Grupo Prisa's Spanish pay-TV operation Canal Satelite Digital has racked up 1.05 million subscribers.

The figure is nearly double that of rival Via Digital's 630,000, a lead some attribute to four year-old Canal Satelite's ready-made subscriber base through pay platform Canal Plus. The 10-year-old sister service now boasts 1.85 million subscribers.

Via Digital launched six months after Canal Satelite in September 1997. Their battle for exclusive product led to a top dollar rights war which proved especially lucrative for the Hollywood studios.