Radio Television Madrid (RTVM)
Radio Televisión Madrid (RTVM) is a public broadcaster covering the Madrid region. It operates the television channels Telemadrid and La Otra and the radio channel Onda Madrid. The network was established in 1989.
Media assets
Television: Telemadrid (HD), LaOtra
Radio: Onda Madrid
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
Established by Law No. 8 of 2015 as a publicly owned company under the government of the Madrid Community, RTVM operates under a Board of Directors.
Following a new bill introduced in April 2022 by the People’s Party (PP), the process for appointing the Board of Directors and the Director General was changed from a qualified majority (two-thirds) to a simple majority. This change has allowed the Madrid government, led by the PP, to exert greater control over the broadcaster’s direction.
In July 2021, José Antonio Sánchez was appointed as the provisional administrator of RTVM, replacing the previous director general. This was facilitated by a legal reform that allowed the government to appoint a provisional administrator, effectively diminishing the role of the Board of Directors as established in Act 8/2015.
On June 26, 2024, José Antonio Sánchez was officially named Director General of RTVM by the Junta General de Accionistas (General Shareholders’ Meeting), ending his provisional status. His appointment followed a proposal from the RTVM Board of Directors and approval by the Assembly of Madrid. He started a definitive four-year term as director general from mid-2024. Sánchez, a veteran journalist with previous leadership roles at national public broadcaster RTVE and RTVM, is a known supporter of the People’s Party (PP). Under his leadership from 2021 to present, RTVM’s audience ratings have declined, reaching low levels in recent years.
Thus, the legal reform did enable the Madrid government to replace the director general with a provisional administrator, who remained in charge for almost three years before being confirmed as director general. The role of the Board of Directors has been notably weakened in this process, consolidating government control over RTVM.
Source of funding and budget
RTVM receives funding from both state allocations and advertising sales revenues. It’s important to note that the figures provided by the government and the broadcaster are significantly different. In 2022, the broadcaster’s total budget exceeded €90 million, with €81.7 million coming from state subsidies, as reported in an RTVM annual report. In 2023, the government allocated €67.3 million to RTVM. Additionally, advertising sales generated €6.7 million and the Community of Madrid provided another €2.1 million through an agreement. RTVM’s operating expenses for 2023 were €80.9 million.
For 2024, Radio Televisión Madrid (RTVM) had a budget subsidy from the Madrid regional government of approximately €76.5 million, with total projected revenues reaching about €79.8 million including advertising and sponsorships. For 2025, the budget is expected to increase by 6%, reaching around €91 million, with €81 million coming from government subsidies, about €7 million from advertising, and €3 million from sponsorships. This represents the highest level of funding in the last decade. Despite some challenges in advertising revenue, RTVM aims to maintain budgetary balance in 2025 without incurring losses. Data for the 2026 budget is not yet publicly available.
Editorial independence
The Madrid Parliament’s Basic Charter of RTVM explicitly ensures the broadcaster’s editorial independence from authorities and political groups. RTVM also has an internal unit called the Office for Audience Participation, which handles direct communication between RTVM and the general public. However, government interference with the broadcaster’s editorial agenda has increased in recent years.
The change in the appointment process for the Board of Directors and Director General has been linked to a rise in government interference. There is mounting evidence that the Madrid region government, under the leadership of Isabel Diaz Ayuso, exerts significant influence over the station’s editorial coverage, displaying overt bias in favor of the Popular Party (PP).
August 2025