Last November, a court in Barcelona ruled that Atresmedia could not continue airing certain content, with an appeal filed by Antena 3 part of a long-standing dispute over reproduction rights. The program had previously been withdrawn from Telecinco while hosted by a presenter.
Shortly after this ruling, the show entered a pivotal phase in the ongoing battle between competitors. It was through the program’s iconic segment that one of the highest audience peaks in its history was reached, culminating in a victor being declared in mid-March.
From Antena 3 Noticias to live with Rafa, the winner of Pasapalabra: Beatriz Solano
The final stretch of the program proved extremely lucrative for the Atresmedia group and its network. The team treated the run as if it could be the last, coordinating release strategies to maximize the footage captured during the finale. Announcements about the exact week for Rosco broadcasts and scheduling changes the day before air were part of the strategy, with delays for a special feature occurring in the Grill segment.
What will happen to Pasapalabra?
As expected, the audience did not rally to the same level after the disruptions involving Rafa and Orestes. While the show continues to lead its time slot in ratings, achieving the four-million benchmark once seen during the iconic bonus moment may be challenging to surpass.
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The central question becomes what happens next when the program seizes a controversial moment. Antena 3 decided against broadcasting the Rosco portion of Pasapalabra, and if this decision is challenged, it could threaten a core element of the show’s format, though the outcome of any lawsuit remains unclear.
CJUE decides the future of Pasapalabra this week
This week, the European Court of Justice is expected to determine the fate of the Pasapalabra brand segment known as El Rosco, a matter long in dispute. After more than a decade of contention over ownership between the production company ITV and the licensed entity Good Services, a resolution appears imminent.
The dispute over ownership of El Rosco stems from historical differences between the producers and the licensed rights holder. In 2010, Mediaset withdrew from a contract to broadcast Pasapalabra with ITV and partnered with Good Services. Four years later, a Madrid Commercial Court ruled that ITV owned the program and that El Rosco could not be registered as intellectual property.
This is why Pasapalabra stopped airing outright
Years later, in 2020, ITV signed a deal with Atresmedia to rebroadcast Pasapalabra on Antena 3, prompting Good Services to file a lawsuit against Atresmedia. In 2022, the Barcelona Commercial Court upheld the Madrid court’s decision. A separate legal fight is also occurring in Europe, with Good Services registering El Rosco with the European Union Intellectual Property Office and later withdrawing the registration, suggesting coordinated action to curb broadcasts on ITV.
The reason behind Encarni’s departure from Pasapalabra
Ultimately, Good Services has filed an appeal with the European Court, awaiting the CJEU’s decision in the coming days.
Sources tracking the matter indicate a continuing signal that the evolution of the case could redefine who controls the iconic El Rosco segment and how intellectual property rights are enforced across Europe in long-running game formats. The outcome will influence how broadcasters negotiate licensing, episode rights, and brand protection for beloved competition formats in the region. [Attribution: ongoing reporting from industry outlets and market trackers.]