The TVE chain celebrates a quarter of a century since the start of its broadcasts “stronger than ever” and with the aim of reaching more young people
On September 15, 1997 at 2 pm RTVE experienced a historic moment. For the first time, the then public entity took advantage of its impressive information power to open the first all-news channel that told in Spanish what had happened inside and outside our country “Canal 24 Horas, made in Spain for everyone”, read there one of his first slogans. That first broadcast, opened by the journalist Ana Alarcón, reported on the suppression of the EGB in education, the opening of the judicial year chaired by King Juan Carlos I or that blond tobacco rose 25 pesetas.
An iconic quarter-century anniversary that brings viewers 365 days a year, seven days a week, the most important sights and sounds of today. The public information channel has live narrated the great historical events of the past 25 years. A total of 9,131 days of information and 219,144 hours of broadcast. According to data from RTVE itself, Canal 24 Horas’ signal reaches 46 countries through 83 distributors and also has a special impact on America, where it has its own news program for the region carried out from the Torrespaña studios in Madrid.
“The channel is reaching these 25 years stronger than ever,” says its current director, journalist Cristina Ónega, emphasizing that the public channel celebrates the event as “an informative reference” and with audience data to back it up. Last season the audience of the 24-hour channel was 1.1%, a tenth more than in the same period in the previous period, in a year when all slots have improved in ‘share’. In addition, ‘La Noche en 24 hora’ averaged 182,000 viewers, the second best figure in the program’s history. 32.9% of the population was once informed by this format, directed and presented by Xabier Fortes every night. “We have an audience that is not a millionaire, but is loyal and interested in information. We are satisfied, but we want more”, adds the director.
The station also pioneered the digitization of a newsroom, which it accomplished in record time, just two months. Since then, the way of working has changed a lot because “the way of communicating has also changed”, as Cristina Ónega says. “25 years ago, we weren’t as hyperconnected as we are today. The 24-hour channel now does between 50 and 100 interviews that generate content and help us understand current affairs. We innovate because communication advances,” he explains. The pandemic was a turning point as other channels, such as Skype or Zoom, were used to continuously amplify information with guest and expert testimonials coming in from around the world.
Likewise, the station consists of six working groups, with information professionals and technicians, spread out over the different time slots every day of the week. From morning to early morning, from Monday to Sunday, on public holidays or on working days. This is where the work of the editors stands out. “The greatest weight falls on them. They make the minutes of the news, they fit bits, they close immediately”, the director touches. “We are waiting for the last hour. There are no emergency protocols. Working at 24 Horas requires a dose of improvisation and imagination. When news comes out, it’s our duty to contrast it first and then tell it,” he adds.
A positive balance for the 25th anniversary, according to Ónega, who does homework for the coming months: “We need to get a little closer to the young people, hear their preferences when something happens, and bet on the early morning.” For now, Canal 24 Horas is celebrating its anniversary today by moving its programming during the day to Madrid’s Gran Vía, where a special set will be placed to be “closer than ever to the citizens”. In addition to the chain’s usual faces to tell the last hour, guests such as the director of the Cervantes Institute, Luis García Montero; the musician and former member of Tequila, Alejo Stivel; the music group Sidecars; and the first presenter and the first director of Canal 24 Horas, Ana Alarcón and Pedro González respectively.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
