The newest of Madrid's three major general news tabloids, El Mundo has managed to establish itself as a popular alternative to El Pais and ABC.  With a right-wing political perspective, the daily originally was a virulent critic of the socialist government and a keen supporter of the Popular Party.  But it subsequently distanced itself from the PP after failing to obtain the government support it had hoped for in a battle for control of the digital TV sector.  It is now arguably the most independent-minded of the big Madrid dailies.