José Miguel Contreras defends independence of La Séptima

José Miguel Contreras, the founder of the new television project La Séptima, has defended the channel's independence following its government-granted license. Speaking at the Nueva Economía Forum in Madrid, Contreras dismissed claims that the outlet would serve as a government propaganda tool, stating that a partisan project would contradict the essence of commercial television.

The channel is scheduled to launch on November 5 with an annual budget of 30 million euros. Contreras aims to reach a 2% audience share by 2027. The production model will focus on live programming and plurality, notably renouncing fiction.

Contreras also addressed the opposition the project has faced, suggesting that efforts to block the initiative were significant. He noted that the license was awarded through a public tender in which Mediaset España was the only other competitor. The project, which originated within Grupo Prisa before being truncated there, intends to target a progressive audience with a staff featuring prominent female presenters.