Pedro Urieta has been appointed general manager of Spanish digital satellite TV provider Via Digital.

Urieta, 42, was previously general manager of Via Digital parent company TPI, a subsidiary of telecommunications giant Telefonica. During his tenure he helped generate an income rise of 100% over four years.

Urieta will work alongside Via chief executive officer Juan Ruiz de Gauna, who is also head of Telefonica Media's newly created pay-TV division. While still trailing rival platform Canal Satelite Digital, Via reached 633,059 subscribers in December, up 43.8% on the previous year.