New Spanish digital terrestrial television channel La Séptima is negotiating with subscription provider Movistar Plus in Madrid to add its channel to the Telefónica platform ahead of its scheduled broadcast launch on November 5, 2026.
The negotiations, first reported by Spanish digital news outlet Vozpópuli, aim to expand the new network's potential audience beyond traditional free-to-air broadcasts across Spain.
Management at the channel is also open to reaching distribution agreements with other major telecommunications operators in Spain, including Orange, Vodafone, and Digi, to facilitate access to its content in a fragmented market.
La Séptima will begin broadcasting on Spanish digital terrestrial television (TDT) in early November 2026, following a long setup period marked by investor Joseph Oughourlian refusing to fund the project from media group Grupo Prisa.
Ahead of its on-air launch, the new station will hold its official public presentation during the second week of September at the FesTVal 2026 television festival.
Distribution strategy and carriage talks
The company behind the channel, Servicios Integrados de Entretenimiento Televisivo (SIETE), received a nationwide TDT license from the Spanish government weeks ago for an initial renewable duration of 15 years.
The network is led in executive management by media executive José Miguel Contreras, with journalist Javier Ruiz serving as director.
The distribution strategy mirrors the path taken by Pablo Iglesias with Canal Red, which recently added its television channel to Telefónica's Movistar Plus service.
Movistar Plus completed its technical testing phase for Canal Red, which had been underway with various adjustments since late February, before launching regular official broadcasts on Wednesday, August 5, 2026.
Subscribers to Movistar Plus can watch Canal Red on dial position 150, where the channel broadcasts a grid focused on political current affairs, analysis, interviews, debate, and opinion.
Live news focus and programming lineup
In an interview with Spanish news agency EFE, Contreras, who previously co-founded television channel laSexta, detailed the editorial direction for La Séptima.
Contreras said the channel will focus on live news, political analysis, opinion, and conversation, moving away from traditional television formats by dispensing with feature films, series, and major entertainment shows.
Programming will also incorporate entertainment and humor alongside news, presented by professionals drawn from television and radio networks, with all broadcasts operating from a single studio set.
La Séptima outlined its key principles on social media platform X through a campaign under the slogan of seven reasons why the project means business.
The station stated that its programming will focus on live current affairs, transparency in news reporting, multi-platform presence, and audience interaction, aiming to create a meeting space for all citizens.
The social media post concluded by inviting prospective viewers with a message asking if they would meet at home at seven.
Financial investment and audience targets
Parent company Siete, Servicios Integrados de Entretenimiento Televisivo, plans to allocate between 20 million and 25 million euros in funding during its first three years of activity.
More than half of that initial investment will be concentrated in the first year to build a competitive structure in the television market.
The company's business plan aims to reach annual revenues of nearly 40 million euros by the end of 2029 and achieve financial profitability around 2030.
Promoters consider securing an audience share of between 1.5 percent and 2 percent sufficient for viability, though Contreras said there is room to approach a 3 percent share in a short period to compete in open television.
