TVE's crude propaganda: the Perro andaluz case in Spain

TVE and 'Perro andaluz': propaganda that embarrasses even its own side

Spain's public broadcaster, paid for by everyone, has become a megaphone for an editorial line that doesn't even bother to disguise itself. The latest example is 'Perro andaluz', a show that has achieved what once seemed impossible: even its critics are calling for the volume to be turned down. And no wonder: the political messages are repeated without subtlety, and the feeling of watching an official bulletin keeps growing among viewers.

What is 'Perro andaluz' and why is it so controversial?

It is a TVE program that, according to critics, works as a propaganda megaphone with barely any disguise. Commentators point out that its content is a mix of partisan monologues and fawning interviews, where pluralism is conspicuously absent. The reaction was swift: from those who call it "grotesque" to those demanding that no more publicity be given to a format that generates rejection even among those sympathetic to the government.

The strategy seems to be saturation: schedules are extended, and new channels or time slots are created to insert more sympathetic content. As one analysis puts it, "since they can't add hours to the day for propaganda, they just add more channels." The logic is total occupation of the media space.

Consequences of the propaganda machine

The anger is not limited to political debate. Some warn that if the current model for distributing public resources continues, discontent could escalate. "When everything collapses and the 14 paychecks stop coming in, these people will start a civil war," reads one reaction. Although the expression is hyperbolic, it reflects the exasperation with a television channel that many see as a party instrument.

On the other hand, the lack of subtlety has produced a boomerang effect: the show's own target audience rejects it for underestimating their intelligence. "It's embarrassing," some conclude. When propaganda is this obvious, it loses its effectiveness.

How far can the propaganda machine go before viewers grow tired? The trend suggests that, at least on social media and forums, exasperation is already the majority view. But control of the public broadcaster remains a prize too tempting to give up.