3Cat doubles down on video games in Catalan with the release of a title for all current platforms: it's Manairons, a three-dimensional action and platformer game that brings these fantastic beings from popular culture to life. The project was carried out alongside JanduSoft, a Barcelona-based studio with extensive experience that, in addition to developing, also publishes video games. Founded in 2011 by José Antonio Andujar, the studio has dozens of published titles, some with international recognition.

Anna Moliner (Badalona, ​​1984) has been a familiar face on screen and in Catalan theater for years. As she herself explains, she has been working hard for some time, and in recent weeks we have been able to see two of her most dramatic facets: the more dramatic one, with the premiere of the film Balandrau, vent salvatgeAnd the funniest one, with the series Amades DepartmentMoliner, who is carving out a niche for herself in 3Cat's offerings, is unstoppable and is already immersed in rehearsals for a theater project. Amades Department You play Dolça, one of the workers in the Folklore and Traditions department of the Generalitat. How did you get the project?Before I even read the script, I got a call from Júlia Cot, co-creator of the series with Jordi López Casanovas. She and I had studied audiovisual communication together at Pompeu Fabra University more than twenty years ago. We'd always gotten along really well, right from the first year. Some people just have a natural talent, and in Júlia's case, she was already writing humor brilliantly. I ended up there [in the program] because of that whole "go to university" thing, even though I was pretty sure I wanted to be an actress. During my internships, I always acted in whatever they assigned me. Júlia and I always got along great, but we lost touch after we graduated. I like to make lists of dreams and projects, and once on one of them I wrote: "do a project with Júlia." And then I got her call, and she sent me the script. I thought it was the most original idea I'd ever read. What did you like about the project?When you've spent years working hard at something, being offered a lead role is always especially exciting. I love comedy, and I always defend it as something difficult to do, but I believe it gives meaning to our lives. I can't imagine our lives without a sense of humor. It's a series made with very limited resources, but something magical happened; we had a lot of faith in it. I'm thrilled to see that, even though it's a small series, it's getting a really good response from people. We're dreaming of making another season. The series deals with Catalan folklore and culture. Are fictional works that focus on local themes the ones that best connect with viewers?I've always thought we lacked series that reflected our own culture. We look too much to foreign productions—I'm the first to admit I'm constantly watching American and British series—but we need to believe that we can make series about ourselves. Why are we so afraid to talk about being Catalan and laughing at ourselves? To finally have an identity, to believe in ourselves, and to write about ourselves? For me, that was also a very important aspect of this project: to be able to create a collective imaginary that we could all identify with and not be afraid to talk about and laugh about. How much did you know about Catalan folklore before making the series?I was doing terribly, I would have failed! [laughs] I'm glad that Catalan folklore is being talked about more now and is experiencing a resurgence with exhibitions and books. I think that what is local can be universal if it's well done and if the stories are based on what we know. I had to take an intensive course because Dolça couldn't be more of an expert. Dolça is an enthusiastic person. Do you see yourself reflected in that enthusiasm?Júlia and Jordi would tell you that I was driven from the very beginning. If you do this job, it's because you have passion and motivation, because otherwise, how do you do it, being so dedicated and artistic? But I was definitely influenced a bit by Dolça's spirit. We called her "driven" because, for her, the Folklore and Traditions department is like the FBI. She thinks what she does is the most important thing in the world, but I think that, even as an actress, it's what I like to be. If you do something, you go all in. She's somewhat reminiscent of the protagonist of Parks and recreation, the comedy by Amy Poehler.I hadn't seen this series before; I watched it when Júlia told me about it, and it's a major influence on Dolça. I've fallen in love with this actress. I adore actresses like this who are so talented and have no qualms about being silly, putting themselves in ridiculous situations, and playing like children. Dolça is excited about traditions. What excites you?So many things! It's moving to understand life through this artistic vocation; it's very much a part of me. Seeing that the work you do connects with people. I went to filming every day highly motivated, even though we were exhausted because we had very little time to record and were very stressed. We were on a very tight budget; it was what we had, and we accepted it. We overcame this difficulty with motivation. You wrote on social media a while ago that kindness moves you. Why?Yes, I'm moved by good people, by tenderness, by solidarity. Our work isn't selfish; it's work that has to be done generously