RTVE's Catalan channel will begin broadcasting for the Diada, with a debate on the name 2Cat.

BarcelonaJust as TV3 began experimental broadcasts on the eve of September 11, 1983, the entirely Catalan-language Televisión Española channel will launch "around National Day," as announced by the Minister for the Presidency, Albert Dalmau, in an interview with RTVE. The agreement for the transfer of radio airtime is expected to be signed this April, which Dalmau hopes will last "15 years" to provide "stability" (and also because 2040 is the suggested date for the shutdown of DTT, although this is an ongoing debate in Europe). After the inaugural day, test broadcasts will begin for the Diada (National Day) with the goal of having the Catalan-language channel "fully operational by October."

"The fact that TVE can have a 24-hour channel broadcasting 100% in Catalan is very important," he said. "It's a sign that Spain has several languages," added Dalmau, who pointed out that the executive wants "Catalonia to lead the audiovisual sector." The announcement that La 2 will broadcast all its programming in Catalan, which is the result of one of the agreements between the PSOE and Junts. And the spokesperson for the regional government in Congress, Míriam Nogueras, had already announced this at the end of January. Carles Puigdemont's party had already incorporated a name they proposed, Miquel Calçada, onto the RTVE board of directors, just as ERC incorporated Sergi Sol.

However, the state-owned broadcaster has not yet fully decided what the new channel's role will be and whether it will effectively replace La 2 in Catalonia, as has been suggested. According to ARA, this point has not yet been finalized, although it is most likely that both channels will coexist. This could be achieved if the new offering is broadcast within the Catalan multiplex that was vacated following the collapse and closure of 8TV. This would save the nationally managed radio airtime, which would grant 50% to the Corporation (so it can broadcast TV3 in ultra high definition) and 25% to RTVE (for this new channel), leaving some space free in case a private operator emerges that wants to try its luck by launching a television channel.

The main obstacle to having a channel completely independent from La 2 is the budget. The investment potential has not yet been finalized, but the figure on the table is around €10 million, which would be added to the €10 million currently invested in the Sant Cugat center. By way of comparison, the Corporation allocates just under €400 million to its television and radio channels. It is assumed that it will not be able to compete head-to-head in entertainment, but it does want to strengthen the news sector, for example.

Another point of contention is the channel's name. Although RTVE announced in a statement that it will be called 2Cat, several sources within the network suggest the name has not yet been finalized. This branding has also caused confusion within the Catalan Corporation of Audiovisual Media, given that less than two years ago they launched the 3Cat platform and, according to ARA, informal contacts between the two audiovisual giants have resulted in a good understanding to avoid turning the issue into a conflict.

Apart from confirming the appointment of Oriol Nolis as director of the channel, information that came to light last week, RTVE has announced that Laura Folguera will be the director of content. Like Nolis, Folguera has a long career within the public corporation: she started at RTVE in 1999 as an editor ofThe green beetle Since then, she has worked in the programming and news department of Catalonia. Since 2023, she has held the position of director of La 2.

The current Catalan programming of RTVE's second channel includes programs such as Ideas Cafe, Gemma Nierga's news program; the talk show Proper names or the cultural magazine Points of view. In September 2024, The chain expanded its lineup in Catalan with The trap, Pep Plaza's program in which famous guests tell him anecdotes from their lives that may or may not be lies, and In router, a program in which Thais Villas explores rural digitalization by visiting different locations in Catalonia. Another strong focus of the Catalan programming is the daily magazine. The speaker, presented by Danae Boronat and launched in spring 2024.

Ferran Falcó, coordinator of Catalunya Media City

In parallel to the announcement about RTVE, Dalmau has also announced who will be the coordinator of Catalonia Media City, hehubwhich aims to be a European benchmark in the audiovisual, digital and video game sector, located in the Tres Chimeneas building in Sant Adrià de Besòs: this is Ferran Falcó, the former leader of Convergència in Badalona who in January was appointed general director of the Besòs Consortium, which coordinates actions between Badalona, ​​​​Barcelona, ​​​​Santa Coloma. Regarding the constant incorporation of several people from the convergent world, such as David Bonvehí as a senior official, the minister Miquel Sàmper himself or now Falcó, Dalmau has limited himself to saying that the will is "to incorporate talent": "This has been a general message from Salvador Illa's government."

He also reiterated that in the last ten years we have been "distracted" by the Process and that we need to regain momentum in many aspects. "What has happened in the country in recent years has been very complex; the country's will is to move past this stage," he concluded, also justifying why the president of the Generalitat has not yet met with the former president and leader of Junts, Carles Puigdemont, while awaiting amnesty.

Parliamentary defeat

After The Government's harsh defeat in the plenary session on the Cercanías (Commuter Trains) programme, with a request from Parliament for the resignation of the Minister of Territory and government spokesperson, Silvia Paneque, Dalmau lamented the result: "I didn't like how last week's debate ended; we've been in power for six months, and those who have asked us to take these responsibilities have been in power." He did defend Paneque and the commitment to resolving the problems of the commuter train system and denied that they are "soft": "What we are is self-critical; those before us shouted a lot, and we inherited the system as we did," he concluded.