Uruguay's Government awards La Diaria DTT licence
Juan Fernandez Gonzalez | 25-10-2013
Uruguay's Government has made its final selection regarding the country's DTT licences, with newspaper La Diaria receiving one of the private signals to the detriment of Pop TV, which had initially been selected.
The other signal was, as expected, given to Saomil SA of VTV cable.
The selection of La Diaria was initially dismissed because of doubts about its financial viability. But the Giro consortium, headed by La Diaria, which flies close to the Government's political line, was finally chosen after "the financial issues were clarified," according to the Minister of Industry, Roberto Kreimerman.
Pop TV, a consortium comprising Oz Media and Editorial Bla, had previously been named by President Enrique Mújica as one of the two selected to carry a digital TV channel. According to the national media, a legal reaction is expected from Pop TV as it had already complained about Giro's procedures during the selection process.
VTV, connected to the Tenfield Group and owner of the country's football rights, was selected for the other private DTT channel.
On the public level, the signals went to TNU and Canal TV Ciudad in the Montevideo district, in addition to one for Durazno, Florida and San José, another for Cerro Largo, Rivera and Tacuarambó, a third one for Colonia, Río Negro and Soriano and a final licence for Artigas.