Which digital terrestrial television channels are disappearing and what will the new 2026 channel lineup be like?

If you have been doing for a long time Channel surfing on digital terrestrial television (DTT)You've surely noticed that the channel landscape has been constantly changing in recent months: new logos, changing channels, and legendary stations disappearing. Digital Terrestrial Television in Spain is undergoing a period of renewal forced by the definitive arrival of the High definition is mandatory and the 4K push is onAnd that has direct consequences for what we see every day from the sofa.

In addition to the technical adjustments, several processes are coming together on the immediate horizon: the total blackout of SD channels, the farewell to a network as well-known as Paramount Network, the consolidation of Squirrel Media as a powerful new player on free-to-air television, and a public tender that will award an unprecedented license for a new national channel. All this leads many to wonder Which digital terrestrial television (DTT) channels will disappear by 2026, which ones will replace them, and what you need to do at home. so as not to miss anything.

A change of cycle in DTT: from SD to HD and the massive arrival of 4K

The first major trigger for this transformation has been the obligation to broadcast in high definitionThe Government's initial plan was for all channels to abandon SD by January 1, 2023, but the technical and economic realities of many operators forced a delay: the channels were not ready to migrate their entire offering to HD and extra time was needed.

Finally, the February 14 as the deadline for switching off SD at the state level. From that day forward, any channel that continued broadcasting exclusively in SD standard definition It disappears from the dial. Many households have noticed that some generalist channels appeared duplicated (one in SD and one in HD); after the switch-off, the low-quality versions are removed and only the signals remain in HD. Real HD.

This adjustment has particularly affected channels that had not yet made the switch to high definition. Among the stations that until then broadcast only in SD and that have had to migrate or stop being seen as we knew them were: FDF, Divinity, Energy, BeMad, Nova, Neox, Mega, Dkiss, DMAX, Ten, Trece TV, Teledeporte, Clan, Canal 24 Horas and Gol TVIn many cases, it's not a permanent closure, but a change in frequency and quality; however, in practice, users see certain channels emptying out and need to... Retune to find your new HD location.

The corporation RTVE Mediaset was one of the first to complete the process, switching off its SD versions of La 1, La 2, 24 Horas, Clan, and Teledeporte in the early hours of the morning before the deadline. For a time, Mediaset and Atresmedia maintained simultaneous SD and HD broadcasts of their main channels to facilitate the transition, but from February 14th onwards, everything is in high definition. However, the switch doesn't mean that all content is generated in native HD: in many cases, they use [unspecified methods]. rescaled versions of old materialwhich means that the quality is not always as spectacular as the label promises.

At the same time, the implementation of 4K (UHD) on DTT. RTVE already broadcasts channels such as La 1 UHD and UHD-2, which serve as a testing ground and a preview of what's to come. The goal for 2026 is for the major private networks, such as Antena 3 and Telecinco, along with the main regional broadcasters, will permanently join Ultra High Definition for their flagship content: news programs, football matches, major galas, movies and prime-time series.

What it means for the viewer: retuning, assured HD, and UHD readiness

From the user's point of view, all these changes raise very specific questions: what will we stop watching, what do we have to do, and will we need to change our TV?The good news is that the technical impact at home is much less than in other digital blackouts in the past; the idea of ​​the regulator and the networks is that everything should be as painless as possible.

Firstly, the vast majority of people will only have to perform a new channel retuning When you notice that one of your usual channels has disappeared or that the television displays frequency realignment notices, you can check the settings menu. This process is usually done through the settings menu and takes only a few minutes, although it might seem a bit tedious. There's no need to touch the communal antenna or hire an antenna installer unless the installation is very old or poorly adjusted.

As for the equipment, the essential condition is that the television be HD compatibleAlmost any TV sold in recent years is perfectly adequate, but there are very old models that only accept SD signals. In those cases, there's no need to throw the TV away: simply buy a DVB-T tuner with HD outputIt's a small device that connects to the antenna cable and the TV via HDMI, and for a very reasonable price, it allows you to continue receiving all channels in high definition.

