José Miguel Contreras prepares new Spanish TV channel for October launch

José Miguel Contreras, a retired academic turned media entrepreneur, is leading the creation of a new free‑to‑air television channel that is slated to begin broadcasting in October 2024. The outlet, still unnamed after early references to “SIETE,” will launch on the digital terrestrial platform (DTT) once the next retuning cycle—known as “día R”—is completed, a process expected between 15 October and 15 November.

Contreras says the channel will feature "eight powerful faces" from Spain’s media landscape, combining well‑known journalists, new voices and influencers. He stresses a policy of “killing personalism” and aims to assemble a diverse team that can attract a broad audience without becoming a showcase for egos. Although the licence obliges the broadcaster to start transmissions within six months of its grant, the exact channel slot is pending a reshuffle of the existing slots held by Atresmedia and Mediaset.

In his first interview as the project’s chief promoter, Contreras described the venture as a commercial business rather than a government‑backed initiative, insisting that the channel will operate independently of political influence.