natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Spanien har i tilstrækkelig grad dokumenteret, at de jordbaserede TV-spredningsvirksomheder ikke fik nogen fordel som følge af udvidelsen af dækningen.
An economic advantage therefore exists where the operator receives public funds to digitise its own equipment or build new emission centres.
I modsætning til område I afviste spredningsvirksomhederne at betale for digitalisering i område II, da dette ikke ville give dem supplerende indtægter.
Second, where a public authority directly selects (i.e. without public tender) an operator for the provision of DTT equipment and O&M services, this is not done on market terms.
På baggrund af den begrænsede befolkning i området, som ikke ser ud til at tilhøre annoncørernes kommercielle målgruppe, kunne spredningsvirksomhederne nemlig ikke forhøje annoncepriserne efter udvidelsen i område II.
This also grants an economic advantage to the operator.
Selektivitet
As set out in recitals 36 and 37, JCCM did not organise any regional tender for the upgrading of analogue networks or for the extension of coverage of digital television.
Den fordel, som foranstaltningen begunstiger netoperatørerne og spredningsvirksomhederne med, er selektiv, da den kun påvirker de virksomheder, der er aktive på markedet for den jordbaserede platform.
Instead, these funds were attributed directly to the municipalities or to existing terrestrial operators.
Desuden blev udvælgelsen af de netoperatører, der blev valgt til at udføre opgaven, ikke foretaget gennem et offentligt udbud, men gennem en specifik procedure, der er fastsat i dekretet, og som går ud på, at myndighederne vælger netoperatørerne.
Municipalities then chose operators to carry out the task without public tender.
Uanset om den nationale lovgivning udelukkede andre teknologier end den jordbaserede fra at modtage støtten, anvendte regionen Castilla-La Mancha kun lovgivningen til at henvende sig til nogle konkrete netoperatører.
As a result, other platform operators, whether terrestrial or other, were not properly informed of the measure and therefore could not have made a technical proposal for the upgrading of infrastructure for the extension of coverage of digital television in Area II in the region [56].
Konkurrencefordrejning
Abertis and TelecomCLM either received the funds for the upgrading and extension of their own network, or they were contracted by municipalities to carry out such work on the latters' infrastructure [57].
Netoperatører
In both cases, the two operators were selected without public tender.
Eftersom de hverken blev informeret om foranstaltningen eller opfordret til at afgive et tilbud, kunne disse operatører ikke forsvare deres tilbud for regionalregeringen.
TelecomCLM entered directly into 133 Collaboration Agreements with the JCCM aimed at the digitisation of its own emission centres.
Derfor gav det direkte valg af støttemodtagerne anledning til udelukkelse af alle andre eventuelle jordbaserede konkurrenter.
This was considered necessary to carry out the DTT extension in rural areas where the population density is low and no operator has shown interest to invest.
Da kommunerne opdaterede deres egne net, kontaktede de i visse tilfælde TelecomCLM eller Abertis direkte.
An overview of the costs incurred by TelecomCLM upon the receipt of funds transferred by the JCCM shows that the former used these funds exclusively for the acquisition, installation of DTT equipment and for the subsequent maintenance of equipment for the first 2 year period.
I disse tilfælde blev andre teleoperatører udelukket fra at afgive deres tilbud.
Thus, TelecomCLM and Abertis upgraded part of their existing broadcasting centres and are now in a position to operate the DTT network in Area II due to the public subsidy.
Andre kommuner offentliggjorde en kort meddelelse på deres opslagstavler, som det fremgår af betragtning 39 og 40.
They can also use the new infrastructure to provide other services, for example WiMax (wireless broadband standards which can provide fix or mobile broadband).
Af disse meddelelser fremgik det, at man ville vælge en teleoperatør til at digitalisere kommunens transmissionscenter, jf. dekret 347/2008.
TelecomCLM used its centres […] and several digitised centres owned by municipalities for the installation of the JCCM's WiMax equipment […] [58].
Operatøren skulle fremlægge et teknisk tilbud.
Due to these economies of scope, the DTT network operators have opportunities to raise income from the publicly financed infrastructure. […].
Interesserede operatører kunne få de tekniske specifikationer ved kommunens sekretariat.
The quantifiable advantage to the direct beneficiaries TelecomCLM and Abertis is the total amount of the funds received for the extension of coverage (including the funds received for the upgrading or building of new transmission centres).
