Silvia Intxaurrondo, a well-known journalist and writer, has firmly established herself at the top of Spanish television. Her morning show, ‘La Hora de La 1,’ has become the undisputed favorite among viewers, earning her the title of the new queen of morning TV. She confidently outshines her main rivals, including the hosts of popular programs like ‘Mañaneros’ on La Sexta and ‘Espejo público’ on Antena 3.
However, behind the glamorous facade of her television success lies a serious legal dispute. Intxaurrondo has found herself embroiled in a lawsuit against the state broadcaster RTVE. The conflict arose over new terms in her employment contract, which she considered unacceptable. The journalist has filed a claim, and both parties are now preparing for a court hearing expected to take place this spring.
The roots of the dispute go back more than two years. At that time, RTVE management made the strategic decision to bring the production of the show, which had previously been handled by an external production company, fully in-house. Originally, Silvia worked under a contract signed through her own company. This two-year agreement provided a substantial annual remuneration of nearly 270,000 euros.
The situation changed dramatically in 2023 after an inspection initiated by the labor authorities. As a result, RTVE was forced to offer the host a new, standard employment contract in line with the collective agreement. The financial terms were drastically reduced: a salary of about €45,000 a year, plus possible bonuses. For a star of her stature, this was a significant downgrade.
In addition to the substantial pay cut, the new working conditions stripped Inchaurrondo of her former independence. She is now required to strictly follow RTVE’s Code of Ethics and Editorial Guidelines, which limits the creative freedom she previously enjoyed as an external contractor.
Paradoxically, despite these workplace difficulties, her show’s popularity has only grown. In October, the program hit a season-high audience share of 22.3%, the second best all year. That’s an impressive 42% increase from the previous year. This success shows that personal and professional challenges haven’t affected the quality of her on-air work. In her personal life, things remain steady: she’s been married to Jinua Faruk for fourteen years, and together they raise children and share a passion for the Arab world.
