Cuatro

Cuatro is a Spanish free-to-air television channel that began broadcasting on 7 November 2005. It was created by Sogecable, the media company associated with PRISA, to replace the former Spanish analogue transmission of Canal+. The channel emerged after Spain's government approved a change to the relevant broadcasting licence in July 2005, allowing the frequency previously used for Canal+ to operate as a fully free-to-air service rather than combining a limited free-to-air schedule with a subscription service. Cuatro opened its service at 8:44 p.m. with the launch programme Nace Cuatro, followed by the first edition of Noticias Cuatro. The channel established a general-interest programming profile, with a particularly strong emphasis on news, sport, entertainment, reality television, films and imported or acquired series. Its programming strategy was designed to give it a distinct identity within the Spanish television market. After its later integration into the Mediaset España portfolio, Cuatro was positioned as the group's second principal general-interest channel and was commonly used for programming with a more experimental or alternative character, including content intended to compete with Atresmedia's LaSexta. Its schedule has included factual and mystery programming, morning news and current affairs, sports coverage, general entertainment, fiction and children's programming. Sport became one of Cuatro's most visible areas during its early years. In 2006, the channel obtained an agreement with the Royal Spanish Football Federation and the Spanish national football team to show the team's matches. It also reached an arrangement with LaSexta to share rights to matches of general public interest during the 2006 FIFA World Cup. These agreements displaced TVE's long-standing position as broadcaster of the national team's matches and helped establish Cuatro as a major destination for live football. Cuatro and the satellite platform Canal+, which was owned by the same corporate group at the time, subsequently secured rights to UEFA Euro 2008. The two outlets also obtained rights connected with the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Coverage of Euro 2008 produced the highest ratings then recorded in the history of Spanish television, according to the channel's reference history. A major corporate change occurred in December 2009, when Mediaset and PRISA announced an agreement to combine Telecinco and Cuatro within a broader transaction. The transaction separated Cuatro's channel identity and broadcasting licence from Sogecable, while the company Sogecuatro was acquired in full by Mediaset España. PRISA received newly issued Mediaset España shares equivalent to 18 percent of the company. The agreement allowed Cuatro and Telecinco to retain their respective brands and editorial identities while becoming part of the same television group. It also expanded Mediaset España's position in the Spanish terrestrial television market. Cuatro continues to operate as a Spanish television brand within Mediaset España. Its output remains centered on general-interest television, including information, sports, entertainment, factual programming, reality formats, films and series. The channel has also carried occasional live news and sporting events. Most of its programming is transmitted in 16:9, although some films and older series have historically appeared in 4:3. The brand's development therefore reflects the transition from a premium subscription-channel frequency to a national free-to-air service and its subsequent consolidation within Spain's larger commercial television market.

Cuatro's origins are linked to the Spanish launch of Canal+ in 1990. Canal+ operated under a licence that permitted only a limited number of free-to-air broadcasting hours; viewers needed a paid subscription to access the remainder of its schedule. The frequency therefore combined a small free-to-air service with the principal subscription offering. Sogecable, the company associated with Canal+ and later responsible for Cuatro's creation, spent the following years seeking permission to convert the licence into a full-time free-to-air operation. In July 2005, the Spanish government approved the requested licence change. This decision enabled Sogecable to replace the Canal+ free-to-air service with a new channel operating throughout the day without a subscription requirement. Cuatro began broadcasting on 7 November 2005 at 8:44 p.m. The opening schedule began with Nace Cuatro, a launch programme that introduced the new service, followed by Noticias Cuatro. The new channel adopted a general-interest profile and sought to distinguish itself through a mixture of information, entertainment, sport, fiction, films and reality programming. Cuatro gained early visibility through sports rights. In 2006, it secured an agreement with the Royal Spanish Football Federation and the Spanish national football team that allowed it to show national-team matches. It also worked with LaSexta on the distribution of matches of general public interest from the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The arrangement represented a significant competitive change because TVE had traditionally held the national team's television rights. Cuatro and Canal+, then associated with the same wider corporate structure, later obtained the rights to UEFA Euro 2008 and to matches from the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The Euro 2008 coverage became a major audience event and was described in the channel's historical account as producing the highest ratings in Spanish television up to that point. The channel's regular schedule developed around information, sport, entertainment and reality television, with films and series supplementing those categories. Examples associated with its programming include Noticias Cuatro, Las mañanas de Cuatro and Cuarto milenio, as well as acquired fiction and children's titles. The channel also carried occasional live events and special news coverage. Its programming was described as generally oriented toward a male audience, although its service remained broad rather than specialized. Cuatro's ownership structure changed fundamentally in 2009 and 2010. On 18 December 2009, Mediaset and PRISA presented an agreement to combine Telecinco and Cuatro. The transaction was structured so that Cuatro's brand and editorial identity could continue while the channel moved into the Mediaset España portfolio. Cuatro's broadcasting licence and channel operation were separated from Sogecable, and Sogecuatro was acquired entirely by Mediaset España. In return, PRISA acquired newly issued Mediaset España shares representing 18 percent of the company. The resulting group became the largest Spanish television network by audience share according to the contemporary account, with Cuatro operating as its second principal general-interest channel. Following the transaction, Mediaset España used Cuatro for programming that could be more experimental or alternative than the output of Telecinco, including content aimed at competing with LaSexta. The channel remained a distinct editorial brand rather than being absorbed into Telecinco. Its technical presentation also evolved: most programmes were broadcast in 16:9, while some films and older television series continued to appear in 4:3. Cuatro's history is consequently defined by three stages: the conversion of a Canal+ frequency into a free-to-air service, the rapid establishment of a recognizable news-and-sports-led identity, and its integration into the Mediaset España commercial television group.

