Spanish free-to-air television viewers are in for an important update as RTVE — Spain’s national public broadcaster — prepares to switch off its standard-definition (SD) digital terrestrial (TDT) broadcasts tonight. This marks a major milestone in Spain’s ongoing digital TV transition and completes the country’s shift toward high-definition (HD) broadcasting across all major channels.

For many years, RTVE has simulcast its main channels in both SD and HD formats. This allowed viewers with older televisions to continue watching familiar channels without needing to upgrade equipment. However, with the UK and other European countries already well into HD-only broadcasting, Spain’s TV infrastructure is now ready for the next step.

What’s Happening Tonight

As of tonight, RTVE will turn off its SD signals on the TDT platform (Televisión Digital Terrestre). That means channels such as La 1, La 2, 24 Horas, Teledeporte (TDP) and Clan TV will no longer be available in SD using an over-the-air antenna. Instead, viewers will only be able to receive these channels in HD resolution — provided their TV or set-top box is compatible.

This change affects all regions of Spain that receive DTT broadcasts. The SD switch-off is part of Spain’s Plan Técnico Nacional, a government-led initiative to modernise digital TV and make more efficient use of broadcast spectrum. By retiring SD transmissions, broadcasters free up valuable bandwidth that can later be reused for emerging technologies — including expanded UHD (Ultra HD) offerings and enhanced services.

Why This Matters

For most households in Spain, the move to HD-only broadcasting will result in better picture quality and improved sound. High-definition broadcasts deliver sharper images, richer colours and a more enjoyable viewing experience overall compared with standard definition.

However, the change also means that older television sets that only support SD — typically those bought before around 2008 — will no longer display RTVE channels correctly without additional equipment. If your TV doesn’t support HD, you’ll need either:

• A digital HD set-top box (decoder) connected to your TV, or

• An HD-capable television to continue watching RTVE channels via DTT.

UPDATE 7th February 2024:

As you may have seen, the proposed switch off of RTVE SD channels did not go ahead.

Reports are that Cellnex , the telecommunications and broadcasting infrastructure provider, has had problems that have led to the delay in turning off the standard definition channels. It was planned that both those that broadcast simultaneously in HD and SD would cut the latter and that those that only broadcast in SD would start broadcasting in HD.

It is still anticipated that the switch will be complete by the deadline day of the 14th February 2024.