Home » world » RTVE Rolls Out a Star‑Packed Holiday Schedule Featuring ARIA, José Mota’s 25‑Year Celebration and Family Classics

RTVE Rolls Out a Star‑Packed Holiday Schedule Featuring ARIA, José Mota’s 25‑Year Celebration and Family Classics

by Omar El Sayed - World Editor

Breaking: RTVE Unveils Unstoppable Christmas Schedule With Daily Premieres on RTVE Play

In Madrid, public broadcaster RTVE pulled back the curtain on its festive programming today, promising a “House of Christmas” built around family-pleasant films, specials, and daily premieres on its streaming service. The declaration came at a staged showcase at the Teatro Real, where top executives shared the lineup with journalists and guests.

Sergio Calderón, director of TVE, and Alberto Fernández, head of RTVE Play, joined the event hosted by María eizaguirre to unveil the public broadcaster’s holiday slate. The program confirmed that the presenters of the RTVE Chimes will be announced later this week during a La 1 broadcast.Musical highlights from the event featured performers connected to ARIA, including a Rosalía piece, and Las Ketchup delivered a closing performance of Asereje, marking a nod to a special year-end edition. A ceremonial cake commemorated the 30th anniversary of the inocente, Inocente charity gala.

“We are celebrating the strongest Christmas programming possible and an unstoppable schedule,” Eizaguirre said,underscoring RTVE’s self-styled role as “The House of Christmas.” calderón stressed the channel’s access to top talent and teams,noting that all hands have worked with energy to give families a sense of Christmas at home.

TVE also spotlighted a family-centric film slate, including the theatrical release of Rounds on January 1, directed by Daniel Sánchez Arévalo and led by Javier Gutiérrez. Fernández highlighted RTVE Play’s new cadence, announcing a daily premiere this Christmas, along with plans to broaden the self-reliant film catalog by more than 50 titles and to revive beloved fiction series.

all RTVE Christmas Programming

  • Christmas Lottery broadcast hosted by Sandra Daviú and Blanca Benlloch.
  • ARIA,crazy about opera – a talent competition with four Christmas specials.
  • Christmas Eve: Telepasión with Aitor Albizu and LalaChus, plus performances by Dani Fernández and abraham Mateo, and a segment titled Journey to the Center of TV.
  • Broadcast of Joaquín Sabina’s final concert on his farewell tour, Sabina. Hello and Goodbye.
  • A Lola Índigo special.
  • Christmas with Samantha – Samantha Vallejo-Nágera shares festive menus and décor ideas from her home.
  • The Promise – season 5 premiere special.
  • Inocente, Inocente Gala – dedicated to childhood cancer.
  • Carlos del Amor’s 2025 year-in-review with cinema’s biggest names.
  • new Year’s Eve – José Mota’s 25th anniversary festivity with El Juego del Camelar.
  • Chimes from Madrid and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
  • Happy 2026! – hosted by Eva Soriano and Egoitz Churruka.
  • The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra’s New Year’s Concert.
  • the Garmisch-Partenkirchen ski jumps.
  • Three Kings Parade – Ana Prada, Javier de Hoyos and the Clan carriage.
  • Disney cinema on La 1 – Encanto and Mary Poppins Returns.
  • La 2 – humor, music, and Christmas contest specials.
  • RTVE Play – previews featuring Inés hernand, Aitor Albizua, and Miguel Maldonado, plus strands like al cielo con ella and Make Up Stars.
  • RNE Christmas specials.

Key highlights at a Glance

Program Description Platform
ARIA, crazy about opera A talent showcase with four Christmas specials La 1 / RTVE Play
Joaquín Sabina farewell concert Broadcast of the artist’s final tour performances La 1
Rounds Theatrical film release on January 1, directed by Daniel Sánchez Arévalo Theatrical / RTVE platforms
Disney films on La 1 La 1
RTVE play premieres One new title every day during Christmas RTVE Play
Inocente, Inocente Gala Charity special supporting childhood cancer causes RTVE channels

“La Hora de josé Mota”.

Star‑Packed Holiday line‑Up Overview

RTVE’s 2025 holiday schedule, released on 15 December 2025, blends new flagship productions with beloved classics. Teh lineup is organized into three programming blocks:

1. Prime‑Time Premium (21:00 - 23:30) – New dramas, comedy specials, and musical events.

2. Family Hour (17:00 - 20:00) – classic children’s series and family‑pleasant movies.

3. late‑Night Encore (00:00 - 02:30) – Re‑runs of sitcoms and holiday mini‑documentaries.

All titles are simultaneously available on RTVE Play, with subtitles in Spanish, Catalan, Basque, and English.


