– The Spanish platform is expanding its investment and commitment to drama by doubling the number of titles and introducing new collaboration models
The series Patagonia (© Andrés Larraín)
The new series strategy at Movistar Plus aims to build the strongest possible slate of drama by gradually increasing the number of titles, until it reaches an average of two new Spanish series premieres per month. This growth will be backed by increased investment over the coming years, as the company reinforces its commitment to Spanish audiovisual production. The goal is to reach 26 series a year within the next three years. This rise will be particularly visible in Movistar Plus Originals, where the platform plans to double its annual output: from the current eight productions to 16. It will also meet this target by expanding co-production and licensing models, which until now have played a minor role.
This commitment to growth comes at a strong moment for Spanish drama, both creatively and commercially, and reflects the proven ability of Movistar Plus series to attract new audiences. “We are entering a new era for Spanish drama. We want to offer our customers more stories, reach wider audiences and continue to be a strategic partner for Spanish talent and production companies. We will grow in size without compromising on the creative and editorial standards that define us,” said Juan Andrés García Ropero ‘Bropi’, the company’s content director. In recent weeks, his team has held meetings with 60 production companies.
Some of the projects already scheduled for 2027 as part of this expansion include Ardora, a series directed by Jorge Coira (read more); Iruña 97, based on an original idea by Natxo López, and written with Marina Parés and David Pérez Sañudo, who is currently directing it (read more); and Todo lo necesario, created by Marcel Barrena and Alberto Marini and starring David Verdaguer, Enric Auquer, Marina Salas and Mónica López.
Alongside its original productions, Movistar Plus is also expanding its catalogue through rights acquisitions. Among these titles are Ella, maldita alma, created by Aurora Guerra and directed by Iñaki Mercero and Javier Quintas; and 33 días, a production led by investigative journalist Carles Porta and starring José Manuel Poga y Julián Villagrán.
The third avenue for growth in the number of series is strengthening co-productions. Movistar Plus continues its collaboration with ARTE France, which previously partnered on The New Years and The Anatomy of a Moment, and is now co-producing the series Matar a un oso (read more). These co-productions allow the platform to participate in projects with greater creative and commercial scope through international partnerships, optimise investment and improve production efficiency.
Another recent example of an international co-production is Patagonia, which has already started filming, directed by Rodrigo Susarte and starring Itziar Ituño. The series is produced in collaboration with Wood Producciones (Chile), Atlantika Films (Spain), with the support of CNTV – Televisión Nacional de Chile and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, and is distributed internationally by ZDF Studios.
With this strategy, Movistar Plus strengthens its position as one of the leading promoters of Spanish drama. The combination of original productions, acquisitions and co-productions will enable the platform to expand its catalogue sustainably, offer viewers a wider variety of stories and continue to contribute to the development of the audiovisual industry with a long-term vision, all while pursuing its commercial objective of increasing its subscriber base.
(Translated from Spanish)