Looking to the medium term, 4K requires compatibility with DVB-T2 and HEVC codecVirtually all 4K televisions sold in the last 5 or 6 years are already 4K-ready, so anyone with a modern TV won't need to do anything special. For older models, the solution again involves an external tuner compatible with DVB-T2. A standard antenna still works: the changes are in the transmission and compression standards, not the infrastructure.

However, it's important to understand that even in 2026, not everything broadcast on digital terrestrial television (DTT) will be in 4K. Broadcasting in Ultra High Definition takes up a lot of bandwidth in multiplexes, which are like a trunk with limited spaceTherefore, networks will have to carefully choose which content to broadcast in UHD and which to keep in HD. Typically, prime time, sporting events, and major premieres will take advantage of the highest quality, while other programs will maintain conventional high definition.

Channels that disappear and new additions: the case of Disney Channel, Gol TV and Paramount Network

Beyond the technological change, DTT is experiencing a real reorganization of trademarks and licensesSome long-established channels have permanently shut down their free-to-air broadcasts, while other groups have taken advantage of these gaps to launch new programs. One of the most notable examples has been the departure of Disney Channel of digital terrestrial television (DTT).

In early 2025, the channel that Disney Channel occupied stopped broadcasting and, in its place, a new channel began airing called SquirrelThis new brand, managed by Squirrel Media through its subsidiary Net TV, presents itself as a free-to-air film and series channel, with an entertainment offering based on... fiction for all audiencesSince its launch, Squirrel has focused on programming films of all genres and reruns of well-known series, such as "Cuéntame cómo pasó" in the morning slot.

Something similar happened with Gol TV / Gol PlayMediapro's sports channel, which decided to abandon its presence on DTT in favor of a strategy focused on pay-TV platforms, such as Movistar Plus+That gap has been filled by the brand I see 7, linked to the newspaper El Mundo, which has returned to the schedule as a film and series channel, with the possibility of also incorporating current affairs programs.

But the major development that raises the question of which channels will disappear from digital terrestrial television (DTT) by 2026 has to do with Paramount networkThis channel, dedicated to classic films and series and the successor to the former Paramount Channel, has been part of the free-to-air audiovisual landscape in Spain for almost 14 years. However, Paramount Global's overall strategy, which involves restructuring its assets and cutting costs, has led to the decision to shut down Paramount Network's broadcast on DTT.

Paramount Global also owns other thematic channels such as MTV, Nickelodeon or Comedy CentralMany of these services are disappearing or relocating to paid and online environments. In the specific case of Paramount Network, its discontinuation of free-to-air broadcasting follows the same logic of adjusting costs and strengthening other proprietary platforms. streaming and pay television.

According to the communications sent to the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV)Paramount Network will stop broadcasting the December 31Its slot on the Net TV multiplex will be freed up just in time for the following day, January 1, 2026. Boot un New free-to-air channel managed by Squirrel MediaThis channel will be Squirrel's second national channel on DTT, and it aims to consolidate the group as the third private operator behind Atresmedia and Mediaset.

This is what the new channel replacing Paramount Network will look like.

The new channel that will occupy the Paramount Network frequency is based on the Net TV license, where Squirrel Media has a 75% participationThe digital terrestrial television (DTT) license for this multiplex has been renewed until 2040, providing stability for any project developed within it. The new channel will be integrated into one of Net TV's two broadcast services, sharing space with the existing Squirrel channel.

In terms of content, Squirrel Media itself has announced that the new channel will offer a programming focused on high-level fictionThis means a grill built primarily with various series and filmsThe aim is to compete with other existing fiction channels such as Neox, Nova, FDF, Mega, and Atreseries. The company insists that the programming will be "broad and diverse" and has been "carefully selected to guarantee diversity, quality, and maximum appeal for the audience."

For now, the channel's final commercial name has not been made public, although many predictions mention it as a kind of «squirrel 2"For brand continuity. What is clear is that it will be a channel of national coverage, accessible free of charge to any home with DTT, and which will also be integrated into the television channels of the main fiber optic operators, in a similar way to how Squirrel is already distributed.

