Viruelo under fire: only TVE spares him from the critical onslaught

Viruelo under fire: only TVE spares him from the critical onslaught

The so-called media 'pendulazo' — the sharp rightward swing in Spain's media landscape — has turned Viruelo into a target for almost every major network. But the striking fact is that only the public broadcaster still gives him a minimally favourable treatment. While 'Espejo Público', 'Boca de todos', 'Ana Rosa' and 'Al Rojo Vivo' hammer him day after day, RTVE has become his last stronghold. And it is no coincidence: the paradigm shift that some celebrate as the end of the left's monopoly on television is redrawing the media map.

The campaign against Viruelo: coordination or coincidence?

The simultaneity of the attacks across four prime-time shows suggests a coordinated editorial strategy, but it also reflects a rebalancing of forces. Those who defend this shift argue that an era of ideological bias is over; critics denounce an orchestrated witch-hunt that leaves Viruelo without a megaphone. The truth is that public television, funded by the state budget, thus becomes a first-order political asset.

The economic factor: how much does it cost to keep the narrative alive?

The debate goes beyond the individual. Some call for RTVE to be shut down and for institutional advertising to be scrapped, arguing that subsidies distort the market. The shadow of USAID looms over the discussion: the closure of the US agency's funding tap would have accelerated the loss of influence of certain media outlets. Meanwhile, the business model of private broadcasters rests on audiences and advertising, which reward content most aligned with their viewers.

If the 'pendulazo' holds, the future of Spanish public television will be decided on two fronts: the commercial pressure from private broadcasters and the political will to maintain a public service. But as long as the USAID tap remains closed, nothing is set in stone.