Offentliggørelse på kommunernes opslagstavle overholder imidlertid ikke princippet om teknologineutralitet, eftersom meddelelserne kun henviser til opdatering af eksisterende jordbaserede transmissionscentre.
Where municipalities act themselves as network operators, they received public funds to digitise the transmission centres located in their areas and to build new ones.
Selv om meddelelserne giver alle teleoperatører, der er opført i CMT's register over operatører, mulighed for at afgive et tilbud, kan det ikke sidestilles med et offentligt udbud.
The authorities argue that these were merely transfers of funds between different levels of administration and that, by extending municipality owned networks, the municipalities simply carried out their administrative obligations towards the inhabitants.
Offentliggørelsen på en opslagstavle har ikke den samme synlighed som et offentligt udbud i det spanske statstidende.
However, where municipalities act as network operators they carry out an economic activity.
Desuden blev TelecomCLM og Abertis i de fleste tilfælde informeret udtrykkeligt på forhånd om processen, i modsætning til andre virksomheder, og de kunne derfor afgive et tilbud [63].
Many of them are registered on the CMT's list of network operators.
I alle de kommuner, hvor man offentliggjorde disse meddelelser, blev TelecomCLM eller Abertis valgt som leverandør.
Nevertheless, as the municipalities bought the digital equipment from Abertis or TelecomCLM and subcontracted the installation, operation and maintenance of the equipment to these two companies without public tender, also in this case the latter are the direct beneficiaries of the aid.
Spanien og Abertis hævder, at jordbaseret digital-TV og satellitteknologi er to forskellige markeder.
The funding also includes the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the network.
Det jordbaserede digital-TV-net er den vigtigste platform for jordbaseret gratis-TV, hvor antallet af operatører på det nationale marked afgøres af, hvor mange sendetilladelser den spanske regering giver.
These tasks are performed by TelecomCLM and Abertis.
Midlerne til jordbaserede gratis-TV-kanaler kommer fra reklamer.
This is considered ongoing aid and the operators, charged with the operation and maintenance of the network, are considered to be the beneficiaries.
Med hensyn til satellit-TV er et stort antal kanaler tilgængelige på den eneste betalings-TV-platform i Spanien, hvor Astra er netoperatør.
Finally, in more general terms, Abertis and TelecomCLM also benefit from the exclusion of another platform operator from entering the market of transmitting free to air TV signals in Spain [59].
Disse kanaler finansieres af abonnementer i reglen på en pakke af kanaler.
Indirect beneficiaries of the aid
De spanske myndigheder fremhæver også, at spanske TV-spredningsvirksomheders udgifter til satellitdistribution er meget højere end omkostningerne til jordbaseret radio-/TV-spredning, og derfor er gratis-TV-selskaber, herunder regionale og lokale selskaber, ikke interesserede i at skifte til denne platform.
Hardware suppliers.
Af flere årsager, som er angivet i afgørelsen, konkluderes det, at de jord- og satellitbaserede platforme opererer på det samme marked.
TelecomCLM and Abertis provide equipment and hardware in-house.
For det første konkurrerede Astra i 2008 om udvidelsen af den digitale TV-dækning i Cantabrien og vandt udbuddet.
To the extent municipalities purchased equipment without a public tender from the two existing terrestrial operators in Castilla-La Mancha, TelecomCLM and Abertis directly benefited from the aid (see recital 119 above).
I 2008 afholdt virksomheden en række møder med de selvstyrende regioner for at præsentere sit tilbud om at sende digitale TV-kanaler, som hidtil var blevet sendt via en jordbaseret platform.
Where the two operators have bought such equipment from hardware suppliers, such equipment was purchased on a free market.
Selv om kontrakten med Cantabrien senere blev ophævet af myndighederne, tyder satellitoperatørens interesse i at levere ydelserne i konkurrence med den jordbaserede platform på, at der er mulighed for, at satellitoperatører kan levere lignende ydelser.
Therefore, as a result, apart from TelecomCLM and Abertis (direct beneficiaries), hardware suppliers are not considered to be beneficiaries as they did not receive a selective advantage.
For det andet sendes flere offentlige og private kanaler, som distribueres via den jordbaserede platform, også via satellitplatforme, bl.a. Astras egen [64].
Similar to the case of digital decoders in Italy [60], it has not been possible to draw a distinction between different categories of producers of various types of digital infrastructure because producers should be able to produce any type of equipment.
For det tredje er nogle af de regionale kanaler tilgængelige — eller var det indtil for nylig — via satellitplatform.
