Antena 3’s flagship afternoon show ‘Pasapalabra’ is navigating a format change while competing with 2026 World Cup broadcasts. After a Supreme Court ruling required the removal of its iconic final round, ‘El Rosco’, producers introduced ‘AlaZ’, an alphabet-based challenge with strategic twists and additional clues.
The change followed a long-running legal dispute that began after ‘Pasapalabra’ moved from Telecinco to Antena 3. Mediaset and Rueda la letra were involved in the dispute. Atresmedia’s response was ‘AlaZ’, which La Vanguardia reported was based on a format from Swiss public television. It keeps the alphabet challenge while adding tactical options, including answering in reverse order and using new clues.
World Cup matches were also reshaping viewing patterns. Spanish television coverage on July 7 described a Portugal-Spain match as dominating audiences and boosting La 1 and RTVE, intensifying competition for established programmes. Atresmedia later reported that ‘Pasapalabra’ averaged an 18.5% audience share and 1,615,000 viewers over the period covered by its nine-month 2026 results. The figures indicate that the show remained a major performer during the tournament.
To maintain its appeal, ‘Pasapalabra’ has assembled a lineup of celebrity guests for July 7 to 9, aiming to attract viewers from different backgrounds. The guests include Nerea Garmendia, a Basque comedian and presenter known for her roles in ‘Vaya Semanita’ and popular series such as ‘Los hombres de Paco’ and ‘Allí abajo’. Garmendia recently returned to ETB2’s comedy programming and brings a lively presence to the show. Joining her is Leo Rivera, an actor from Talavera de la Reina with extensive experience in musical theatre and television. A familiar face on ‘Pasapalabra’, Rivera is known for his appearances in ‘7 vidas’ and ‘Un paso adelante’ and is expected to provide strategic support to his team.
Comedy continues with Canco Rodríguez, widely recognized for playing ‘Barajas’ in the hit series ‘Aída’. Rodríguez recently starred in the film ‘Aída y vuelta’ and is known for his dynamic stage presence and knack for creating memorable moments on set. Rounding out the lineup is Karina, a legendary figure in Spanish pop music. Famous for hits such as ‘El baúl de los recuerdos’ and her near-victory at Eurovision 1971 with ‘En un mundo nuevo’, Karina adds a nostalgic touch and broadens the show’s appeal across generations.
The new final round retains the programme’s familiar alphabet-based knowledge test while giving contestants more tactical choices. This is more than a cosmetic redesign: ‘AlaZ’ followed the legal conflict over ‘El Rosco’ and gave Atresmedia a different format to preserve the show’s suspense. In October, La Vanguardia reported a separate ‘AlaZ’ judging dispute after contestant David Trigo’s pronunciation of “carbonara” was ruled incorrect. Presenter Roberto Leal explained that if the answer sounded like “carborara”, it had to count as a mistake, an example of the new round generating its own points of debate.
As the World Cup draws viewers, the battle for attention is intensifying. ‘Pasapalabra’ is not alone in facing these challenges; other major events, including the San Fermín festival, are also adapting their coverage and programming to compete for viewers. Pamplona’s bull runs, for example, have recently received expanded live broadcast coverage (full details here).
‘Pasapalabra’ has long been a fixture of Spanish entertainment, combining wordplay with celebrity participation. Celebrity teams help contestants build up seconds for the final round, making guest appearances part of the game as well as the show’s entertainment appeal. The July lineup draws on comedy, theatre and music, while ‘AlaZ’ is Atresmedia’s response to the legal dispute over ‘El Rosco’ and the competitive pressure facing the show.
