The main premiere of the new television season on Telecinco appears to have fallen short of expectations. Just a month after its debut, the show ‘El precio de…’—hosted by Santi Acosta in Monday’s prime time slot—will be dropped from the schedule next week. In its place, the network will air the iconic Hollywood film ‘Pretty Woman.’ This decision is timed to coincide with the 35th anniversary of the film’s release in Spain, serving both as a tribute to the classic and an effort to win back viewers.
The project’s launch on September 8 was quite promising: the debut episode attracted 781,000 viewers and scored a 13.1% audience share, sparking cautious optimism among network executives. However, the initial interest quickly waned. By the second week, ratings dropped to 10.2% (575,000 viewers), and by the third, they fell to 8.7% (514,000 viewers), slipping below Telecinco’s already concerning average. On the last Monday of September, the episode devoted to Isabel Pantoja’s accounts saw a slight uptick to 11.1%, but this, apparently, was not enough to convince channel management of the show’s viability.
At the moment, the show has been put on “pause” for at least a week, although the channel is already announcing other movie screenings. The choice of “Pretty Woman” as a replacement is far from coincidental. The film starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere is a tried-and-true classic that consistently delivers results with every broadcast. The anniversary date serves as a great occasion to present the movie as a special event, likely to draw a broad audience and surpass the modest ratings of the latest episodes of “El precio de…” This is despite the fact that in recent months, feature films aired during prime time have not always brought the channel the desired outcomes.
The sudden pause in Santi Acosta’s project raises many questions about its future. Its continuation now depends on whether Mediaset decides to move the program to a less competitive slot, revamp its content, or discontinue it after its initial run. In any case, this break is seen as a clear signal of the network’s lack of confidence in the current format.
The case of “El precio de…” highlights a problem Mediaset has faced for years: the inability to secure new successful projects in its lineup. The network has tried a variety of concepts but has yet to find a formula that ensures viewer loyalty. Only the long-established, time-tested shows like “Supervivientes,” “La isla de las tentaciones,” and “Gran Hermano” continue to truly dominate their broadcast slots.
The unexpected cancellation of Acosta’s program—just four weeks after its launch—not only highlights this vulnerability but also returns Telecinco to square one, forcing the channel to improvise with film screenings as a temporary measure. While movies may offer the channel brief respite, this is not a long-term strategy. Telecinco’s next steps will be decisive, revealing whether Santi Acosta remains part of the solution or joins the long list of unsuccessful attempts in the battle for leadership on Spanish television.