The companies supplying such hardware to the network operators are not different from the group of undertakings who would have participated in tenders if the scheme had been technologically neutral with regard to platform operators [61].
Det modsiger påstanden om, at de regionale TV-spredningsvirksomheder ikke er interesserede i satellitløsningen.
In Spain the companies, which integrate, install and supply the hardware necessary for DTT extension usually also offer other services.
Det betyder dog ikke, at der er forskellige markeder for jord- og satellitbaseret transmission.
Such equipment manufacturers but also telecommunications operators may also offer terrestrial, satellite or a mix of terrestrial and satellite solutions [62].
Da de har erhvervet indholdsrettigheder til den jordbaserede platform, kunne virksomhederne om nødvendigt gøre det samme til satellit.
The measure in question does not seek, through its object or general structure, to create an advantage for manufacturers.
Hvis en satellitplatform vælges på grundlag af et offentligt udbud, kunne TV-spredningsvirksomhederne også få pålagt en »must carry«-forpligtelse.
Indeed, any public policy in favour of digitisation (even the most technologically neutral) would favour producers of digital equipment.
Denne »must carry«-forpligtelse blev pålagt spredningsvirksomhederne i område III, da man valgte satellitplatformen.
In the case of equipment manufacturers, the fact that they benefitted from an increase in sales due to the measure can therefore be considered to be a mechanical side-effect.
Endelig når dækningen med jordbaseret digital-TV i Spanien 98,85 % af befolkningen, mens kun 93,5 % af husstandene ser TV via den jordbaserede platform, jf. data fra maj 2010 [65].
As a matter of principle, any State aid has a trickle-down effect on suppliers to the State aid recipient.
Således har 5 % af husstandene adgang til jordbaseret digital-TV, men vælger ikke at bruge det, da de fleste af dem abonnerer på betalings-TV via satellit.
This, however, does not necessarily create a selective advantage for such suppliers.
Da satellit- og jordbaserede sendeplatforme konkurrerer med hinanden, medfører foranstaltningen til udrulning, drift og vedligehold af det jordbaserede digital-TV-net i område II en konkurrencefordrejning mellem de to platforme.
Hardware suppliers were not targeted by the aid and therefore did not benefit from a targeted indirect effect.
Endelig skal det bemærkes, at andre platforme, især internet-TV, også udsættes for forskelsbehandling på grund af foranstaltningen.
Broadcasters.
Selv om bredbånd endnu ikke er nået ud i hele område II, vil det højst sandsynligt udvide sin dækning betydeligt i fremtiden.
Spain has sufficiently demonstrated that the terrestrial broadcasters did not receive any advantage following the extension of the coverage.
Det er muligt, at det havde været mere effektivt at kombinere teknologierne for at opnå dækning i område II.
In contrast to Area I, the broadcasters refused to pay for the digitisation in Area II as this would not generate any additional revenue for them.
I så fald ville de andre platforme have bidraget til formålet og være blevet begunstiget ved støtteforanstaltningen.
In fact, in the light of the limited population at stake, which does not seem to be the commercial target of the advertisers, following the extension to Area II, broadcasters could not significantly raise advertising fees.
Påvirkning af samhandelen
Therefore, the terrestrial broadcasters are not indirect beneficiaries of the investigated measure.
Foranstaltningen påvirker samhandelen inden for EU.
Selectivity
Retten har fastslået: »Når en finansiel støtte, som ydes af en stat eller ved hjælp af statsmidler, styrker visse virksomheders stilling i forhold til andres, som disse konkurrerer med i samhandelen inden for Fællesskabet, må det antages, at samhandelen påvirkes af støtten« [66].
The advantage provided by the measure to the network operators and broadcasters is selective, as it only concerns the undertakings active in the terrestrial platform market.
Netoperatører er aktive i en sektor, hvor der er samhandel mellem medlemsstaterne.
Moreover, the choice of network operators charged with the task of extension was not done based on a tender, but on a specific procedure established in the Decree 347/2008, which consisted in selecting network operators by the authorities.
Abertis er en del af en international koncern, og det samme gælder en af klagerne, Astra.
Therefore, irrespective of whether the legislative framework at the central level excluded technologies other than terrestrial from the scope of the aid, its application by the Castilla-La Mancha region concerned only particular network operators.
Astra, som er baseret i en anden medlemsstat (Luxembourg), ville have afgivet et tilbud på et digitalt net i regionen Castilla-La Mancha, hvis der var blevet afholdt et teknologineutralt offentligt udbud.
