Mediaset España’s move to bring ‘El Chiringuito’ and presenter Josep Pedrerol across from Atresmedia marked a major shift in Spanish sports television. After 13 years at Atresmedia, the late-night football program was set to join Mediaset, with September identified as the planned start when the transfer was announced. The show ultimately premiered on Energy on August 17, 2026, carrying its established team and editorial identity into its new home.
The move was announced on July 21, when Mediaset welcomed Pedrerol and his team with a public message and video on X. The broadcaster said the presenter and basic team would remain in place. OKDiario reported that the agreement was long-term, reflecting Mediaset’s interest in adding a recognizable sports brand to its programming. The transition followed Atresmedia’s decision to discontinue the format on its channels; the separation was described as having been reached “by mutual agreement.”
Pedrerol expressed enthusiasm about the move and the support he had received from Mediaset, while Jaime Guerra, Mediaset’s director of content production, described the acquisition as a major asset because of the program’s distinctive approach to sports news and its loyal following. The format’s familiar blend of football analysis and debate, delivered with an entertainment edge, remained basic to the new stage.
Mediaset’s schedule gave the show two different roles: a regular late-night edition on Energy and Sunday broadcasts and major-event specials on Cuatro. That split put the daily program on a thematic channel while giving match-linked editions access to a broader general-interest audience. Mediaset Infinity listings also show ‘El Chiringuito’ on Cuatro on October 21, with Pedrerol presenting coverage of Champions League results and other football news.
The early audience figures showed a clear difference between those slots. The August 17 premiere drew 186,000 viewers and a 5.28% share, but the program averaged 3.5% on Energy over its first two months, below the 5% target associated with the new Mediaset stage. October editions generally registered shares of about 2.8% to 2.95%. By contrast, reports put the Sunday Cuatro editions at an average of 6.2% across seven broadcasts, while other coverage described Sunday performances at around 6.5%. Selected post-match editions reached 7.9% and 305,000 viewers, information from audience figures reported by La Voz de Galicia.
The contrast suggests that the program’s strongest results came when its broadcasts were tied to major football events rather than its routine Energy slot. A report by eldiario.es’s verTele said two Wednesday Champions League editions averaged a 7.2% share. Pedrerol framed a Sunday Barcelona-Real Madrid match as an chance to reach about 10%, saying, “On Sundays, we’ll reach 10% if there’s a Barça-Madrid.” The match itself was scheduled for 9 p.m., with the post-match program due at midnight; DAZN carried the game.
‘El Chiringuito’ has become a fixture of Spanish football culture through lively debate and interviews tied to major events. The move to Mediaset preserved the recognizable format and presenter while testing whether the program could attract viewers to both Energy and Cuatro. Its first months produced a mixed picture: continued audience loyalty and stronger results around major matches, alongside Energy figures below the target reported for the channel. Sports programming is also becoming increasingly central to network strategies, as reflected in other recent media developments such as the high-profile TVE broadcast involving Spain’s Royal Family at the World Cup final.
For viewers, the basic change was the broadcaster, not the show’s familiar faces or style. The division between regular Energy programming and event-driven Cuatro editions has made scheduling a basic part of Mediaset’s strategy. The program’s performance around football fixtures offered the clearest sign of its potential to draw larger audiences, while its routine Energy results remained a separate challenge.
