Staff at Spanish television group Mediaset España in Madrid have expressed dissatisfaction over the decision to outsource technical production for the sports show El Chiringuito.
Trade union UGT Mediaset told television news website Poco Pasa TV that external personnel are managing sound, lighting, cameras and production direction for the program, despite the show being filmed inside Mediaset facilities using company equipment.
The union stated that technical problems during the show's first broadcasts were not the fault of Mediaset's internal technical workforce. UGT opposed the outsourcing model, warning that displacing work from permanent staff risks lowering production quality.
Union representatives reported that the decision has caused discontent, indignation and confusion among employees. They added that the setup departs from the production model and quality standards previously maintained by Mediaset.
Union objections to technical outsourcing
During a broadcast of El Chiringuito, presenter Josep Pedrerol disclosed that Mediaset management would also be delighted to bring him onto the reality television show Supervivientes.
The sports commentary program airs from Monday to Thursday on the digital channel Energy and on Sunday nights on Cuatro. Its debut Sunday night broadcast on Cuatro achieved a 7% audience share, delivering positive ratings despite behind the scenes staff friction.
Move from rival broadcaster Atresmedia
Pedrerol moved El Chiringuito to Mediaset after concluding a 13-year tenure at rival media network Atresmedia. The move involved transferring production operations across Madrid from San Sebastián de los Reyes to Mediaset's central facilities on Carretera de Fuencarral.
Background on the networks and union
Mediaset España is one of Spain's leading commercial broadcasting companies, operating major free-to-air channels including Telecinco and Cuatro alongside digital thematic networks such as Energy. Its primary commercial competitor, Atresmedia, is headquartered in San Sebastián de los Reyes, north of Madrid, and operates main channels Antena 3 and laSexta.
Josep Pedrerol is a prominent Catalan sports journalist who has presented El Chiringuito de Jugones as a leading late-night football discussion show in Spain. Supervivientes is Mediaset's long-running Spanish adaptation of the Survivor reality television franchise.
UGT, the Unión General de Trabajadores, is one of the major trade unions in Spain, representing workers across public and private sectors, including media and production personnel at Mediaset España.
