Colombia's TV regulator Friday signed an agreement with the country's two local TV stations that extends their licenses to operate for 10 more years.

The regulator said the two TV stations, Caracol Television SA (CARACOLTV.BO) and RCN Television SA (RCNTELEVI.BO), will have to pay 187 billion Colombian pesos ($84 million) each to have the right to operate for the next ten years, the regulator said on its Web site.

Depending on both companies' revenues over the next two years, the amount to be paid for the extension may rise up to COP264 billion, or fall to COP110 billion.

Originally, CNTV set a price of COP189 billion for the license renewal, but both TV channels protested saying the amount was too high.

Caracol is controlled by Colombia's second-wealthiest man, Julio Mario Santo Domingo, and RCN is owned by soft-drink tycoon Carlos Ardila Lulle.

CNTV will award a license to operate a third television channel to compete with Caracol and RCN sometime in May.

The regulator qualified three potential bidders for the third channel: Venezuelan billionaire Gustavo Cisneros and Spanish media groups Promotora de Informaciones SA (PRS.MC), or Prisa, and Spain's media group, Grupo Planeta. All three teamed with local media since foreigners are barred from owning more than a 40% stake in a Colombian TV station.

-By Inti Landauro, Dow Jones Newswires; 57-310-867 65 42; colombia@dowjones.com

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