Mario Picazo continued his television journey in Spain with Telecinco, a tenure that lasted nineteen years before he departed in 2014. A familiar face for Spanish viewers, the meteorologist also appeared on TVE. He created and directed Extreme Climates, a program that blended travel, adventure, and scientific outreach.
In those years, Picazo left Telecinco’s El tiempo studio to explore global weather extremes. He set off to witness the planet’s most unforgiving conditions firsthand, sharing how local communities endure such environments.
Extreme Climates ran for four episodes and was produced by Atmosphere, Picazo’s own production company, in collaboration with La Lupa Produccions and La Quimera Audiovisual. La Quimera’s cofounder and former creative director, Tinet Rubira, later moved to other leadership roles within the media sector.
Across the four installments, the presenter visited Oklahoma in the United States to discuss tornadoes, traveled to Newfoundland in Canada to explore a perpetually foggy region, and journeyed to the Oymyakon area in Siberia and the Atacama Desert in Chile to showcase some of the planet’s most extreme cold and arid conditions.
The creation of Extreme Climates followed what could be seen as Picazo’s most notable moment at Telecinco. At the end of 2008, a contract dispute with the network led to a change in the weather service arrangement. Paolo Vasile proposed new terms to Picazo, which he eventually accepted after Florenci Rey, who steered weather information at Cuatro and Cadena SER, initially failed to persuade him. This negotiation culminated in a new collaboration that allowed Picazo to align with Mediaset while maintaining his meteorology leadership at Telecinco.
The new alliance with Mediaset enabled Picazo to balance his role as head of meteorology at Telecinco with opportunities on other networks. Picazo created Extreme Climates in 2012 with his production team. Although La 1 showed interest, disagreements with Vasile ultimately led to a decision that affected his relationship with TVE.
Four episodes of the program also aired late at night in Turkey, drawing about 1.2 million viewers and roughly a ten percent share. The audience data did not convince the public broadcaster to renew for a second season, as sponsors were not secured.
After that, Picazo returned to the Fuencarral offices to propose a second season of Extreme Climates for Cuatro, but the executive team again rejected the project.
‘Extreme Climates’ contributed to a partial departure from Telecinco
More than a year after the April 2013 premiere of Extreme Climates on TVE, Cuatro expressed doubts about its direction. Picazo responded on social media by criticizing a perceived lack of originality, a move that reportedly eroded Paolo Vasile’s confidence in him. The resulting tension led to a negotiated split in early 2014 as Telecinco reorganized its weather team.
A spokesperson for Mediaset stated that it seemed inconceivable to see a veteran meteorologist from Mediaset España airing grievances on Twitter, noting that Picazo may have missed the full context of the program. The official comment reflected the company’s stance during that period.
Various industry sources at the time noted that Picazo’s contract had expired at the end of 2013, with a brief extension intended to give Mediaset time to assemble a new team. Analysts predicted a forthcoming change well before any official announcement.
Throughout the nineteen years with Telecinco, Picazo became one of the network’s most enduring and beloved figures. He often anchored weather updates while also engaging audiences with entertainment formats such as Survivors or Clever. He also contributed in the early years to Ana Rosa’s program, building a reputation as a reliable meteorologist who could blend science with accessible storytelling.
During this period his relationship with Telecinco reached a high point. He even turned down an offer from Spanish television to head meteorology at a rival network, preferring to maintain his autonomy rather than replace Jose Antonio Maldonado, who later stepped back and was succeeded by TV3’s Mónica López.