Technically, this new channel will be required to broadcast in High Definition From day one, since current regulations prohibit new SD signals, a minimum image quality is guaranteed. However, as with all digital terrestrial television (DTT), we'll have to wait and see the assigned bitrate and the quality of the upscaling for older films and series. If the content consists of recent HD or 4K productions carefully upscaled, the experience will be significantly better than that of many traditional channels.

Squirrel Media's approach, given the initial success of its first network after replacing Disney Channel, points to a strategy of to strengthen its position as a provider of free-to-air movies and seriesThe new channel could focus on more recent titles or better segment its programming (for example, one channel for families and another for adults), although for now all of this remains speculation. What is confirmed is the date: from the January 1, 2026 The frequency currently occupied by Paramount Network will be handed over to Squirrel's new channel.

A complete overview of digital terrestrial television in 2026: who broadcasts and where

If we add up the technical changes, channel closures, and new channels entering the market, the national digital terrestrial television (DTT) landscape in Spain for 2026 will be fairly well defined. At the national level, there are approximately... 32 free-to-air channelsThis excludes regional and local channels. In addition, RTVE's two UHD channels are included, and of course, the radio broadcast, which also airs on digital terrestrial television.

In the RTVE block, distributed across the multiplexes RGE 1 and RGE 2We find La 1 (the long-established generalist channel), La 2, the 24 Horas news channel, the children's channel Clan, and the sports channel Teledeporte. In addition, there are the La 1 UHD and La 2 UHD versions, which will become increasingly important as 4K technology is rolled out. All in High Definition and with an eye on Ultra High Definition.

By AtresmediaThe group occupies the entire MPE 2 multiplex and parts of MPE 4 and MPE 5. Its offering includes Antena 3 and La Sexta as generalist channels, and the thematic channels Neox (series), Nova (soap operas and fiction), Atreseries (series), and Mega (documentaries, factual programming, and sports). All of them have had to adapt to HD and are destined to make the leap to UHD broadcasts in its flagship content in the next phase.

Mediaset Spain The MPE 3 multiplex and parts of MPE 4 and MPE 5 are divided among them. Their portfolio includes Telecinco and Cuatro as generalist channels, along with FDF (comedy series), Divinity (factual and fiction), Energy (action and thriller), Be Mad (movies and factual programming), and Boing (children's programming). FDF, Divinity, Energy, and Boing were some of the channels that had historically operated in SD, so the push to high definition has meant a forced migration and a restructuring of frequencies in the group.

In the case of NetTVSquirrel Media, which operates the MPE 1 multiplex, has a 2026 lineup that includes Squirrel as the movie channel replacing Disney Channel, and a new scripted channel (provisionally known as Squirrel 2) that will take the place of Paramount Network. Both channels will share the capacity of Net TV, whose license extends until 2040, giving Squirrel Media time to develop its project at a more leisurely pace.

The multiplex of I watch TV (MPE 2) houses DMAX, an established digital terrestrial television channel focused on documentaries and factual programming, and Veo 7, which has been relaunched as a film and series channel after replacing Gol TV. Meanwhile, the operator Thirteen It occupies the MPE 4 multiplex with its generalist channel of religious and social orientation, while Radio Blanca It is in charge of Kiss TV, with musical and factual content, from the RGE 2 multiplex.

Finally, the multiplex MPE 5 It is divided among several operators: Secuoya with Ten (a factual, sports and magazine channel), Real Madrid TV with its free-to-air sports channel, and the new national channel that will emerge from public licensing tender Launched by the Government. This new space, independent of the moves by Squirrel and Paramount, will become an additional player within the DTT ecosystem.

New national channel up for tender: the extra DTT license

In addition to replacing Paramount Network with Squirrel's new channel, the Executive has decided to put at stake a additional license for national free-to-air digital terrestrial television (DTT)This concession, with an initial duration of 15 years, renewable for another 15, will be located within the MPE 5 digital multiplex and seeks, according to the competent Ministry, to strengthen plurality, diversity of content and the adoption of advanced broadcasting technologies.

