Telecinco prepares return of 'El Rosco' amid legal battle over Pasapalabra rights

Mediaset has launched a surprise promotional spot in Madrid for the revival of the quiz show “El Rosco” on Telecinco. The short video shows moving letter graphics travelling across the city and ending at Mediaset España’s headquarters, but it gives no details on the programme’s title, presenter or launch date. The promotion follows Mediaset’s May announcement that it had secured the rights to the final round of the game, a format distinct from the long‑running “Pasapalabra”.

The return of “El Rosco” comes as the broadcasters are embroiled in a court fight over the quiz’s mechanics. Spain’s Supreme Court ordered Antena 3 to remove “El Rosco” from its schedule, prompting Atresmedia to replace it with a new game called “Ala Z”. Mediaset and the format producer MC&F have filed legal actions claiming that the new mechanics still resemble the protected “Pasapalabra” format, a claim Atresmedia rejects. The dispute centres on the ownership of the game’s structure, name and related patents, while both sides continue to develop competing versions for Spanish television.