Madrid, Spain — In the heart of Spain’s television landscape, two titans stand tall, vying for the love of their viewers. El Hormiguero, with its familiar humor and star-studded guests, has reclaimed its lead over La Revuelta, a new yet formidable competitor. For a week, the two programs danced in delicate rivalry, but now, El Hormiguero, led by the charismatic Pablo Motos, is drawing viewers back into its fold.
A Shifting Landscape: El Hormiguero Regains the Lead
In the world of television, every week tells a new story. This past week, El Hormiguero pulled in 2.117 million viewers with a 16.7% audience share, just ahead of La Revuelta’s 2.016 million viewers and 15.6% share. These numbers reflect a shift, a gentle settling of audience preferences, as El Hormiguero resumes its place at the top.
David Broncano, the energetic host of La Revuelta, anticipated this shift. “We’re seeing good numbers now, but soon, everything will stabilize,” he remarked. And indeed, his show—fresh and full of life—still maintains impressive ratings but has begun to find its balance. La Revuelta, despite the slight drop in percentage, remains a strong contender, having built a solid foundation of loyal viewers.
The Lure of Football and the Fight for Prime Time
Yet, the world of television does not exist in a vacuum. Spain’s other great love—football—draws viewers away during Champions League matches, like a magnetic force pulling at the edges of the TV ratings. The Atlético de Madrid game attracted 227,000 viewers, while Barcelona’s match claimed 749,000, leaving Broncano and Motos to share the rest.
Despite the challenge, El Hormiguero has a strategy—one of patience and persistence. Antena 3 has eliminated advertisements during the show, keeping viewers locked in their seats, unwilling to drift away during commercial breaks. It’s a bold move, cutting into the network’s highest-paying slots, but it’s a sacrifice that seems to be paying off.
Broncano’s Strength and the Draw of Mystery
But David Broncano is not one to be underestimated. With La Revuelta, he taps into a younger audience, one that traditional TV struggles to reach. La 1 has found a way to pull in viewers who might not have even turned on their television before. In the overlap between the two shows—from 21:55 to 22:55—Broncano still holds his ground, winning the direct clash with a 17.1% audience share and 2.094 million viewers, surpassing El Hormiguero’s 16.7% share during the same hour.
What makes Broncano’s show particularly captivating is its mystery—La Revuelta doesn’t reveal its guests ahead of time. It’s a calculated risk that stirs curiosity, drawing viewers in with the promise of the unknown. This is a contrast to El Hormiguero, which has built anticipation by announcing high-profile guests like Johnny Depp, Antonio Banderas, and Laura Pausini. Each strategy appeals to different types of viewers, but both play their part in keeping the ratings tight.
Gran Hermano’s Dominance and The Struggles of Other Networks
While El Hormiguero and La Revuelta battle for the pre-prime time slot, Gran Hermano remains the undisputed leader in the prime time hours. With a 16.2% share and 2.4 million viewers, it continues to be Telecinco’s lifeline in what has otherwise been a challenging season for the network.
Other shows, however, are not faring as well. 59 Segundos, a political debate program on La 1, struggled to retain viewers after La Revuelta ended, managing only a 6.6% share with 499,000 viewers—a drop of over a million from its lead-in show. This sharp decline underscores the difficulties some networks face in holding onto their audiences once the bigger shows conclude.
El Intermedio’s Decline: The Impact of Broncano’s Arrival
Meanwhile, El Intermedio on La Sexta, once a staple of Spanish television, is now facing an uphill battle. The show, hosted by El Gran Wyoming, has seen its ratings dip from 7-9% last year to under 6% this season. Broncano’s arrival on La 1 has siphoned away a portion of its audience, leaving El Intermedio with just 622,000 viewers and a 4.8% share on Thursday—a far cry from its former glory.
But television is a world of change and adaptation, and as the new season of 2024 unfolds, each show must find new ways to connect with its audience. The battle for Spain’s screens will continue, but for now, El Hormiguero stands just a little taller, a little prouder, having once again pulled ahead in this delicate dance of television ratings.