The bidding process for this license has been shrouded in some suspense. Initially, there was even speculation that Nobody had shown upBut in the final hours of the call for applications, it was confirmed that Mediaset had decided to enter the bidding. The deadline for receiving applications was set for November 20th at 13:00 PM, and from that moment on, the administration has one year to resolve the competition since October 15.

Mediaset's entry into the competition opens the door to different strategies. The group has a long history of rebranding and reconfiguring its digital terrestrial television channels: from the transformation of Telecinco 2 into La Siete, to the closure of Telecinco Sport in 2008, and the disappearance of... Seven and Nine In 2014, a court ruling annulled several concessions, not a direct corporate decision. It wouldn't be surprising if Mediaset took advantage of this new license to either revive one of those names or launch a completely new brand.

Among the possibilities being considered is the return of a channel focused on soap operas, reality shows and content aimed at female audiencesSimilar to what La Siete or Nueve once offered, or even the creation of a linear channel linked to the Mediaset Infinity platform, serving as a showcase for its on-demand content. However, for now nothing is confirmed and everything remains subject to the Government's final decision and the specific conditions of the license.

The competition rules emphasize that the winning channel must contribute to to increase the representativeness of the different social currentsto encourage the adoption of advanced technology, offer a high-quality digital terrestrial television (DTT) service, and provide differentiation and variety compared to what already exists. There are rumors that the Ministry might try delay the resolution to better adjust the decision to their plurality criteria, but in the meantime, it is only known for certain that, in addition to Mediaset, there may be other candidacies that have not yet been made public.

Alongside this new license, it's important to remember that the gap left by Paramount Network from 2026 onwards represents another piece of the puzzle, although that part is already headed towards Squirrel Media and is not part of this specific bidding process. For the viewer, the feeling will be that Two new channels appear on national digital terrestrial television.: Squirrel's second channel on one hand and the new channel that emerged from the competition on the other.

Regional, local and radio channels on DTT

The digital terrestrial television (DTT) map is not completed solely by the national channels. Each autonomous community has its own regional multiplexes (MAUT in the case of Andalusia, for example) which integrate the regional public channels and some private networksAdded to this is the local supply, which occupies part of the regional capacity reserved for local broadcasts.

In Andalusia, to cite a specific example, you can tune in South Canal As a general-interest channel, there's Canal Sur 2 (accessible signal with sign language and audio description), Andalucía TV as the second channel of RTVA, and the private channel Bom Cine, specializing in films. To these four, one must usually add... three or four local channels, depending on the allocation of available capacity in the regional multiplex.

Just as with national channels, regional networks have also been forced to abandon SD in favor of HDIn practice, this means that older, low-quality versions disappear, and you have to retune to find the new high-definition broadcasts. It doesn't mean that regional channels will stop being available; rather, their picture quality will improve, and in some cases, they will be reorganized on the channel lineup.

Along with television, DTT also carries digital radio servicesMany of the most popular FM stations have a digital terrestrial television (DTT) version, allowing listeners to tune in via television or compatible receivers. While this use is less common than traditional radio, it is part of the ecosystem and also benefits from spectrum stability and reorganization.

The end result is that, if we add the 32 national channelsBetween regional and local channels, the average user has a very wide range of options available, which will be further enhanced in 2026 by the arrival of new channels and the expansion of 4K. All this without needing to change antennas and, in most cases, without having to replace the television.

With all this licensing maneuvering, SD shutdowns, the closure of iconic brands like Disney Channel, Gol TV, and Paramount Network, the emergence of Squirrel Media, the possible return of Mediaset with a new channel, and the definitive push for HD and 4K, the digital terrestrial television landscape for 2026 feels like a kind of "final stage" for television: Better image quality, more fiction programming, a new logo to learn, and the reassurance that digital terrestrial television is still very much alive., without traumatic blackouts and with room to continue evolving in the coming years.