and with others in mind. I always say that I like working with talented people, but above all, with good people. But we've always had this myth that great geniuses have the power to be terrible people and that they can mistreat you. Do we need to break with this idea?For me, yes. It happens more and more often that, even if I greatly admire an actor, if I meet them personally and they're an idiot, I'm no longer interested. I prefer working with good people. I think that, generally, being in an environment where you can be yourself, without judgment or envy, is a completely different story. When that's not the case, my ideal is shattered. Are you a big liar?I've never been much of one, but if Meryl Streep showed up here right now, I'd have a fit. Especially with Hollywood actors, it's inevitable to idolize them a little, but you eventually learn that we're all human and everyone has their flaws. You've done musical theatre. Do you think Catalonia is currently experiencing a particularly good period for this genre?It might seem like I've done a lot of musical theater, but I haven't done that much. The thing is, since I sing, I've often sung in shows. I have a love-hate relationship with musicals: I'm passionate about them; I think that in terms of live performance, they're one of the most impressive things you can see in theater, but sometimes I don't really identify with how musicals are done here. Generally speaking, I think there's a lot of emphasis on good singing and dancing, and sometimes the acting is neglected; and, for me, it's the complete opposite. For me, a musical is a play, and I'm interested in seeing actors. Then there's a score that has to be followed, obviously, but above all, it has to be interpreted. I think we have some incredible musicals right now, and if things are moving in this direction, fantastic. And musicals in Catalan. We have a wonderful tradition of companies, like Dagoll Dagom, for example, that have created a shared world that we all feel a part of. We shouldn't stop doing that, but it's also true that producing a musical is very expensive. It's a vicious cycle. I hope we can continue to feel that musicals are part of our culture. After studying audiovisual communication, have you ever considered doing what Júlia Cot did and writing or directing?I have a degree and I've never done anything, even though my job is related. I have to tell you, the years go by and you reach an age where you say, "Now I really feel ready." I don't know what for: directing, writing... but definitely more personal projects and not just waiting for the phone to ring. Hopefully, it's on the list. On your bucket list of things you'd like to do! Is that list very long?It's renewed every year. It's a bit of a ritual. There are some wishes that keep coming back year after year, and you think, "Oh, this one's still here, how annoying!" Have you ever been able to fulfill them all?Not all of them, never, it's impossible. A year is only so long. But you have caught me at a time when the next thing I'd like to do is start my own project, or at least start thinking about it and developing it. You were talking earlier about how much you like comedy, but I think your favorite book is Anna Karenina And your favorite series is Two meters undergroundThere's not much comedy here...Wow, I seem super intense! [laughs] Let's see, Two meters underground It has some comedic moments, but Anna Karenina it's a melodramaThat's true. I'd have to add some comedy. After Parks and recreation I saw the The office American, who had only seen the British one, the one with Ricky Gervais. Steve Carell is my favorite type of actor because he can do a sublime comedy and then you see him in other roles and you love him. Your sister is Núria Moliner, who is dedicated to communication and the dissemination of architectureYou're both well-known and often compared. Are you starting to get tired of it?No, we find it hilarious. We admire each other a lot. Even though there's a bit of an age gap [Anna is seven and a half years older than Núria], we've always helped each other a lot and given each other advice. Núria studied architecture, and we were all surprised when she started appearing in the media. Sometimes I tell her she's a bit of an actress too because we both communicate well. I'm so proud that she's forged a path that no one had laid out for her: she's an architect, she decides not to build, and on top of that, she hosts TV shows and starts a production company. Wow, it's admirable! What you both share is your relationship with music.We've always been grateful to our parents. We loved to sing, my parents loved music, and they enrolled us in music lessons. We have a very basic musical background, but we both played the piano at one point. Núria plays much better than I do. She's made three albums, I've made one, but music has always been a tool I've used as an actress. It's another language we have to express ourselves. Is there a song that unites you?I'll tell you two. When we were little we liked a series called Forced Parents And the opening song. During the credits, the characters appeared as if in a garden, and every time we saw a patch of grass, we'd jump down and sing the song. And then one of the songs from the musical. Hairspray, Good morning BaltimoreThe protagonist sings it with such enthusiasm. We're back to the "enthusiasm" part! Sometimes, we used to sing it together at home.