Distortion of competition
Foranstaltningen påvirker derfor samhandelen mellem medlemsstaterne.
Network operators
Konklusion på spørgsmålet om statsstøtte
By directly granting the funding to the terrestrial network operators TelecomCLM and Abertis, the Spanish authorities have discriminated against any other terrestrial network operator which could have provided such services.
På baggrund af ovenstående argumenter finder Kommissionen, at foranstaltningen opfylder kriterierne i artikel 107, stk. 1, i TEUF.
Whether existing operators, as Radiodifusión, would qualify to provide broadcasting services to regional and national broadcasters in Area II of Castilla-La Mancha could have been established in a public tender.
Derfor skal foranstaltningen betragtes som statsstøtte, jf. artikel 107, stk. 1, i TEUF.
As they were not informed about the measure and they were not invited to present their proposal, such operators could not argue their case with the JCCM.
VURDERING AF FORENELIGHEDEN
As a result, the direct selection of the beneficiaries led to the exclusion of any other potential terrestrial competitor.
Kommissionen støtter aktivt overgangen fra analog til digital radio-/TV-spredning.
Where municipalities upgraded their own network, in some cases they directly contacted TelecomCLM or Abertis.
Fordelene ved at overgå til digital-TV blev understreget i handlingsplanen eEuropa 2005 og i de to meddelelser om overgang til digital-TV [67].
In these cases other telecom operators were excluded from making a proposal.
Kommissionen erkender også, at den digitale overgang kunne blive forsinket, hvis den blev helt overladt til markedskræfterne.
As set out in recitals 39 and 40, other municipalities published a short notice on their Notice Boards.
Medlemsstaterne kan benytte støtte til at overvinde et specifikt markedssvigt eller til at sikre social eller regional samhørighed [68].
These publications inform that a telecom operator is selected to digitise the emission centre of the municipality, in line with decree 347/2008.
I disse tilfælde skal det dog i hvert enkelt tilfælde dokumenteres, at den planlagte støtte er et hensigtsmæssigt middel til at løse problemet, at den er begrænset til det nødvendige minimum, og at den ikke utilbørligt begrænser konkurrencen.
The operator should present a ‘memoria técnica’.
Samtidig bestemmes det i meddelelsen [69] om digital overgang, at statsindgreb inden for visse områder af digitaliseringen er berettiget på to betingelser: Der skal være tale om varetagelse af almindelige interesser og om markedssvigt, dvs. at markedskræfterne alene ikke er tilstrækkelige til at nå de mål, der er opstillet af hensyn til almenvellet.
Interested operators could obtain the technical specifications in the secretariat of the municipality.
Under alle omstændigheder skal statsindgreb ifølge meddelelsen være baseret på en grundig markedsanalyse.
However, the publication of the Notice board does not respect the technological neutrality, as the notices were destined only for the upgrading of the existing terrestrial emission centre.
Det hedder også i meddelelsen om digital overgang, at overgangen til digital radio-/TV-spredning er en stor industriel udfordring, der skal drives af markedet.
Moreover, while the notices allow any telecom operator registered with the national regulator CMT to make a proposal, these publications cannot be considered equivalent to a public tender.
Undtagelser herfra er kun tilladt, hvis indgrebet har til formål at afhjælpe et særligt markedssvigt eller en ubalance, og hvis det omhandlede indgreb samtidig er passende, nødvendigt og rimeligt for at afhjælpe disse problemer.
Eventually, in all the municipalities where such notices were published, either TelecomCLM or Abertis were selected.
Hvis overgangen overlades til markedet, er der risiko for, at dårligt stillede befolkningsgrupper ikke opnår fordelene ved digital-TV.
Spain and Abertis claim that DTT and satellite are two different markets.
For at løse problemet med den sociale samhørighed ønsker medlemsstaterne måske at sikre, at alle borgere har adgang til digital-TV, når det analoge TV er afviklet.
DTT is the main platform for free-to-air terrestrial television, where the number of players in the national market is determined by the number of licences granted by the Spanish government.
Da den digitale overgang medfører visse omkostninger for forbrugerne og kræver en ændring af vaner, må medlemsstaterne under visse omstændigheder yde støtte til navnlig dårligt stillede borgere, f.eks. ældre mennesker, indkomstsvage husstande eller borgere i udkantsområder.
Funding for free-to-air terrestrial television channels comes from advertising.
