RTVE uproar: female commentator's shouting sparks viewer complaints

RTVE uproar: female commentator's shouting sparks viewer complaints

The scene repeats every weekend: a football fan sits in front of the TV, turns up the volume, and at the first goal, a high-pitched scream forces them to reach for the remote. "You have to mute it because it gets annoying," one viewer says. The woman behind this sonic discomfort is Alicia Arévalo, a young RTVE commentator who, according to critics, calls matches with an intensity many describe as "possessed". The debate goes beyond personal taste: it raises questions about gender quotas, media training and the limits of narrative style in sports broadcasting.

A meteoric career and a divisive style

Alicia Arévalo, 26 or 27, joined RTVE as an intern and within a year became a permanent staff member and started commentating on national team matches. A rise that some attribute to the corporation's gender policy, while others see it as a case of lack of filter in talent selection. What is certain is that her style — very different from that of classic commentators like Héctor del Mar — provokes extreme reactions. "When you have such a high-pitched, strident voice, they can't put you on to sing goals as if you were Héctor del Mar," one listener says. The comparison with the legendary Argentine commentator is recurrent, but some also recall that fake shouting and rising intonation are a widespread problem on Spanish-language television, not exclusive to Arévalo.

Gender quota or lack of judgement?

Behind the complaints lies an uncomfortable discussion: to what extent does the presence of women in sports broadcasting respond to qualification or to the need to fill a percentage? RTVE has promoted the incorporation of women in traditionally male roles, and Arévalo is the most visible example. Her defenders argue that patriarchy cannot be the only filter; her critics say that in her case, training does not accompany it. "She joined as an intern and a year later she's permanent and commentating on national team matches," one forum user says ironically, missing a similar track record to other established voices. The fact that she has social media on "mute" due to criticism suggests the exposure is violent, but the underlying issue remains the quality of public service.

Technical solutions and analogue nostalgia

Unable to change the commentator, viewers have resorted to old-school tricks: muting the TV and syncing the audio with the radio via the internet. "You can pause the station until you sync it," one user comments. Another recalls that in the analogue era you could watch TV and listen to the radio almost without delay, something unthinkable today due to digital lag. There is also the option of changing the audio track on the TV itself to RNE, where another commentator narrates with a less strident tone. Technology offers ways out, but none solves the core issue: the perception that RTVE has imposed a style that part of the audience finds unbearable.

The fact that closes the question is not numerical but sensory: while some viewers talk about an "fire alarm", others simply turn off. The controversy does not die down, and the question of what voice should represent public football remains without a clear answer.