Last Sunday evening on Spanish television was marked by an unconventional showdown that kept analysts and media experts in suspense. The programming schedule brought together two completely different worlds: a large-scale intellectual film and a popular survival reality show. The national broadcaster made a bold bet on a complex biographical film, and as the morning reports showed, this strategy earned it a decisive victory in prime time.
The evening’s triumph belonged to the television premiere of Oscar-winning film “Oppenheimer” by Christopher Nolan. The story of the inventor of the atomic bomb drew nearly 1.3 million viewers (specifically, 1,288,000), giving La 1 a 13.7% audience share. This result not only brought La 1 to the top spot, but also significantly strengthened the channel’s position, raising its average figures by 3.7 points compared to the previous week, when the action film “Civil War” scored 10%.
Nolan’s success appears even more impressive against the backdrop of overall monthly ratings. September screenings within the “Film of the Week” slot demonstrated steady, though not record, interest. For example, “El maestro que prometió el mar” drew a 12.1% audience share, while “El piloto” reached 13.4%. “Oppenheimer” not only surpassed these figures but also claimed the honorable second place among the most-watched films of the current season on the country’s main public channel. This proves that the public’s interest in high-quality, serious cinema remains strong.
The main loser in this televised duel turned out to be the hit reality show “Supervivientes All Stars,” which was unable to maintain its traditionally high ratings. Spanish viewers opted for a three-hour historical drama instead of watching celebrities’ adventures on a deserted island, making something of a cultural statement. It seems that even the most tried-and-true formats sometimes give way to great art, especially when it’s available on free public television. This evening certainly gave channel programming directors something to think about.
