The program, born in ETB, is broadcast in eleven communities with different presenters, albeit with the same mechanics
It is difficult to find in the history of regional television a format that adapts so well to the idiosyncrasies of each area and, moreover, has the support of the public. It could almost be an exception, as similar success stories could be counted on the fingers of one hand. This is the contest ‘Catch me if you can’, a program born in 2014 on ETB, presented by Patxi Alonso and distributed eight years later to the rest of the country with eleven different versions in each autonomy. Spectators from North and South like it; and east and west.
Meanwhile, we could say that ‘Patch me if you can’ unites Spaniards, regardless of their geographical origin. Produced by The Mediapro Studio, this format is a classic question-and-answer quiz, one that the whole family will enjoy, with excitement and interest increasing as the tests pass. Specifically, there are five elimination rounds with a final ladder that pits a pair of contestants against each other. With each success, one of them climbs a step. When you reach the top, you will win the long-awaited jackpot whose amount in euros varies according to the regional chain. All versions of this successful space have the same structure and decoration, although the presenters and participants come from the region where it is broadcast.
“The way of making the program is different and tailor-made for each autonomous community,” said the director of ‘unscripted’ programs for Globomedia at The Mediapro Studio, Manuel Rodríguez, explaining that they have tried to export formats on other occasions. between the regions or La Forta has made a program for all its channels, but they don’t suit the audience because “they don’t see themselves identified”. “It’s a clear and perfect formula for success, as it combines a series of conditioning factors that make each territory and viewer feel like their own. It’s the fundamental part and what sets it apart,” he says.
The idea of ’Catch me if you can’ arose from the thinking minds who created the unforgettable ‘Date el bot’ a decade earlier on Basque public television. ETB 2 along with Hostoil (another production company of The Mediapro Studio) were looking for a competition ahead of the broadcast of ‘Teleberri’ and Iñaki Ruiz created a format that has extended its success beyond the Basque Country. Despite a discreet beginning in terms of audience, it quickly established itself as one of the essential programs on the network, with 2,000 episodes in April and averaging over 12% each season. Now the space also wants to expand its borders beyond Spain.
The program has also been able to put viewers of all ages in front of the small screen. In the case of Aragón TV, it is broadcast before the news “and it’s time for the kids to come home to eat with their grandparents,” stresses Manuel Rodríguez. “We know how to balance. It is a formula that is repeated in all autonomous. Young people come to watch the match and that is a success, because rejuvenating the ‘target’ of the regional channels was one of the ongoing topics,” said the manager.
‘Get me if you can’ has been consolidated in other areas of autonomy, where it also has significant public support. On Catalan TV3, ‘Atrapa’m si pots’ reached its most watched episode on October 30 with a share of 18.7% and on Canal Sur, presented by Manolo Sarría, it is usually one of the most watched programs. Canal Extremadura, with an edition presented by the journalist Paco Vadillo, and Castilla-La Mancha Media, with Frank Blanco as master of ceremonies, are the last two regionals to add the format. Dani Calero on Televisión Canaria, Antònia Jaume on IB3, Oscar Tramoyeres on À Punt, Paco Lodeiro on TVG and Jaime Cantizano on the ‘celebrity’ edition of Telemadrid lead the other regional versions of the televised competition.
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.