Up to 30% accessing Spain's pay-TV operators for free

net1

Canal Satelite Digital and Via Digital have released figures that reveal that around a quarter of their combined 2 million subscribers do not currently pay for their subscriptions, according to advanced-television.com.

Despite a E9m investment by Canal Satelite Digital to upgrade conditional access systems and crack-down on pirates, some industry analysts estimates that up to 30 per cent of the company’s subscriber base is accessing the pay-TV operator’s services for free. As well as defaulters, many are accessing the system through promotions or have cancelled their subscription but still have access to the channels through special offers.

The news comes as Via Digital and Canal Satelite Digital attempt to merge their services, with both companies agreeing to pay a penalty for each defaulting client accessing the combined DTH platform in order to ensure the update of subscriber portfolios.