After 12 seasons on linear TV, the leading Spanish talent show “Operación Triunfo”, produced by Banijay Iberia’s Gestmusic, has successfully moved to an online environment through Prime Video.
The first gala of “Operación Triunfo” was the most watched premiere in the history of Prime Video in Spain. Its voting app garnered 53 million votes and on social media generated 718.9 million views on TikTok and YouTube, according to VOD analytics Sigmados30.
Since 2021, when Netflix teamed up with Grupo iZen to launch “Insiders,” the streamer’s first Spanish original reality show, the demand for unsigned content on online platforms has progressively increased.
“Entertainment can be more profitable for streamers than producing fiction,” said iZen president Jose Velasco, who years ago produced the Spanish version of “Big Brother.”
“On the side of the streamers, it’s also an effect of shifting their focus. Now entertainment and documentaries are new ways to capture the attention of the consumer on a daily basis,” he explains.
“It’s also a matter of efficiency. Decision times, execution times, and reaction times are shorter, so the probability of error is lower than in the production of fiction.
Prime Video has now announced a new season of “Operación Triunfo” on its platform.
“Entertainment and news content marks the difference between free content from operators versus what streamers offer. In my opinion, they will ultimately be working models of cooperation between the two windows,” says Velasco.
Benchmark for local adaptations
A traditional buyer of international formats, Spanish broadcasters abandoned their standard for local adaptations.
“The quality of Spanish adaptations of international formats is a global reference,” says José Antonio Salso, head of acquisitions and sales at Atresmedia TV, the broadcaster behind the Spanish versions of “The Voice,” “Maskid Singer” and “Drag Race.” “
But also original local formats travel internationally, like the daily primetime show “El hormiguero”, a 7-year-old Acción production for Atresmedia that will make the jump to the US “El Desafío”, another 7-year-old Acción format for Atresmedia, was sold of Albavisión channels group, reaching more than 10 countries in Central and Latin America.
“Similar to what happened in fiction, the market has also opened up more to entertainment offers,” says Marta Espeletta, head of distribution, co-production and international offices for Mediapro Studio.
“In the case of Spain, we have a very long tradition and experience in the production of entertainment and we even managed to make this content travel before the current moment,” she adds, referring to “Crush”, a format created by TMS for RTVE, which just premiered was successful in Vietnam.
Currently, the most sought-after unscripted formats are reality game shows, true crime and dating shows, Espeletta says.
Another Atresmedia talent show, Tu cara me suena, a partnership with Gestmusic, has been adapted to more than 40 international territories, including the US (ABC’s Sing Your Face Off) and the UK (Your Face Sounds Familiar “ ” on ITV).
The show returns on April 12 for its 11th season in Spain, backed by a successful run that has averaged over 20% prime-time audience share on Antena 3 since its debut in 2011.
A leading producer of both artistic and entertainment content, Mediapro Studio brings years of experience in entertainment production through its subsidiaries Globomedia, 100 Balas and El Terrat. It also produces entertainment shows such as “El Conquistador” on ETB and TVE with 20 seasons aired.
In the documentary space, TMS produced for Telefonica’s Movistar Plus+ service “Matar al Presidente,” “Los 8 de Irak,” “Lola” and “Lina” and pioneered the Emmy-winning sports docuseries “Six Dreams,” ” Fernando’, ‘All or Nothing: Manchester City’ and ‘MotoGP: Unlimited’, all released on Prime Video.
