La Sexta

La Sexta
Name	La Sexta
Launch date	25 March 2006
Country	Spain
Language	Spanish
Headquarters	Madrid
Picture format	1080i HDTV
Owner	Atresmedia

La Sexta

La Sexta is a Spanish free-to-air television channel launched in 2006, part of the Atresmedia group and based in Madrid. The channel is known for a mixture of entertainment, comedy, political satire, investigative journalism and sports rights, positioning itself alongside other Spanish broadcasters such as Telecinco, Antena 3, TVE and Cuatro. La Sexta has competed for audiences with networks like Canal+ (Spain), FDF and thematic services including Movistar+.

History

La Sexta emerged after bidding for digital terrestrial television licences that involved entities such as Vocento, Grupo Planeta, Telefónica and private investors associated with Intereconomía. The channel began transmissions during the premiership of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and expanded through the tenure of Mariano Rajoy and subsequent administrations. Strategic developments included alliances with production companies tied to figures such as El Terrat and media executives who had worked with PRISA and Mediaset España Comunicación. Key moments involved disputes over frequency allocation adjudicated by bodies like the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade and later regulatory interventions by the CNMC (Spain). The acquisition by Atresmedia consolidated its position in a market shaped by mergers including the formation of Atresmedia Corporación de Medios de Comunicación, S.A. and rival consolidation such as the merger of Telecinco and Cuatro under Mediaset España.

Programming

Programming on the channel mixes Spanish and international formats and collaborations with production companies including Globomedia, Mediapro, Secuoya and Zebra Producciones. Entertainment offerings have included adaptations of formats associated with creators like Nacho Vigalondo and presenters with careers tied to institutions such as El País and El Mundo. The schedule features long-running comedy and satire shows produced by teams linked to El Terrat and presenters with connections to La Vanguardia and Cadena SER. Fiction and drama slots have showcased actors who have appeared in series produced by Globomedia and distributed through platforms such as Netflix and HBO España. Late-night and magazine formats have involved presenters who previously worked on Canal Sur and Radio Nacional de España programmes.

News and Current Affairs

News and current affairs output has been anchored by journalists and commentators with backgrounds at outlets like El Mundo, ABC and El País. The channel's flagship newscasts and debate programmes feature contributors who have worked for institutions such as EFE (news agency), Europa Press and academic experts affiliated with universities like the Complutense University of Madrid and the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Political debate shows have engaged politicians and analysts from parties including Partido Popular, PSOE, Podemos, Vox and Ciudadanos, and have prompted commentary from public figures associated with the Cortes Generales and regional parliaments like the Parliament of Catalonia. Investigative journalism strands have forged links with non-governmental organizations and journalists who formerly collaborated with El Confidencial and OK Diario.

Sports Coverage

Sporting rights acquired and broadcast by the channel include collaborations and sublicensing with entities such as DAZN, Mediaset España and production groups tied to Mediapro. Coverage has involved fixtures and competitions relevant to Spanish audiences including events connected to La Liga, the UEFA Champions League, the FIFA World Cup, and national team fixtures under the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The channel has also reported on multi-sport events like the Olympic Games and European championships across basketball and cycling that involve federations such as the Spanish Basketball Federation and the Royal Spanish Cycling Federation.

Audience and Reception

Audience performance has been tracked by measurement firms including Kantar Media and compared with rivals like Antena 3 and Telecinco across demographics monitored by the National Audience Measurement (Spain). Critical reception of programming has been covered in national newspapers such as El País, ABC and La Razón, while individual presenters and shows have won awards and recognition at ceremonies including the Premios Ondas and the TP de Oro. The channel's editorial line and satire have provoked responses from political actors including Moncloa offices and parliamentary spokespersons, and generated academic analyses from researchers affiliated with institutions such as the University of Navarra and the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.

Ownership and Corporate Structure

La Sexta is part of the Atresmedia group, a media conglomerate that includes channels such as Antena 3, thematic channels and a production arm linked to companies like Flooxer and Atresmedia Cine. Corporate governance has involved boards and executives who have held positions across Spanish media organizations including PRISA, Vocento and Mediaset España Comunicación. Atresmedia's shareholding and strategic decisions have been influenced by investment vehicles and media investors with ties to European broadcasters such as Vivendi and multinational firms present in the pan-European audiovisual market governed by European Union regulations and industry associations like EGTA.

Category:Television channels in Spain