I flere statsstøtteafgørelser har Kommissionen anvendt statsstøttereglerne i denne sektor på grundlag af meddelelserne om overgang til digital-TV [70].
As for satellite television, a large number of channels are available on the only pay-television platform in Spain, for which Astra is the network operator.
Medlemsstaterne har flere muligheder for at bevilge offentlige midler til overgangen for at sikre, at alle geografiske områder fortsat har en hensigtsmæssig TV-dækning.
These channels are funded by subscriptions, generally for a package of channels.
Dette omfatter støtte til udrulning af transmissionsnet i områder, hvor der ellers ville være utilstrækkelig TV-dækning [71].
Spanish authorities underline in addition that in Spain the cost of satellite distribution for broadcasters is much higher than the cost of terrestrial broadcasting and therefore the free-to-air broadcasters, including regional and local ones, are not interested in switching to this platform.
Denne støtte kan dog kun bevilges, hvis den ikke medfører unødige fordrejninger mellem teknologier eller virksomheder, og den er begrænset til det nødvendige minimum.
For several reasons indicated in the decision it is concluded that terrestrial and satellite platforms operate in the same market.
Retsgrundlag for vurdering af den anmeldte foranstaltnings forenelighed
First of all, in 2008 Astra competed for the extension of coverage of digital television in Cantabria and won the tender.
Til begrundelse for støttens forenelighed henviser de spanske myndigheder til artikel 107, stk. 3, litra c), og artikel 106, stk. 2, i TEUF, såfremt støtten skulle blive betragtet som statsstøtte i henhold til artikel 107, stk. 1, i TEUF.
In 2008 Astra held a series of meetings with the Autonomous Communities to whom it presented its offer to broadcast digital television channels so far broadcasted via terrestrial platform.
Nedenfor vurderer Kommissionen støttens forenelighed på baggrund af disse bestemmelser under hensyntagen til ovenstående generelle betragtninger.
Even if the contract with Cantabria was later on terminated by the authorities, the interest of the satellite operator in providing services in competition with the terrestrial platform suggests that there exists a possibility for satellite to provide similar services.
Artikel 107, stk. 3, litra c), i TEUF
Second, several public and private channels distributed via terrestrial platform are also broadcasted via satellite platforms, including Astra itself [64].
For at vurdere om støtten er forenelig i henhold til artikel 107, stk. 3, litra c), i TEUF, afvejer Kommissionen dens positive og negative virkninger.
Third, concerning the regional channels, some of them are available or were available in the recent past via satellite platform, which contradicts the statement that the regional broadcasters are not interested in satellite.
Ved anvendelsen af denne afvejningstest undersøger Kommissionen følgende spørgsmål:
Fourth, some broadcasters have declared a preference for terrestrial transmission because they have acquired rights to broadcast content only for the terrestrial platform.
Er støtten klart defineret, og er støttens formål af fælles interesse?
This, however, does not imply that there exist different markets for terrestrial and satellite transmission.
Er støtten velegnet til at virkeliggøre målet af fælles interesse, dvs. korrigerer den et markedssvigt, eller opfylder den et andet formål?
As they have acquired content rights for the terrestrial platform, if necessary, broadcasters could do the same for the satellite.
Det gælder især:
Further, if a satellite platform is selected on the basis of a public tender, a ‘must carry obligation’ could be imposed on the broadcasters.
Er støtteforanstaltningen et velegnet instrument, dvs. er der andre, bedre egnede instrumenter?
Such a ‘must carry obligation’ was imposed on broadcasters for Area III where the satellite platform was selected.
Har støtten en tilskyndelsesvirkning, dvs. ændrer den virksomhedernes adfærd?
Finally, according to data from May 2010 [65], the coverage of DTT in Spain reaches 98,85 % of the population while only 93,5 % of the households watch TV via the terrestrial platform.
Står støtteforanstaltningen i forhold til målet, dvs. kunne man opnå samme adfærdsændring med mindre støtte?
Thus, 5 % of households have access to DTT but choose not to use it, as most of them are subscribed to pay-TV via satellite.
Er konkurrencefordrejningerne og påvirkningen af samhandelen så begrænset, at den samlede afvejning er positiv?
In conclusion, as satellite and terrestrial broadcasting platforms compete, the measure, for the deployment and operation and maintenance of DTT in Area II entails a distortion of competition between the two platforms.
Mål af fælles interesse
Finally, it should be noted that other platforms, especially IPTV, are also disadvantaged due to the measure.