Rosa Romà has now passed the halfway point of her term as head of the Catalan Audiovisual Media Corporation. In this in-depth interview, she addresses the controversy surrounding 3Cat's trademarks, the children's channel's audience figures, those of Catalunya Ràdio, and the competition from RTVE's La 2 Cat.

Employees of the Catalan Audiovisual Media Corporation (CCMA) voted this Thursday on a proposal from the works council calling for, among other things, the reinstatement of the Catalunya Informació and 324 brands, which were discontinued with the implementation of the new, cross-platform name 3CatInfo. Specifically, the question posed to staff was: "Do you agree that TV3 and Catalunya Ràdio, and all their brands, should remain fully active and visible both on air and on the platform, apps, and social media?" CCMA employees overwhelmingly supported the proposal, with 89.96% voting in favor, 5.40% against, and 4.64% abstaining. Voter turnout was 63.27%, out of a workforce of approximately 2,500 employees.

On Saturday night, the Collapse She interviewed Rosa Romà, president of the Catalan Audiovisual Media Corporation. Minutes earlier, Jordi González had expressed his excitement about doing so because, for the first time, he was sitting across from a female president. It's unusual for TV3 to interview officials from its own organization beyond strictly promotional reasons, because it has journalistic implications that are, at the very least, unprofessional. This is especially true when there are controversies affecting the organization she represents and the questions don't get to the heart of the matter. The purpose of the interview was unclear: we didn't understand if Romà was there to respond to criticism about the rebranding, or to promote... The Marathon or to create a human profile of her. The medley of topics only made Jordi González's interview seem even more unjustified and servile. If the intention was transparency and to enhance the president's authority, the interview, addressing her informally and with the presenter's obsequious attitude, served the exact opposite purpose. It seemed more like an image makeover. González's opening line, "When you were little, you used to watch TV...?" was already an indication of how things would go.

The Catalan Court of Auditors prepared a report pointing out irregularities in the salaries received by the management team of the Catalan Corporation of Audiovisual Media (CCMA) between 2015 and 2021. Although, in a document sent to the judge investigating this alleged embezzlement, it "did not detect any evidence of a crime or accounting liability," the case remains active in court because the pro-Spanish Catalan Civil Society (SCC) filed a criminal complaint, which has been accepted. Following this process, the magistrate handling the case has summoned the members of the current leadership of the Corporation, who assumed management in 2022, to testify as defendants. The hearings are scheduled for April and May 2026 on Thursdays. The members of the governing body (three appointed by the PSC, two by ERC, and two by Junts) will appear, along with the director of La Marató and another senior official. Sources from the current team explained to ARA their surprise that the current councilors are being investigated, since this team precisely corrected the irregularities detected by the Sindicatura (the Catalan Audit Office) once they received its report at the beginning of their term. One hypothesis is that, since the SCC complaint names the current members, the judge is summoning them unaware that the disputed events were carried out by other people. In any case, the irregularities detected can be summarized in three points. In the case of four employees in the sales department, they received bonuses in the form of incentives that amounted to between 88% and 120% of their total compensation, when the law stipulates that the maximum should be 25%. Another case involved the director of La Marató: following the 2017 salary freeze for members of the Catalan government, when the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was automatically applied to his salary, he began receiving €209 more in gross annual pay than a member of the government, which contravenes the Catalan government's compensation regulations. The affected individual returned this excess amount. The third affected employee was a management executive: having previously worked in a department of the Catalan government, he retained his seniority bonuses upon joining TV3. The Corporation's new team withdrew the seniority bonuses, and the individual in question returned the money. However, the Civil Service Department recently contradicted the Audit Office, arguing that this money can continue to be received if a civil servant moves to a public company like the CCMA. According to the tables published annually by the Corporation, the highest position among employees is that of area director, a rank currently held by 21 people. The average salary, including bonuses, performance-based pay, and allowances, in this category is €92,586, according to the latest available public data from 2024. When the current management team took over, one of its first measures was to reduce the compensation of senior executives by 10% as a cost-containment measure.

