Cuatro will not air the 2023-2024 Chimes, and beyond this moment of farewell to the old year and greeting to the new one, the channel will participate in the celebrations in its own way. Rather than the traditional live broadcast, the event will be marked by a special program that marks a shift in how the network covers the year end. This year, viewers will see a different approach as the channel, alongside Telecinco, tests a new format that aims to combine entertainment with year-end reflection rather than the usual countdown.
After more than a decade of joint signaling with Telecinco, the arrangement will pause its regular Chimes presentation on Cuatro. Instead, a curated lineup has been announced, including a feature titled First Dates that centers on a nostalgic look at Hollywood in the 1920s. The program will extend into the early hours and finish around 12:10 a.m., after which the rest of the major networks continue their own year-end rituals and then switch to a film titled Eight Basque surnames on the late-night slate.
This year marks a rare moment of absence for Cuatro, a departure that comes as the channel is integrated into Mediaset and continues to evolve its programming strategy. The decision to forego the traditional Chimes is notable because it represents a shift away from a long-standing New Year’s Eve staple that had become a familiar way for audiences to close the calendar year on the network. The absence is contextualized by a history of the Chimes being part of Cuatro since its early days and by the network’s ongoing efforts to align with broader Mediaset initiatives while still catering to audience expectations for festive television.
Historically, the Chimes broadcast has not always been a ratings powerhouse for Cuatro. Since the channel launched in 2005 as a platform for closing the year with a distinctive countdown, the performance has varied. The most widely cited peak occurred during the 2009 New Year when hosts Rafa Mendez and Paula Vazquez welcomed the new year, capturing the network’s strongest moment in that era. In recent years, however, Cuatro’s approach to year-end programming has evolved, and the network has experimented with formats and collaborations that reflect contemporary viewing habits and the channel’s broader strategy. The figures from those years underscore a broader trend rather than a singular failure or success, illustrating how audiences have shifted toward more immersive and varied celebrations rather than the traditional countdown alone.
This year, the responsibility for the Chimes has shifted to Marta Flich and Jesús Calleja, who will premiere the end-of-year segment exclusively on Telecinco. The pair will attempt to surpass last year’s performance, which previously stood at a modest level for the channel that carried the final moments of the year. The contemporary landscape shows viewers balancing nostalgia with the appeal of fresh formats, and Telecinco is betting on this dynamic by offering a distinct experience that centers on conversation, performance, and curated entertainment as the clock winds down. The arrangement also reflects broader audience dynamics and the competitive environment among networks as they seek to deliver memorable moments at the stroke of midnight.