RTVE hinders the progress of Spanish animation?

Stupor in the federations and representative associations of the sector, which denounce the disinterest of the public chain for the children's animation contents and its impact on the blockade of the development of the national industry.

In the opinion of the animation industry, despite the declaration of intentions manifested by José Pablo López and María Eizaguirre in January of this year of “becoming the engine of the audiovisual industry”, the announcement made yesterday by the public entity in the framework of the Annecy International Festival shows that, far from being the engine, RTVE has become an obstacle to the Spanish animation sector.

Representatives of the public chain announced yesterday, with more than six months of delay on the planned date, the resolution of the call for animation series for which RTVE acquires new national works for its Children's Clan channel. The announcement has caused a greater impact, if possible, when it occurs within the framework of the MIFA, the largest world animation market, where Spanish producers, despite being the second delegation with the greatest presence in the world after France, has suddenly seen its options to close international co -production agreements.

Pocoyo (Season 6), Superthings (Seasons 3 and 4) and the first season of Antón Piñón They are the only three projects selected in the call. Unlike previous editions, RTVE has opted for a single newly created property, with which the total of new series supported in 2024 adds three compared to the seven supported in the year 2023. This reduction in newly created projects adds to other difficulties already denounced Historically, by the federations of producers, such as the meager economic endowments assigned by project, the slowness in resolutions and negotiations, and abusive clauses in contracts, which implies a comparative grievance for national producers who go out to compete in inequality of conditions in international markets.

For sector associations, RTVE navigates in the opposite direction to the trend shown by public televisions of the European environment. This has been evident in the panel organized by the European Federation Animation in Europe, yesterday in Mafa, with the title All on the same ship: What is the role of televisions to overcome the current crisis?. In this round table, the representatives of France Télévisions and BBC, among others, explained how these public entities are adapting their strategies to support and reinforce their respective national industries. They were also taxative when remembering that the obligation of a public service is to bet not only for known brands but also for newly created projects and protect children's audiences. On the other hand, RTVE seems to be leaving aside a very important part of the population, those under 14, not only because of their volume (represent 6.3 million inhabitants, 13% of the population) but also because it leaves these orphan generations of their own cultural references and pushes them to consume foreign content on other platforms.

On the other hand, in the opinion of Duboos and BOW It is essential that RTVE reinforces its offer of children's content on the Clan channel Through the increase in the number of supported projects, balancing newly created and consolidated properties, their provision and greater agility in internal processes. This public-private collaboration is key for producers to compete on equal terms in the international arena and can generate cultural wealth and brand Spain through the retention and exploitation of the intellectual property of their works.