Spanish Liga football club Real Madrid is set to make its official television channel, Real Madrid TV, available on digital-terrestrial television in January, according to the El Economista website.
Real Madrid TV is currently only available via pay-television platforms in Spain and the club is keen to increase its reach by securing a free-to-air platform for its broadcast.
Real president Florentino Perez is said to have been in negotiations for a number of months over a deal, with these talks now said to be at an advanced stage.
El Economista said Real Madrid TV may take the DTT place of the now defunct Marca TV, whose licence is currently being used by a shopping channel, or entertainment channel AXN. The two channels’ licences are owned by the Unidad Editorial company.
The successful conclusion of a deal would see Real become the first Spanish football club to secure national DTT broadcast for its official television channel. Barcelona’s channel is available on DTT, but only in its home region of Catalonia.