Jesus de Polanco, president of Spanish media group Sogecable, said on Tuesday that he is "convinced" the digital merger between Sogecable's pay TV platform Canal Satelite Digital (CSD) and rival Via Digital will be approved.

News reports on Monday suggested the government would give the merger the green light by year-end. Various top-level goverment representatives were present Tuesday for Polanco's statements, made at a presentation of Sogecable's new suburban Madrid headquarters.

Polanco and Cesar Alierta, president of Via Digital backer Telefonica, signed the merger agreement in May. The European Commission turned final decision over to the Spanish government in August.

Also on Tuesday Polanco welcomed Xavier Couture as VP of the Sogecable board of directors in the seat previously occupied by Pierre Lescure. Couture is VP of Canal Plus France, 21.27% shareholder in Sogecable.