EC to investigate Spain’s RTVE funding plans

The European Commission is to investigate Spain’s new model of funding for state-owned broadcaster RTVE, according to reports.

The new model will see Spain compensating falling advertising revenues with taxes paid by private broadcasters and telecom companies. Private broadcasters will have to allocate 3% of their revenues to public broadcasters, a figure that will be reduced to 1.5% for pay-TV platforms and 0.9% for telcos. Spanish telco Telefónica along with Vodafone and Orange are preparing official complaints.