Last Thursday, after the Midday newscast and before the weather forecast, we saw on TV3 a promotion of the Collapse offering a taste of what we would see on Saturday night. We were shown images of Jordi González sitting opposite journalist Pedro J. Ramírez, in a gloomy yet elegant setting, under the light of fluorescent lights. The presenter explained that he would speak to Pedrojota in Catalan because he had grown up hearing that language. And then he asked him a question: "Pedro, what does Catalonia represent to you?" However, it seems we won't ever know the answer, because on Saturday we didn't see this interview anywhere. Not a trace. And that's despite the fact that the voice that closed the advertisement made it very clear: "Pedro J. Ramírez, in the Collapse, with Jordi González. Saturday night on TV3 and the 3Cat platform." It had been marketed as the show's main attraction and was used as a hook to capture the audience. Furthermore, the promotional images showed that the interview had already been done and recorded, so its disappearance could not have been attributed to some unforeseen event on the part of the guest, which should have been attributed to some unforeseen event on the part of the guest. We are faced with the mysterious case of the disappearance of Pedrojota's interview and one more reason that reveals the erratic and chaotic direction of the network, where it seems that the criteria are applied depending on which way the wind blows and the pressure from social media. Bestial It has also had consequences. Beyond delaying the broadcast time of this Sunday night's second episode, the program was half an hour shorter than the first and was noticeably cut down in every way. Just the opening presentation by Bibiana Ballbé was already busy getting to work and finishing sooner. Her harangues to the viewers were flagrantly curtailed, attempting to disguise the moments of overexcitement and uncontrolled enthusiasm that had caused so much suffering the previous week. The famous beastly button never crowed. In the new emergency production, they limited themselves to showing futile couch conversations and eliminated the on-stage interventions that encouraged dancing or absurd activities to simulate the artificially festive tone. In the end, however, we weren't spared the ridiculous moment of playing tug-of-war, although possibly no one saw it given the dismal audience figures. The cuts were brutal. In a desperate attempt, an attempt was made to modify the original version after the audience's reaction, attempting to transform it into something else.

Political consensus within the Corporation is breaking down. The Generalitat's public media are governed by a governing council chosen by the different parties in Parliament—currently the PSC, ERC, and Junts—and once appointed, they usually act by approving most actions en bloc. But the latest premieres on TV3 and the accusations of censorship in a documentary by the Non-fiction have caused two of these councilors, those proposed by Junts, to break the unwritten rule of not speaking individually outside of the deliberations to publicly express their concern about the direction of TV3 and Catalunya Ràdio.

The premiere of Vinaigrette joins the list of TV3 decisions that cause perplexity. The comedy series returns after the revival of the sketches on social media. Vinegar, which the network premiered in 2008, following the success of the play of the same name. Clara Segura and Bruno Oro revive some of their successful characters and create new ones for this new era, which doesn't represent any significant evolution.

The Catalan Broadcasting Corporation (CCMA) has been immersed in the redesign of its news programs for months, and this includes greater convergence between radio, television, and digital media. Among the planned measures is the unification of channel 3/24 and Catalunya Informació into a single new brand, 3CatInfo, which would also include a web presence and serve as the umbrella for all real-time information. However, the public broadcaster's journalists have sounded a warning about what they consider "an absurdity," since, according to them, the forecast is that in some time slots, the same team will broadcast through both radio and television, even though each requires a different language.

This Monday, one of the targets of Israel's attacks on Iran was the studios of the country's public television station, RIB. They were hit by a massive barrage of projectiles, killing several state broadcaster employees. The attack was also evident on screen. Presenter Sahar Emami was giving a fiery speech to the audience. She raised her index finger, her tone reminiscent of an indignant televangelist seeking to address the audience. Suddenly, an explosion halted the message. Emami fled as the studio filled with dust and debris.

