Atresmedia has confirmed that Josep Pedrerol will step down as host of 'El Chiringuito' and 'Jugones' after 13 years, with his departure scheduled for July 20. It ends one of the most influential eras in Spanish sports television. The final episode of 'El Chiringuito' under Pedrerol's leadership will coincide with a special broadcast marking the World Cup final, closing a chapter that shaped late-night sports debate and midday sports news for more than a decade.
Atresmedia said the journalist and the company reached the decision by mutual agreement. During Pedrerol's tenure, 'El Chiringuito' became a benchmark for sports analysis and debate, building a loyal audience and extending its influence beyond traditional television. The group also noted that 'Jugones', which Pedrerol presented on laSexta, consistently led its time slot and became a reference point for midday sports news.
In farewell remarks included in the official statement, Pedrerol highlighted the creative freedom he enjoyed and his satisfaction with his years at Atresmedia. He said the team had delivered exclusive stories through engaging nightly debates on 'El Chiringuito', while the program connected with viewers. He also pointed to 'Jugones' becoming a midday leader in multi-sport coverage.
Jose Antonio Antón, general director of Atresmedia Audiovisual, thanked Pedrerol for his professionalism and praised his team's achievements. He recognized the impact of their 13-year collaboration and wished them success with future projects. The company also acknowledged the dedication of everyone involved in 'El Chiringuito', describing it as one of the most iconic formats in Atresmedia's lineup.
The departure did not end the program. Mediaset announced in July 2026 that Pedrerol and his team were joining the group, with 'El Chiringuito' moving to its thematic channel Energy as a daily show and appearing on generalist channel Cuatro for selected broadcasts. El País reported that Atresmedia had decided to dispense with the format, while noting that Pedrerol retained much of his former audience after the move even as Energy's overall ratings remained largely unchanged.
Audience figures show a gap between the show's performance on its regular channel and its reach in special broadcasts. TodoAlicante reported an average share of 3.5% during the first two months on Energy, below a reported 5% target, while Energy recorded a 1.8% share in September. A separate Xataka analysis put the show's Energy average at 4.2% and about 158,000 viewers as of September 25. The figures cover different reporting periods, but both indicate that the program's regular slot had not substantially lifted the channel's audience.
On October 14, a Cuatro special following Iker Jiménez's 'Horizonte' delivered a stronger result. Xataka reported that 'Horizonte' drew 10.8% and 1.307 million viewers in its access segment, followed by 12.5% and 1.142 million viewers in an extended segment from 11:10 p.m. to midnight. 'El Chiringuito' then recorded a 7.9% share and 305,000 viewers, its best result since joining Mediaset, the publication reported. The same analysis noted an earlier 7.5% share for the show on Cuatro, illustrating the greater reach a generalist-channel broadcast can offer with a strong lead-in.
Mediaset kept using event-led scheduling to extend that exposure. On October 21, 'Horizonte' was scheduled on Cuatro until midnight, before Pedrerol and his team presented a special focused on that evening's European football. The move put 'El Chiringuito' in front of viewers beyond its regular Energy audience on a major football night.
The shift also comes amid longer-term pressure on Spain's free-to-air thematic channels. TodoAlicante cited a combined 26.6% share for open-access channels in the month it examined, down from 30.9% in September 2016. Against that backdrop, Cuatro specials give Mediaset a way to bring an established sports brand to a broader audience, though the reported figures distinguish the reach of individual event broadcasts from the show's routine performance on Energy.
Pedrerol's departure comes as Spanish sports media faces new competition and changing viewing habits. The end of his Atresmedia era raised questions about what comes next for 'El Chiringuito' and 'Jugones', as well as his future in the industry. The move is part of a wider pattern of high-profile shifts in Spanish media, including internal debates within major political parties, highlighted in coverage such as the recent analysis of tensions inside the Partido Popular.
'El Chiringuito' has helped shape sports conversation in Spain, often setting the agenda for football debates and breaking exclusive news. Its digital presence has grown alongside its television audience, reflecting broader changes in how Spanish viewers consume sports content. Since the move, its performance on Energy and stronger results in Cuatro specials have become distinct measures of how far the program's established following can translate into wider network reach.
