RTVE Under Scrutiny For Not Disclosing Presenter Hernand's Earnings At Benidorm Fest 2025
The Spanish national broadcaster RTVE is facing criticism for refusing to reveal how much presenter Íñes Hernand earned during the recently concluded Benidorm Fest 2025. This decision raises important questions about transparency and accountability associated with public institutions.
According to RTVE's Portal de Transparencia, the earnings of Hernand and her co-hosts, Paula Vázquez and Ruth Lorenzo, are categorized under 'Personal Artístico', which aggregates payment details for all artistic staff involved. This categorization prevents the public from accessing individual compensation amounts.
When pressed for more specific information, the Portal de Transparencia responded to inquiries from El Debate, stating, "the presenters of Benidorm Fest 2025 are hired by an external producer of CRTVE." The report clarified the overall budget allocated for the festival—totalling €2,681,754 intended for the production company Boomerang TV—upholding the notion of confidentiality concerning specific presenters' salaries.
Despite the overarching budget for the festival exceeding €4,841,890.51, RTVE insists the exact earnings of Hernand and her peers will not be disclosed until these contracts are liquidated. This leaves the transparency on the earnings of public figures obscured.
Hernand's involvement as one of the leads during the festival received mixed reviews, particularly due to remarks made during broadcasts where she sensationally stated, "Madrid is a horrendous sinkhole," stirring public discourse around her comments. After the event, Hernand was seen at an after-party where she engaged with the audience by performing topless to the song of Rigoberta Bandini, titled "Ay, mamá". These antics created waves of conversation about her image as a presenter.
The Benidorm Fest 2025 was significant for Spain as it culminated with the victory of artist Melody, which secured her candidacy to represent Spain at the upcoming Eurovision 2025. This highlight may overshadow the controversy surrounding the earnings of the presenters, but the issue of transparency remains undivided.
The scrutiny on RTVE echoes broader calls from the public for enhanced transparency from governmental bodies and institutions, particularly those managing taxpayer money. The refusal to disclose such information casts shadows on the principles of accountability expected of public service broadcasters.
The push for clarity continues as stakeholders, media experts, and fans alike are vocal about the need for RTVE to uphold transparency standards when it pertains to compensation, especially for high-profile public figures.