Disney+ turns Spain’s RTVE hits into next-day streaming
Disney+ has signed a Spanish content deal with public broadcaster RTVE, making selected RTVE titles available on Disney+ the day after their linear broadcast on La1/TVE, starting 31 March. The agreement includes MasterChef Spain season 14 (and its celebrity version) and upcoming drama Rojo Sobre Blanco, with additional titles to be announced later. The deal aligns with Disney+’s broader European strategy of partnering with free-to-air broadcasters, following similar agreements with Atresmedia, ITVX, ARD, ZDF, and SIC.
Key Takeaways
- Next-day window: selected RTVE titles will land on Disney+ immediately after airing on La1/TVE starting March 31
- Initial slate includes MasterChef Spain S14 and MasterChef Celebrity, plus scripted series Rojo Sobre Blanco
- The deal extends Disney+’s Europe playbook of partnering with free-to-air broadcasters (Atresmedia, ITVX, ARD/ZDF, SIC)
- RTVE gains a distribution lane to younger streaming-first audiences while retaining linear premiere control
Why It Matters
This is the “PSB-to-streamer next-day” pattern going mainstream: broadcasters keep the linear first run (and brand), while Disney+ buys speed and scale in local entertainment without fully funding originals. For Disney+, it’s a cost-efficient way to thicken the non-franchise catalog and reduce churn with familiar, high-frequency formats like MasterChef. For European broadcasters, it’s a pragmatic hedge against aging linear audiences—at the risk of training viewers to wait 24 hours and watch elsewhere. Expect more short-window, co-branded distribution deals as rights holders monetize reach, not just exclusivity.
Read full article at broadcastnow.co.uk