A lively debate is unfolding in Madrid over an ambitious project: Canal de Isabel II, the region’s largest public company, is celebrating its 175th anniversary and preparing to launch an unconventional TV series. Telefónica, which received the highest scores in the key selection criteria, will produce the series. The spotlight is not only on the show itself but also on its budget, with production costs set at €115,000. The cast will feature regular company employees, alongside a guest celebrity whose name remains under wraps.
Plans for the series coincided with the first water rate increase in ten years, which will bring Canal de Isabel II hundreds of millions of euros in additional revenue. The company also intends to sell 13 properties, adding nearly €4 million to its budget. In the context of these financial decisions, some in the public are questioning the spending on the series and anniversary celebrations.
Filming and casting
According to the project guidelines, the series will consist of six short episodes, each no longer than five minutes. The script must be at least 30 pages long and contain carefully developed storylines. The full script has to be finished 50 days before shooting starts, and a casting call among employees will be organized and filmed by a professional team a month before production. All these efforts aim to make staff feel part of a major event and strengthen their bond with the company.
The project involves one professional actor to ensure authenticity and professionalism. However, given the limited budget, this will not be an A-list celebrity. Organizers emphasize that the main goal is not to produce a blockbuster, but to use an artistic format for internal communication and staff motivation.
Holiday expenses
The anniversary of Canal de Isabel II is marked not only by the filming of a series, but also by a series of events. A contract worth over 427,000 euros has already been signed for organizing festivities. The highlight will be a dinner for a thousand guests, costing the budget 120 euros per person. The menu features traditional Spanish delicacies: lomo, manchego, jamón, Spanish tortilla, wine from Madrid and, of course, water. For participants of the water supply congress, an elegant cocktail reception is planned with six hot and six cold appetizers, as well as three desserts per guest.
This is just the beginning: the program also features two gala dinners, two shows, another cocktail reception, and guided tours for guests. Every detail is planned to underscore the importance of the anniversary and the company’s status.
Public reaction
Not everyone in Madrid shares the organizers’ enthusiasm. Some deputies and opposition representatives have openly criticized such spending, calling it unjustified. In their view, funds collected from residents for water should be invested in improving infrastructure rather than spent on celebrations and television series. The most pressing concern is how appropriate it is to hire a professional actor and hold lavish banquets at a time when rates are increasing.
Nevertheless, Canal de Isabel II’s management insists that such projects help strengthen team spirit and boost employee loyalty. The format involving staff and a guest actor, they say, is an effective internal communications tool, long proven successful at major companies.
The actor’s identity remains a mystery
The most talked-about intrigue is the name of the invited actor. According to the contract, it must be a professional with a recognizable face, though not a top-tier star. Organizers assure that the choice will favor someone who can seamlessly fit into the team and bring credibility to the project. Still, many believe that competing with Telefónica in this tender is virtually impossible and that this company will see the project through to the end.
For now, Canal de Isabel II employees are preparing for casting while the public closely follows the developments. Questions about the legitimacy of the expenses and the chosen format remain unresolved, but one thing is certain: the anniversary of Madrid’s largest water company will not go unnoticed.
