Spanish public broadcaster RTVE has removed its afternoon drama series La Promesa and Valle Salvaje from La 1 to broadcast live total solar eclipse coverage.
The network cleared its afternoon television schedule to make room for dedicated live programming covering the national astronomical event from multiple locations across Spain.
The decision comes during a television summer already altered by schedule adjustments following a major sporting calendar. Both La Promesa and Valle Salvaje are daily period dramas that serve as the main pillars of La 1's early afternoon programming block.
The afternoon schedule restructuring begins at 3:50 p.m. with presenters Marta Flich and Martín Barreiro hosting Directo al grano. The program will cover the lead up to the eclipse by connecting with reporting points around the country to measure public expectation and explain key technical aspects before peak totality occurs.
Extended evening broadcast
The core of the network's coverage will center on an extended special edition of Aquí la Tierra, which will air from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Studio host Jacob Petrus will lead the broadcast from Madrid, while reporter Marc Santandreu reports live from the Yebes Astronomical Observatory in Guadalajara.
The Yebes Astronomical Observatory is a major scientific facility operated in central Spain. From the observatory, RTVE will broadcast two high precision technical signals, one captured in white light and the other in red light, to provide detailed views of the solar phenomenon.
Nationwide network and accessibility
The transmission will also feature a broader network of collaborators stationed across Spain. In addition, RTVE is integrating specialized coverage systems adapted for viewers with visual impairments to allow broader public access to the broadcast.
Radiotelevisión Española, known as RTVE, is Spain's national state-owned public broadcaster. Total solar eclipses occur when the Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun, temporarily blocking sunlight across a defined path of totality.