• 2010

  Integration into Mediaset España

  [1]Cuatro (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org

  Sogecuatro is acquired in full by Mediaset España and Cuatro becomes part of the group's expanded Spanish terrestrial television portfolio.

• 2009

  Telecinco–Cuatro combination announced

  [1]Cuatro (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org

  Mediaset and PRISA announce the transaction that will bring Cuatro into Mediaset España while preserving its brand and editorial identity.

• 2008

  UEFA Euro 2008 coverage

  [1]Cuatro (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org

  Cuatro and Canal+ broadcast UEFA Euro 2008, producing record audience figures for Spanish television at the time.

• 2006

  National-team and World Cup rights secured

  [1]Cuatro (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org

  Cuatro obtains Spanish national-team football rights and shares selected 2006 FIFA World Cup rights with LaSexta.

• 2005

  Licence change approved

  [1]Cuatro (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org

  The Spanish government approves the request to convert the relevant broadcasting licence into a full-time free-to-air service.

• 2005

  Cuatro launches

  [1]Cuatro (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org

  Cuatro starts broadcasting on 7 November at 8:44 p.m., replacing the former Canal+ free-to-air service.

• 1990

  Canal+ begins broadcasting in Spain

  [1]Cuatro (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org

  The predecessor service begins operating under a licence that limits its free-to-air schedule and reserves the rest of its programming for subscribers.

A Spanish general-interest commercial television channel with notable strengths in news, sports, entertainment, factual programming and reality television. Within Mediaset España, Cuatro has been positioned as a more experimental and alternative general-interest outlet alongside Telecinco.

• Television channel · 2005

  General-interest free-to-air television

  Cuatro's core offering is a national Spanish free-to-air television service. Its schedule combines information, entertainment, sport, reality formats, factual programmes, films, acquired series and occasional live coverage. The channel was designed as a broad commercial service rather than a specialist sports, news or subscription network.

• News · 2005

  Noticias Cuatro

  Noticias Cuatro is the channel's news brand. The first edition followed the launch programme on Cuatro's opening night, establishing news as one of the service's principal editorial pillars alongside sport and entertainment.

• Sports television · 2006

  Sports broadcasting

  Cuatro has used live sports, especially Spanish national-team football and major international football tournaments, as a high-profile part of its programming strategy. Rights associated with the 2006 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup helped build the channel's audience and public profile.

• Factual and entertainment programme

  Cuarto milenio

  Cuarto milenio is a factual and mystery-oriented programme associated with Cuatro's distinctive entertainment and alternative programming profile. It exemplifies the channel's use of specialist factual subjects within a general-interest schedule.

• Morning news and current affairs

  Las mañanas de Cuatro

  Las mañanas de Cuatro is a morning programme associated with the channel's information and current-affairs output. It represents Cuatro's effort to combine news coverage, analysis and general daytime television within its schedule.

• 2009

  Combine Cuatro with Mediaset España's television portfolioM&A

  Background

  Mediaset and PRISA sought to combine their television operations while maintaining the separate identities of Telecinco and Cuatro.

  Action taken

  They announced a transaction under which Sogecuatro would be acquired by Mediaset España and PRISA would receive newly issued shares representing 18 percent of Mediaset España.

  Aftermath

  Cuatro became part of Mediaset España while retaining its brand and editorial identity.

  PRISA ownership stake in Mediaset España. 18% (At the time of the 2009 transaction announcement)

  Source

• 2008

  Broadcast UEFA Euro 2008Product launch

  Background

  Cuatro and Canal+ pursued major tournament rights to extend the channel's sports profile beyond national-team fixtures.

  Action taken

  The two broadcasters secured and aired UEFA Euro 2008 coverage.

  Aftermath

  The tournament produced the highest ratings then recorded in Spanish television history, according to the channel's reference history.

  Source

• 2006

  Build the channel around major football rightsOther

  Background

  The newly launched channel needed high-visibility programming capable of establishing its identity and attracting a national audience.

  Action taken

  Cuatro secured Spanish national-team match rights and shared selected 2006 FIFA World Cup rights with LaSexta.

  Aftermath

  The agreements made live football a central part of Cuatro's early brand and audience strategy.

  • TVE — Cuatro's agreement displaced TVE's long-standing position as broadcaster of the Spanish national team's matches.
  • LaSexta — LaSexta shared selected 2006 FIFA World Cup rights with Cuatro.

  Source

• 2005

  Convert the Canal+ frequency into a full-time free-to-air channelStrategy

  Background

  Sogecable sought to change the licence governing the frequency used by Canal+, which had previously combined limited free-to-air broadcasting with subscription access.

  Action taken

  After government approval in July 2005, the company launched Cuatro as a new full-time free-to-air service and replaced the previous Canal+ transmission.

  Aftermath

  Cuatro entered the Spanish television market as a general-interest commercial channel on 7 November 2005.

  Source

1. 1Cuatro (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Cuatro official websitecuatro.com