Mediaset, acting for Dutch rights holder MC&F, has announced a lawsuit against Atresmedia over 'AlaZ', the recently introduced final round in 'Pasapalabra'. MC&F alleges the format is nearly identical to the iconic 'El Rosco'. Mediaset says it will seek immediate legal measures to halt 'AlaZ' broadcasts, citing plagiarism and unfair competition. The dispute concerns rights to the show's climactic round, not the continued production of 'Pasapalabra' as a whole.
The dispute follows a Supreme Court ruling that forced Atresmedia to remove 'El Rosco' from its programming because it did not own the rights. MC&F, which holds those rights and sold them to Mediaset for future use, argues that 'AlaZ' retains too many elements of the original. It cites similarities in the format's structure and gameplay, as well as its visual presentation, despite changes to the graphics and the arrangement of letters on screen. La Vanguardia described the change as following Atresmedia's loss of the rights to 'El Rosco' and their transfer to Mediaset and MC&F.
Atresmedia has declined to comment on the pending lawsuit. 'AlaZ', which has aired since June 19, places contestants inside a blue and orange arch as the host reads definitions linked to letters of the alphabet. Unlike in 'El Rosco', the letters appear in a row at the bottom of the screen, and contestants can answer from A to Z or in reverse. Moving through the alphabet in either direction is one of the format's basic gameplay changes. MC&F maintains that these changes do not sufficiently distinguish the new format from the original.
The original Swiss format, acquired by Atresmedia and ITV, puts a single contestant in a booth for a ten-minute round. Its system deducts prize money for hints instead of reducing the time. The Spanish adaptation, by contrast, retains multiple contestants and a cumulative jackpot, with everyone sharing a screen, elements MC&F claims are hallmarks of 'El Rosco'. Mediaset also notes that 'AlaZ', unlike the Swiss version, allows celebrity participation and gameplay that continues across episodes. On the established Antena 3 programme, celebrity guests help contestants build up time before the final round, which presenter Roberto Leal introduces as the show's concluding test.
Antena 3's episode coverage shows 'AlaZ' in use as an active competition, with answers judged against definitions read aloud. In one episode, a contestant had given 22 correct answers, while the opponent had made three errors; the programme also reported a jackpot of €1.18 million at the time. The coverage showed the strict answer-validation process: Leal ruled an answer incorrect because its spoken form did not match the required word.
The legal process could have impressive implications for Spanish television: 'Pasapalabra' remains a ratings leader on Antena 3. Atresmedia's nine-month 2026 results put the programme's average audience share at 18.5%, with 1,615,000 viewers. The group reported an overall television audience share of 24.9% for the period, putting it 2.4 percentage points ahead of Mediaset and 5.5 points ahead of TVE. Atresmedia also reported net revenue of €724.3 million, up 4.0% year on year. The outcome will determine whether Atresmedia can keep airing 'AlaZ' or must alter its flagship game show again. Mediaset has not disclosed details of its plans for the format, which it intends to relaunch in the upcoming season.
'El Rosco' was a Spanish TV staple for 26 years, first on Antena 3 and later on Telecinco, until legal disputes over format rights forced its removal. After Telecinco lost 'Pasapalabra' in 2019, it tried to fill the gap with 'El Tirón', but the new show failed to attract the same audience. The dispute highlights the complexities of intellectual property in television formats, where even minor changes may not head off infringement claims. The Spanish Supreme Court has previously emphasized that a show's distinctiveness can rest on details such as how contestants are arranged and the time limits, along with its graphic design, setting a precedent for the current case.
