In 2022, almost two million viewers stopped watching. The Barlovento analysis center highlights this as a clear trend: TV consumption continues to fall. Across both private and public broadcasters, the response has been to lean into lighthearted, festival-like programming that entertains rather than informs. The shift is visible as stations chase evergreen crowd-pleasers that feel more like events than traditional broadcasts.
Public and private television alike have embraced a playful, immersive approach to keep audiences engaged. The state channel Antena 3 has shown relative resilience in this transition, often opting for formats that feel more like performances than straight news or drama. A recent episode of El hormiguero featured a playful moment where a host descended a slide into a ball pit, a spectacle that underscored the era of playground-style television. The visual language is bold and silly, inviting viewers to disengage from everyday concerns and simply enjoy the moment. The author recalls a personal memory of visiting a McDonald’s playground with a grandchild, highlighting how playgrounds capture attention and create a carefree moment that television sometimes replicates for adults on screen.
Another popular example is Your face comes to me, which has long exploited imitate-and-entertain concepts to strong effect. The show staged a special edition around a festive holiday, and audiences connected with the lighthearted energy, charisma, and color. The broadcast on a rival channel soon followed with a similar, garish reinterpretation, though it attracted a smaller share of the audience. The key takeaway is not the singing itself but the theater of character and costume, the spectacle that turns television into a vivid, shareable experience. In 2023, many channels amplified this trend, layering news segments with narrative-driven storytelling designed to feel like ongoing, story-driven programming rather than fixed formats. The result is a television landscape where entertainment value and visual spectacle often overshadow traditional formats.
In this evolving context, industry commentators project that the year ahead will emphasize broad audience appeal and familiar tropes that resonate across generations. The integration of humor, costume, and rapid visual changes works to sustain interest even as audiences become more selective. The emphasis remains on creating event-like moments that viewers choose to follow, rather than passively consuming a fixed lineup. As public discourse shifts toward entertainment-led scheduling, it becomes clear that television is increasingly measured by its ability to deliver memorable, shareable experiences that people want to discuss and revisit.
Looking ahead, public figures and broadcasters may continue to experiment with formats that blend performance, gossip, and playful impersonations. The objective is to capture attention through energy, color, and dynamic staging, while ensuring the content remains accessible and family-friendly. The overarching trend is a move away from rigid programming blocks toward fluid, event-driven experiences that invite viewers to participate in a sense of communal watching and conversation. This evolution reflects broader shifts in media consumption, where attention is earned through spectacle and immediacy, rather than traditional scheduling alone. Observers note that such strategies can attract new audiences while keeping longtime viewers engaged, but they must be carefully balanced to maintain credibility and avoid fatigue over time. The discourse among observers suggests that the industry will continue balancing playful formats with informative content to meet diverse audience needs. In this climate, the year 2023 is seen as a period of experimentation and adaptation as broadcasters align with contemporary viewing habits and preferences, with a continued emphasis on entertainment value and vivid presentation as a central driver of engagement. The conversation about audience strategy remains lively, with analysts and creators alike examining how to sustain attention in an ever-changing media environment.
Across the board, the central message for broadcasters in Canada and the United States is clear: audiences crave experiences that feel fresh, energetic, and easily digestible. While some may yearn for more traditional, information-rich programming, the current climate rewards formats that combine humor, color, and storytelling to draw viewers in and keep them watching. This dynamic landscape will continue to shape decisions about scheduling, talent, and the balancing act between spectacle and substance, as the industry navigates a shifting audience landscape in the years ahead.