La Séptima

La Séptima
CountrySpain
Broadcast areaSpain and Andorra
HeadquartersSan Sebastián de los Reyes, Madrid
Programming
Picture format1080i HDTV
Ownership
OwnerServicios Integrados Entretenimiento Televisivo
Key peopleJosé Miguel Contreras (director)
Javier Ruiz (news director)
History
Launched5 November 2026 (2026-11-05)
Links
WebsiteLa Séptima TV

La Séptima is an upcoming Spanish nationwide free-to-air television channel owned and operated by Servicios Integrados Entretenimiento Televisivo (SIETE), scheduled to begin broadcasting on 5 November 2026. Its programming lineup will be based on current affairs, political analysis, talk shows, and entertainment, with a strong emphasis on live broadcasts and own productions.

The project is directed by audiovisual producer and executive José Miguel Contreras.

History

Origins of SIETE

On 16 October 2025, the third government of Pedro Sánchez approved a public tender for a new nationwide digital television license.[1] It was the first national television licence to be put out to public tender in Spain in more than a decade, since Mariano Rajoy’s first government awarded six television licences in October 2015 to Atresmedia, Mediaset España, the Spanish Episcopal Conference, Real Madrid CF, KISS Media and Grupo Secuoya, which subsequently launched the channels Atreseries, Be Mad, TRECE, Real Madrid TV, DKISS and TEN, respectively.[2]

In this context, Servicios Integrados Entretenimiento Televisivo, S. L., also known by its acronym SIETE, was incorporated in Madrid on 5 November 2025, with a share capital of €3,000 and the aim of participating in the public tender. Its corporate purpose included television programming, broadcasting, and video distribution activities. Andrés Varela Entrecanales was appointed sole administrator.[3] Various media outlets linked the origins of the project to disagreements between a portion of PRISA's shareholders and the group's management. According to published reports, some shareholders initially raised the possibility of integrating a new television channel into PRISA's structure, an initiative that ultimately developed independently.[4]

Apart from SIETE, only Mediaset España participated in the public tender. Mediaset España was already the media company holding the largest number of television licences in Spain, with seven national television channels. The Council of Ministers resolved the tender on 26 May 2026, granting SIETE the right to operate a nationwide television channel on the MPE5 digital multiplex in HD resolution for a renewable 15-year term.[5] Following the award of the license, a capital increase of €397,000 was registered on 8 June 2026, bringing the subscribed capital to €400,000.

Public announcement and preparations

In the days following the outcome of the public tender, numerous media outlets began speculating about the final name the channel would adopt, with alternatives including SIETE, La 7, La Séptima and La Sep7ima.[6] The number 7 has traditionally been used by many regional and municipal television channels in Spain, such as La 7 in the Region of Murcia and TPA7 in Asturias. In addition, Mediaset España operated a television channel called LaSiete between 2009 and 2014.

The channel publicly unveiled the name La Séptima and its visual identity on 7 July 2026. The logo was designed by Miguel Ángel Pérez, the project’s creative director, and uses coral as its corporate colour. The symbol consists of seven open lines. According to the explanation provided, the seven open lines are intended to represent an open project with room for growth. The typeface was constructed from compact blocks and designed to evoke the visual impact of newspaper headlines.[7]

In a series of interviews discussing the channel’s launch, Contreras stated that he would seek to recruit prominent figures from other major television groups in the country. Among the earliest names to be rumoured, as early as the start of July 2026, was Javier Ruiz.[8] At the time, Ruiz was one of the most prominent figures of Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE, where he hosted the programme Mañaneros 360, which led the ratings in the morning time slot. José Miguel Contreras had stated that he and Ruiz had participated more than two years earlier in designing a television project for PRISA that ultimately did not materialize. Following the broadcast of Mañaneros 360 on 7 August, Ruiz announced his departure from RTVE and his new role as editorial director of La Séptima’s news division.[9]

The channel’s second signing was announced on 13 August 2026, with Rocío Delgado, who until recently had hosted the programme O Termómetro on TVG, the regional television broadcaster of Galicia. She was followed on 17 August 2026 by the signings of model Alba Carrillo, who is associated with the Spanish celebrity press, and presenter Marta Márquez, who were recruited to host the channel’s first confirmed programme, the magazine show Fuera de control.[10]

Controversies

On 27 July 2026, national conservative political party VOX filed an administrative appeal before the Audiencia Nacional against the award of the national DTT licence to SIETE. VOX maintains that the award procedure violated the principles that should govern licensing procedures and that the decision was not in accordance with the law. These assertions are those of the appellant and do not constitute a judicial ruling on the legality of the licence award.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Pacheco, Claudia (16 October 2025). "Ya hay fecha para el nuevo canal en abierto y gratis de la TDT: muy atento a tu mando a distancia". ComputerHoy.
  2. ↑ "Los seis nuevos canales de TDT ya están en el aire". El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 27 April 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  3. ↑ "BORME-A-2025-218-28 Madrid – Acto 501041: Servicios Integrados Entretenimiento Televisivo SL" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Registro Mercantil (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado. 14 November 2025. p. 52375. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  4. ↑ Muñoz, Ramón (7 July 2026). "La Séptima iniciará emisiones el 5 de noviembre con una inversión de 25 millones". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  5. ↑ "El Gobierno adjudica la nueva licencia de TDT a los accionistas de Prisa que intentaron montar una 'tele' en el grupo". elDiario. 26 May 2026.
  6. ↑ "Los nombres finalistas para el nuevo canal de televisión: 7, Siete, La Séptima y LaSep7ima". El Confidencial (in Spanish). 6 July 2026. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  7. ↑ "La Séptima presenta su identidad visual de cara al estreno de sus emisiones". Reason Why (in Spanish). 8 July 2026. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  8. ↑ Migelez, Xabier (12 July 2026). "José Miguel Contreras, ante los desafíos de La Séptima: "Ojalá Javier Ruiz pueda venir"". elDiario.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  9. ↑ Migelez, Xabier (25 July 2026). "Javier Ruiz confirma su marcha de RTVE y su fichaje por La Séptima: "Ha sido un placer servirles desde esta trinchera"". elDiario.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "La Séptima anuncia los fichajes de Alba Carrillo y Marta Márquez y pone título por primera vez a sus programas". elDiario.es (in Spanish). 1 August 2026. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "La futura cadena La Séptima afronta un recurso de Vox por la concesión de la licencia de TDT". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 27 July 2026. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
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