The Supreme Court's decision to order the cessation of the broadcast of 'El Rosco' on Antena 3 has caused an immediate earthquake in the Spanish audiovisual sector. In parallel to that judicial resolution, it has become known that Mediaset closed the purchase of the rights to the mythical final game of the contest more than a year ago, in a strategic operation that now takes on decisive relevance.
The agreement, signed with the Dutch producer MC&F, owner of the format, was conditioned on a favorable court ruling, which makes the maneuver a long-term bet that the Fuencarral group has activated just as the judicial conflict enters its most decisive phase.
A calculated move before the ruling
According to the information available, the operation was driven by Mediaset's management under the mandate of CEO Alessandro Salem, who allegedly closed the deal with the international producer in anticipation of the judicial outcome of the case.
The agreement contemplated the acquisition of the exploitation rights of 'El Rosco', the final test of Pasapalabra, considered the most emblematic and highest audience impact element of the format.
The key to the contract was its activation conditioned on a favorable ruling from the high court, a scenario that has finally occurred with the Supreme Court's decision.
The Supreme Court changes the television board
The judicial resolution confirms the previous sentence of the Provincial Court of Barcelona and forces Antena 3 to cease the broadcast of 'El Rosco', considering that the format is protected by intellectual property rights belonging to MC&F.
The ruling not only prohibits its broadcast but also orders particularly forceful measures, such as the withdrawal and destruction of audiovisual material linked to the test, considering it part of a protected work.
The Supreme Court thus upholds that 'El Rosco' is not a generic idea, but a structured format with its own entity within the scope of intellectual property.
Mediaset positions itself to exploit the format
While the judicial ruling reconfigures the immediate future of Pasapalabra, Mediaset now finds itself in a privileged position to commercially exploit the most recognized test of the contest.
However, the Fuencarral group has not yet announced any concrete moves regarding its incorporation into the Telecinco or Cuatro programming, and industry sources suggest that, for the moment, there is no closed format for its broadcast.
The control of the format will continue to depend on the authorization of the Dutch producer MC&F, which opens a new negotiation scenario between networks and rights holders.