On Monday, May 5, 2025, the highly anticipated program 'La Familia de la Tele' finally premiered on La 1 of TVE, following two previous cancellations due to unforeseen circumstances. The show, which features popular presenters María Patiño, Inés Hernand, Aitor Albizua, and Belén Esteban, kicked off with a grand parade that set the stage for its debut. Despite the excitement surrounding the event, audience reception, as reported by Kantar Media, was described as 'discreet' in terms of viewership numbers.
'La Familia de la Tele' managed to attract an average of 807,000 viewers during its initial broadcast, resulting in a 10.1% share of the audience. However, this figure includes the ratings from two other series, 'Valle salvaje' and 'La Promesa', which were counted as subprograms. The actual audience for 'La Familia de la Tele' was more modest, with the first segment registering an 8.7% share and 769,000 viewers, while the second segment garnered a slightly better 9.1% share with 708,000 viewers.
As part of the show's launch, a large parade was held, which included appearances from notable television personalities and was broadcasted live. Presenters and collaborators made their way from Torrespaña in Madrid to Prado del Rey in Pozuelo de Alarcón, where the RTVE studios are located. The event was characterized by its festive atmosphere, despite the inclement weather, which included rain and hail.
RTVE's strategy to boost the ratings included incorporating the audience numbers from 'Valle salvaje' (9.3% share) and 'La Promesa' (14.5% share) into the overall tally for 'La Familia de la Tele'. This tactic, known as a 'container audience', is often employed to enhance perceived viewership figures. Critics noted that without these two series, 'La Familia de la Tele' would have only achieved a 9% share across its two segments, a disappointing result given the high expectations set by the show's promotion.
During the parade, which was dubbed 'El Gran Desfile', the program attracted significant online attention, with nearly 4.3 million unique viewers tuning in for at least a minute. However, the show struggled to compete with its direct rivals, falling behind Antena 3's 'Sueños de libertad' which achieved a 14.1% share, and Telecinco's 'Tardear', which managed 9.6%.
Social media was abuzz with reactions to the premiere, with many viewers expressing their excitement and enjoyment. Comments ranged from praising the production quality to highlighting the nostalgic return of beloved television figures. One user remarked, "My taxes have never been so well invested," reflecting the mixed feelings about the show's performance. Another chimed in, likening the experience to witnessing beloved characters from Disney's Frozen at Disneyland Paris.
Despite the lackluster ratings, the show was a hot topic across platforms like X and Instagram, where many viewers shared their thoughts and reactions. The producers of 'La Familia de la Tele', La Osa, reported that around 100,000 unique viewers opted to watch the premiere via RTVE Play, a significant increase compared to other recent broadcasts.
Looking ahead, the program's schedule will face challenges due to the upcoming conclave, which will reduce its airtime. The first segment of 'La Familia de la Tele' will not be broadcast on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, and it remains to be seen how this will affect future ratings.
In summary, while 'La Familia de la Tele' successfully launched with an engaging parade and a lineup of well-known presenters, the initial audience figures indicate a need for improvement. The combination of high expectations, strategic audience metrics, and stiff competition from other channels suggests that future episodes will need to deliver stronger performances to maintain viewer interest.