On Saturday, Ricard Ustrell interviewed the president of the Bank of Sabadell, Josep Oliu, in the CollapseAs the banker himself explained, he only goes on television "on very special occasions." In fact, he couldn't recall ever having gone. It's easy to guess that the underlying storm of the BBVA takeover bid has prompted this exceptional need, although Oliu cited reasons of geographical coincidence: "I'm from Sabadell. And when they told me Ricard could ask me, who's also from Sabadell, I said I can't refuse him." Oliu liked to recall the past ties between his family and Ustrell's. A delicate way to establish a cordial pact and leave without any damage.

In it As if it were yesterday We're experiencing an epidemic of female characters falling head over heels for the seductive charms of dishonest males. First, there was Silvia, who succumbed to the digital flirtation of a man who wanted to buy a lamp from her online. And it turns out she ended up screwing her brother-in-law, one of them. fretsaw The category of those who snatch everything they can through mobile apps. We also suffered the grotesque plot of cousins Gina and Lídia, who both became involved with the same criminal. One of the so-called "love scammers" who wanted to take their money. He entangled them to an unprecedented level, and both gave in to suspicious demands for money, which they accepted with unprecedented innocence. In recent weeks, we've updated our bookmarks with Eugeni's plot. A mass-conspirator who dedicates himself to captivating women by exhibiting such exaggerated flattering oratory that it seems impossible for him to catch them three at a time. Gemma, Celia, and Cristina have already been to the hotel room the individual uses as a rabbit hole. We could still place Patri in this category, who only needed to meet an arrogant activist a couple of times to dump her boyfriend. It turns out that with the defender of noble causes, she establishes a toxic relationship that the girl can't identify: she has submissively faced the constant scorn and unjustified outbursts of indignation that point to clear psychological abuse. It was already difficult for Eva to get rid of the armless man who was taking advantage of her by acting as his personal assistant. Now all that's missing is Marta, who, inexplicably, ends up calling the abuser of her foster son because he's had a problem with the car. Mind-blowing. In other words, when she feels most unprotected, lost on a lonely road, she has no better idea than to ask for help from the man who has just been released from prison for serious domestic violence, the bastard who has terrorized and blackmailed the teenager she loves like a son. And when it comes to asking for a spark to power the car, more than an existential dilemma, she seems to feel seduced by an aggressor. All of them, except Patri, are already somewhat experienced and already know the drill in relationships with men.

Audiovisual producers expressed their displeasure this Friday over what they consider unfair treatment by the Catalan Audiovisual Media Corporation (CCMA). The CCMA has made progress after 15 months of negotiations, but at the same time flatly rejects having to cede broadcasting rights for projects filmed for the CCMA for a period of 20 years, when they believe European regulations stipulate a maximum of 7 or 10 years. The CCMA claimed that it was "born out of dialogue with the sector" and would lead to "an improvement in the industrial profit of production companies, a greater commitment to creativity, and a step forward in process transparency." Among the approved measures was an increase in the industrial profit for second or subsequent seasons from 8% to 10%, which had not been agreed upon by both parties. Cera also called for "the depoliticization of the governing council of the CCMA," arguing that "only in this way can a strong audiovisual industry be built," according to PROA in its statement. Another point of contention is the ownership of the rights, which, according to PROA, means that producers who film in Catalan are at a competitive disadvantage compared to those who do so in Spanish, since the latter have an easier time incorporating other public television channels into the project. proposes that this 50% be transformed into performance rights (that is, that everything generated by the work could represent a return for the CCMA, but without blocking part of the ownership)

In 2023, when Àngel Llàcer premiered The Producers, found himself embroiled in controversy due to his large-scale musicals being in Spanish, due to a question of audience attraction and financial profitability. The actor defended himself by recalling all the work and productions he had done in Catalan. His new show on TV3 may seem like a vindication of his Catalan identity directed at all those who dared to question his own. However, his previous formats on the network, such as The wolf and The Punctual, have always valued the country's culture and taken into account the public function of the medium. I am and I will be maintains this spirit. In this competition, one hundred participants compete to prove who is the most familiar with Catalonia, facing multiple challenges in which they must demonstrate their knowledge and skills in musical, culinary, geography, language, and strategy tests. I am and I will be It gives visibility to traditions that have so often been disregarded in the media, promotes cultural and historical knowledge, and adapts it naturally to entertainment.

