BTN News: David Broncano’s debut with La Revuelta on Spain’s La 1 was anticipated to be an uphill battle against the popular show El Hormiguero. True to his expectations, El Hormiguero came out on top in their first head-to-head contest, attracting 2.9 million viewers and a 23% audience share, thanks in part to a high-profile guest, Victoria Federica. Yet, Broncano’s new show made a respectable entrance, securing a strong second place with 2.1 million viewers and a 17% share, a significant boost above the channel’s daily average. While El Hormiguero remains a formidable opponent, the real loser of the night was Babylon Show on Telecinco, which hit a new low with just 3.1% of the audience.
Broncano’s Debut: A Promising Start or a Temporary Spike?
Despite the tough competition, David Broncano’s debut on La Revuelta attracted curiosity and managed to capture 2.1 million viewers. This marks the best entertainment show launch on La 1 since 2015. Yet, this figure should be viewed with caution, as many viewers were likely drawn in by the novelty of the show. Broncano had predicted a challenging fight against El Hormiguero and remains realistic about the future: “This is a long-term project… it’s impossible to compete with their audience numbers,” he admitted.
El Hormiguero: Unbeatable in Prime Time
Pablo Motos and his show El Hormiguero continue to dominate Spain’s prime-time television. On Monday, the show achieved a 23% share and drew 2.9 million viewers, thanks to an exclusive interview with Victoria Federica. It was the most-watched program of the day, securing a clear victory over La Revuelta. Motos’ strategy of featuring high-profile guests and maintaining a family-friendly entertainment format has proven consistently successful in retaining audience numbers.
Telecinco’s Struggles: Babylon Show Faces Cancellation
While El Hormiguero celebrated another victory, Babylon Show on Telecinco suffered a dramatic decline, recording only 400,000 viewers and a 3.1% share, significantly below the network’s average. The show, hosted by Carlos Latre, has seen its viewership plummet since its premiere. Initially debuting with a respectable 10.1% share, it has since dropped steadily, raising concerns about its future on the network.
Access Prime Time: A Critical Battlefield for Viewership
The battle for ratings in Spain’s access prime time slot remains fierce. This crucial window sets the stage for later evening programming, and a strong showing here can have a significant impact on a network’s overall performance. El Hormiguero has mastered this segment by seamlessly aligning its content with its audience’s expectations. Meanwhile, Broncano’s La Revuelta must prove it can retain viewers beyond the initial curiosity phase to compete effectively in this contested time slot.
La 1’s Strategy: Targeting Younger Audiences
For RTVE, the public broadcaster behind La Revuelta, the focus goes beyond traditional linear TV ratings. Executives see value in drawing younger audiences to platforms like RTVE Play and leveraging social media engagement. Despite only having 130,000 followers compared to the millions on competitor channels, La Revuelta‘s initial performance on RTVE Play – with over 75,000 unique visitors – suggests there is potential to grow this audience.
Comparative Performance: What’s Next for La 1 and Telecinco?
The launch of La Revuelta on La 1 marks a significant improvement over the program it replaced. The previous show, 4 estrellas, had struggled with a mere 5.7% share. Meanwhile, Babylon Show faces an uncertain future, as it has already lost two of its five nights of airing due to poor ratings. Telecinco’s overall decline is stark; its daily average dropped to 8%, reflecting a broader trend as it falls behind rivals like Antena 3 and La 1.
Conclusion: A Shifting Landscape in Spanish Prime Time
As the dust settles from this first access prime-time showdown, two outcomes are clear: El Hormiguero remains the undisputed leader, and La Revuelta has potential but faces a long road ahead to close the gap. Meanwhile, Babylon Show appears headed for cancellation, highlighting the volatility and fierce competition of Spanish television. For La 1 and RTVE, success will depend on their ability to keep evolving and attracting a younger audience in an increasingly digital landscape.
