Spain's new public channel sparks row over 30 million euros

The new public broadcaster: 30 million and a gamble that divides opinion

Thirty million euros. That is the stated budget for the new public channel 7, a figure that goes a long way in the audiovisual market but has set off every alarm: the first flagship show will be a solo format for Sara Santolalla, a media personality with little experience fronting her own programme. The question is obvious: where does the money come from and who is it being spent on?

A channel with its accounts up in the air

The new public channel is launching with a budget that, according to initial estimates, stands at around 30 million euros. It is not a negligible figure, but neither is it enough to compete with the big private networks in original production. The focus of scrutiny is on internal allocations: contracts, fees and, above all, programming decisions. The choice of a one-person format for Sara Santolalla has reignited suspicions that the criterion is political rather than professional.

The precedent nobody wants to remember

The closest precedent was Pilar Rubio in 2006. She was entrusted with a solo show and it failed spectacularly for lack of charisma and resources. The comparison is not gratuitous: it shows that a well-known name does not guarantee an audience, and that public money spent badly has consequences. Those defending the gamble point out that there are presenters capable of sustaining a format, but the bar is set by results.

Propaganda or pluralism: the political battle

The controversy goes beyond broadcasting. The new channel has been dubbed "La Séptica" on social media, and a parody of its schedule is circulating that reduces it to government propaganda. Critics argue it is a mouthpiece for the government, with names linked to Moncloa (the Spanish prime minister's office) and former ministers placed in European bodies on salaries of 300,000 euros. Defenders, on the other hand, see a legitimate public service project. The clash is ideological before it is economic.

Priorities called into question

While the channel's budget is debated, the contrast with other public spending lines is uncomfortable. The rail accident in Córdoba in January has put the lack of infrastructure investment back on the table, and scrutiny of the 2026 income tax (IRPF) suggests every euro will count. Funding a television channel with one-person shows while core budgets are being cut is a decision that requires, at the very least, explanations.

With 30 million and a controversy, the question left hanging is whether this channel will serve to inform or merely to repay favours. Are we looking at a bet on talent or a propaganda channel? The audience, the very one it is supposedly seeking, will have the final say.