Spain sets November 5 for DVB-T2 and UHD DTT launch
July 6, 2026 11.35 Europe/London By Julian Clover


The Spanish government has confirmed November 5 as the launch date for the next phase of its digital terrestrial television (DTT) upgrade, with nationwide DVB-T2 and UHD broadcasts beginning alongside the debut of a new national television channel.

A draft resolution published by the Ministry for Digital Transformation sets out plans for the migration to the DVB-T2 transmission standard, which will allow broadcasters to simulcast many national channels in both HD and UHD. The move forms part of Spain’s National Technical Plan for DTT, approved in 2025, and is intended to improve spectrum efficiency while bringing terrestrial television closer to the picture quality already offered by satellite and streaming platforms.

The additional capacity created by DVB-T2 will also accommodate SIETE, Spain’s newly licensed national broadcaster. Industry reports indicate the channel will operate under the brand La Sép7ima and could begin regular transmissions from November 5, ahead of a regulatory deadline later in the month.

The transition will require viewers to retune their televisions from 08:00 on November 5. While most existing channels will remain available in HD, several services, including Clan, DKISS, Atreseries, BeMad and Boing, will move to new multiplexes.

Broadcasters will be required to begin public information campaigns from September 8 to prepare viewers for the changes.

Spain’s approach mirrors the wider European transition towards DVB-T2, which has already been adopted in most EU countries. The first phase will see UHD versions of the main national channels introduced alongside existing HD services, allowing households without DVB-T2-compatible receivers to continue watching television without interruption.

The government says a second phase of the migration, involving widespread UHD broadcasting for regional and local television services, will begin once DVB-T2-compatible receivers have become sufficiently widespread in Spanish homes.