Spain's TV Operators Reshape Strategy with Streamer Deals — SkimNews
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- Movistar Plus will double its annual Spanish original series output from 8 to 16 over the next three years, adding another 10 titles through co-production and rights-acquisition deals.
- Atresmedia is extending its content lifespan via a renewed Netflix deal that brings daily drama "Dreams of Freedom" and "Veneno" to the platform, alongside a 2025 Disney+ agreement delivering 300+ hours of Atresplayer programming annually to Spanish subscribers.
- Netflix's licensed hours from Spain climbed from 2,420 in 2024 to 2,829 in 2025, with roughly 700 hours sourced from RTVE and Atresmedia — up from 543 the year prior, per Ampere Analysis.
- RTVE uses advance financing agreements that split territories and exploitation windows among partners, a model exemplified by "El Valle del Arcángel," developed with "Narcos" producer Dynamo and Sony.
- 3Cat brings editorial and financial partners aboard at the development stage, working with Netflix and Prime Video while preserving Catalan premieres for projects it leads.
- Crime and thrillers led 2025 Spanish-language VoD commissions at 32%, ahead of comedy (21%) and drama (20%), according to Ampere Analysis.
- Mediterráneo Mediaset sold family mystery "Pure Bred" to 29 territories (including the U.S., Canada and U.K. via Walter Presents) and Bambú-produced "La Favorita" to nearly 100 territories, while CEO Ghislain Barrois argued Spain still holds a cost edge over most European peers.
Why it matters: The strategic split is real: Movistar Plus and the public broadcasters are leaning into co-financing to absorb rising production costs, while Atresmedia and Mediterráneo Mediaset treat streamers as monetization pipelines rather than threats. With Netflix pulling nearly 700 hours from Spain's two biggest public-facing broadcasters, Spanish IP is now a structural input to global streaming catalogs — and Spain's operators are increasingly designing release windows and partnerships to squeeze more value out of every title.
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