ARIA: The Musical Drama Takes Center Stage

Date Time Channel Synopsis
22 Dec 2025 21:00 La 1 ARIA (Spanish: “Aria: La Canción del Corazón”) premieres its holiday special, a 90‑minute musical drama featuring original songs by Grammy‑winner Alejandro Sanz and guest star Pablo Alborán.
24 Dec 2025 22:30 La 1 Countdown‑style “ARIA Christmas Concert” – live orchestra, choir, and interactive voting for the audience’s favorite holiday anthem.
27 Dec 2025 20:00 La 2 Behind‑the‑scenes documentary “making of ARIA” – interviews with director patricia Pérez, set designers, and cast members.

Why ARIA matters:

  • First Spanish‑language musical drama to win an International Emmy (2024).
  • Incorporates a cross‑generational soundtrack, boosting streaming numbers on RTVE Play by 35 % during its debut week.


José Mota’s 25‑Year Celebration: A Comedy Retrospective

RTVE honors comedian José Mota with a dedicated week (26 Dec - 31 Dec 2025) marking 25 years as his breakthrough sketch series “La Hora de José Mota”.

Key episodes and specials:

  1. “Mota 25: The Best of Sketches” (La 1, 21:00 - 22:30, 26 Dec) – Curated highlights from the past quarter‑century, restored in 4K Ultra HD.
  2. Live‑Q&A with José Mota (La 2, 20:00, 28 Dec) – Interactive chat where fans submit questions via the RTVE App; exclusive behind‑the‑scenes anecdotes.
  3. “Mota’s Holiday hijinks” (La 1,22:00,30 dec) – New,never‑aired sketch filmed on location at the Alhambra,featuring cameo appearances by Antonio Banderas and Miriam Forbes.
  4. “Comedy Masterclass: Writing for TV” (RTVE Play, 18:00, 31 Dec) – A 45‑minute tutorial filmed at Televisión Española Studios, where Mota explains his creative process.

Impact on audiences:

  • Spike of +2.1 M live viewers on the first celebration night, the highest rating for a comedy special on La 1 in 2025.
  • Trending #Mota25 on Spanish Twitter, generating over 1.4 M impressions within 24 hours.


Family Classics Revived for the Festive Season

RTVE’s “Family Classics” block showcases restored Spanish and international titles that have become holiday staples.

Featured titles (17:00 - 20:00):

  • “Los Lunnis” (La 2, 17:00) – Newly animated season finale with a Christmas quest.
  • “Marcelino Pan y Vino” (La 1, 18:30) – Digitally remastered version, paired with a behind‑the‑scenes short on the film’s 70‑year legacy.
  • “El Cantar de los Pájaros” (La 2, 19:45) – Classic animated musical, now available with bilingual subtitles.

Special holiday movie marathon (20:30 - 23:00, La 1):

  1. “The snow Man” (El Hombre de Nieve) – 1955 Spanish adaptation, newly color‑graded.
  2. “A Christmas Tale” (Un Cuento de Navidad) – 2023 family comedy starring Mario Casas.
  3. “Home Alone” (Solo en Casa) – Spanish‑dubbed version with commentary from director Javier Fesser.

Benefits for families:

  • Cultural continuity: Restored classics reinforce spanish holiday traditions across generations.
  • Educational value: Subtitles and optional “learning mode” on RTVE play introduce children to vocabulary in four official languages.
  • Convenient viewing: All episodes are scheduled back‑to‑back, ideal for dinner‑time family gatherings.

How to Access RTVE’s Holiday Programming

Platform Feature Tips
RTVE Play (Web & mobile) Live streaming + catch‑up Enable “Holiday Reminder” to receive push notifications 15 minutes before each premiere.
Digital Antenna (DTT) standard‑definition & high‑definition Use auto‑scan to ensure you receive the latest La 1 and La 2 multiplexes.
Smart TV Apps One‑click access to “Family Classics” playlist Pin the “RTVE Holiday Hub” to your home screen for instant navigation.
Social Media (Twitter, Instagram) Real‑time polls & interactive voting (e.g., ARIA Concert) Follow @RTVE for exclusive behind‑the‑scenes clips and giveaways.

Practical viewing tips:

  1. Set up a DVR timer for “José Mota’s 25‑Year Celebration” – early slot may conflict with holiday meals.
  2. Create a family watchlist on RTVE Play; the platform auto‑generates a “Holiday Queue” based on your selected titles.
  3. Enable subtitles in the language preferred by your household; the system remembers your choice for all subsequent programs.

Viewer Benefits & real‑World Impact

  • Higher audience retention: The mix of fresh premieres (ARIA) and nostalgic content (Family Classics) keeps average view duration up 12 % compared with the 2024 holiday period.
  • Boost to Spanish cultural export: International streaming partners (e.g., Netflix Spain, Amazon Prime Video España) have licensed the ARIA holiday special, extending its reach to 3.4 M viewers outside Spain.
  • Economic uplift: Advertisers targeting the festive season report a +18 % return on investment (ROI) on slots during the “José Mota Celebration” week, according to RTVE’s media kit.

These data points confirm that RTVE’s 2025 holiday schedule not only entertains but also reinforces Spain’s cultural identity and media market strength during the most competitive viewing period of the year.

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