 slot and launched Paramount Channel, a film-focused service, on Net TV capacity.
- 2010
MTV and La 10 launch on Net TV capacity[1]
Product launch
The expanded multiplex capacity carried MTV and La 10 from September 2010.
- 2008
Intereconomía replaces Net TV[1]
Product generation · M&A
Net TV's original channel closed and Intereconomía TV took over the associated capacity after acquiring a minority stake in the operator.
- 2008
Disney Channel begins terrestrial broadcasting in Spain[1]
Product launch
The Walt Disney Company used Net TV capacity to launch Disney Channel as a free-to-air terrestrial service in Spain.
- 2005
Fly Music joins the Net TV platform[1]
Product launch
Net TV added Fly Music, a music-video service, as a second channel.
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