Spanish free-to-air broadcaster Telecinco is to remove its signal from both of Spain's digital satellite TV platforms, Via Digital and Canal Satelite Digital (CSD).

Telecinco said the move was motivated by non-inclusion of its screenings from the digital platforms in audience ratings data compiled by Sofres. This "impedes the channel from adding the ratings to its registers from analogue broadcasts, despite the fact that Telecinco is one of the most watched channels on both Via Digital and Canal Satelite Digital," it said in a statement.

Recent statistics from Sofres placed Telecinco's audience figures ahead of rival Antena 3 and behind public broadcaster Television Espanola (TVE).

Telecinco pulled out of Via Digital, which is part-owned by Antena 3 backer Telefonica, on June 1. It plans to leave CSD on July 1.

The two satellite groups are in the process of merging their operations, subject to anti-trust approval.