177Secondly, Mediaset’s argument that the indirect form of the aid also constitutes an exceptional circumstance which could have given rise to a legitimate expectation must also be rejected. Like any diligent operator, Mediaset should have known that the indirect nature of the aid has no bearing on its recovery. In that regard, it should be pointed out in particular that, contrary to Mediaset’s claims, aid to consumers is a well-established form of aid, as is apparent from Article 87(2)(a) EC, which must be notified and authorised like all the other forms of aid and the potential recipients of which are indirect.