Mexico. After a long and tortuous process over the last few years, the Comisión Federal de Telecomunicaciones, Cofetel, approved the award of two new television channels for Mexico.
The entity pointed out that the decision is taken as a result of different processes, such as a spectral capacity analysis, a market study, a public consultation and the collection of more than 50 tender requests formally submitted to this body.
The work plan approved by Cofetel includes frequencies for two DTT transmission channels in 153 main towns, representing the coverage needed to serve 93% of the country's population.
The regulator stressed that the decision welcomes the results of the market study of the Center for Economic Research and Teaching, which ensures that Mexico can use the transition to Digital Terrestrial Television to increase the plurality of information and content, as well as make the advertising market more efficient.
Cofetel clarified that it will seek that the tender be through a system of combinatorial proposals, with special emphasis on the non-economic criteria of the same, as established by the Mexican Supreme Court of Justice to ensure that the economic factor should not be preponderant when determining the winner.
Before this decision, there were many voices that called for a third television channel to be adopted in this country. One of the last to speak out in favor of a third channel was Emilio Azcárraga, president of Televisa.
