The enduring fan phenomenon around Operación Triunfo continues to captivate audiences. The show’s musical talent returned to the screen, hooking an entire generation for three months. Across 16 victories, the first edition of the competition streamed on Prime Video, delivering premieres and live content in a historic first. The program attracted three and a half million unique viewers, with 14 premieres and a viewer loyalty rate of 85%. To date, nearly three and a half million people have engaged with talent content, and a large portion remains loyal week after week.
The momentum was such that a second edition of OT is planned for Prime Video. This was confirmed by Maria Jose Rodriguez, who oversees Spain’s original productions for Prime Video, at a press conference on Tuesday. Organizers from Gestmusic indicate that if premieres had aired on terrestrial TV, they would have drawn the top audience on Monday nights.
I waited seven hours for twenty seconds of fame: this is how I made it to the overtime squad
Despite strong results, neither the production company nor the platform are rushing to launch another season. Creators recognize that OT works best with a measured rest between cycles. Tinet Rubira, Gestmusic’s director, told the media that the advantage of a platform like Prime is that there is no urgency and no rigid grid to fill.
We bring together young people and adults
The music competition concluded on Monday, February 19, with Naiara emerging as one of the crowd favorites. It became a hub for fans who connected online, with Monday night premieres continuing at 22:00 for three months. Since this was the first time the competition aired on a streaming platform, it could be watched live in several countries including Chile, Colombia, Argentina and Mexico, where it trended repeatedly and posted strong numbers.
Rubira explains that the secret to OT’s success lies in balancing proven format elements with fresh trends. The director notes that while a solid base must be respected, participants bring new energy to the show. The aim is to unite as many viewers as possible, so the format invites broad audience participation.
I hate networks
This year a major ally joined for the first time: TikTok. The hashtag OT2023 generated more than 100.5 billion views, helping the content go viral and deepen engagement with the 24-hour broadcast storyline. Still, social networks also brought hostile attention toward contestants, a concern heightened by the youthful ages involved. Noemi Galera, OT academy director and Gestmusic casting chief, warns that contestants are often very young and face immense pressure. She notes that while fans have the right to express themselves, extreme criticism is troubling for a young cast member under stress.
One contestant, Ruslana, faced significant scrutiny for her attitude in recent weeks. Galera emphasizes that the pressures come from all sides and that respectful dialogue should prevail.
Save numbers
More records followed. OT’s official store attracted over one million Amazon buyers, alongside merchandise like T-shirts and hoodies. The online sales are among Europe’s best sellers, according to Rubira, especially during highly anticipated launches such as video games.
The program’s app reported notable metrics as well. A total of 1.6 million registered users joined OT, surpassing the 2018 peak of 800,000. Some weeks saw nearly simultaneous activity with eight million votes cast across the platform. During the last premiere, 1.2 million viewers voted for the winner in a matter of minutes.
Fan phenomenon
The strongest fan momentum often emerges from mass events. The contestants recently went on public signings in several Spanish cities, with up to 12,000 fans converging in Madrid and about 6,000 in Barcelona to celebrate the victories. Fans also purchased physical copies to secure autographs, even when streaming options were limited. The upcoming tour will take place in major venues and has already sold out dates in Barcelona and Madrid. Concert venues will let fans sing along to beloved performances from the show, and many songs from premieres are already gathering hundreds of millions of streams across platforms.
The next OT season will face the challenge of maintaining the momentum built by the 2023 wave of victories. Rubira acknowledges that sustaining the elevated level is difficult, yet the phenomenon typically surpasses expectations after each run.