Wednesday at noon, in Everything movesAn unprecedented and highly significant event occurred. Helena Garcia Melero was interviewing Jordi González, who is recovering from a serious illness. The presenter has spent sixty days admitted to the ICU of a hospital due to a bacterial infection. Now that he's recovered and home, he had a cordial conversation with the program via video call. Melero was joined by Pilar Eyre, also a good friend of González. The three chatted amusingly and arranged to have lunch together soon. As a tribute to his guests, Melero retrieved some archive footage. It was from an old Jordi González program on TV3 where Pilar Eyre was a guest speaker. Both much younger, sitting on a sofa, chatting. We saw him ask her a question. And the surprise came when Eyre answered. He did so in perfectly correct Catalan. Upon returning to the set, Helena Garcia Melero quickly stood up to express her shock at discovering that her collaborator, who always speaks in Spanish on her program, had been speaking Catalan thirty years ago. Pilar Eyre's appearances on TV3 that we remember have always been in Spanish, which is why that television segment was so shocking. The gossip journalist and regular on the Everything moves He justified himself: "It's just that TV3 used to be stricter..."Melo fixed it. "And now too!" And he insisted that she speak in Catalan after seeing that she did it so well. Jordi González, who was still on air, praised Eyre's efforts and reminded other collaborators that, at that time, "made people suffer when they spoke in Catalan." An unfortunate assessment. To quote, by speaking it she has become more fluent and continues to speak in Catalan. collaborator justified herself again: "He didn't make the cut. At that time, there was a committee that had to decide if you expressed yourself well enough. And I didn't make the cut.The anecdote is very indicative because it shows that there was a linguistic rigor that made regular contributors feel committed to speaking Catalan. It was part of the network's editorial policy. No one needs to take any definitive exams. And this is also evident in the level of Catalan spoken in the fiction series, by the presenters, and by the contributors.

On Saturday, in the Evening news, informed us of some peculiarities regarding the time change that morning. This time, the annual news item focused on how the new schedule affected meals. The topic was a bit forced because, after all, the nutritional advice they gave was valid for any time of year, but, well, we all know that in these reports that are part of our annual routines, which have been repeated for decades, filigrees must be made to provide some innovation. As is also common in the Weekend newscast, and this information can also be prepared in advance to reduce the workload of the smallest team on holidays.

On Thursday at noon, Dani Ramírez provided the weather report live from the Darnius-Boadella reservoir. Although the fog obscured the reservoir, the famous indicator needle that has accompanied us for over a year announced that it was at 50% capacity, specifically 344 cubic hectometres. Through a series of photographs, Ramírez showed us the evolution of the reservoir during the drought months, and in fact, the last image was from March 2, just eighteen days old. It was then at 18% capacity. "Three saving weeks from the drought," the presenter told us, and then gave us some context. He reminded us that since December 2023, we had had the famous internal basin counter on screen with the needle indicating the dramatic state of the reservoirs. And he summed up the last year: "Around the first week of March 2024, it was at 100 cubic hectometers, 14% of reserves. And today we have it at 344 cubic hectometers, and reserves are about to reach 50%." And then came the unexpected surprise. Ramírez, pointing to the internal basin counter, told us: "From now on, we will no longer show you any more, and really, well, we say goodbye." Ramírez gestured with his hand toward the lower corner of the screen, as if sweeping it away, and the needle disappeared from the image: "And don't let that counter, which has kept us waiting for so many months, practically years, ever come back."

The renewal of the governing council of the Catalan Broadcasting Corportation (CCMA) is one of the urgent duties of this legislature. Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) and Together for Catalonia (JxCat) will have to reach an agreement with the Catalan Socialists (PSC) to tackle this reform, since all the directors' mandates expired years ago. Faced with this scenario, Salvador Illa's reaction has been to raise the tone against the functioning of the Catalan public media and make criticism of TV3, the Catalan public television channel, a party priority.