Castilla-La Mancha Media (CMM)

The Public Radio and Television of Castilla-La Mancha (RTVCM), the public broadcaster for the Castilla-La Mancha region, began its operations in 2001. In 2016, a major change occurred when it was rebranded as Castilla-La Mancha Media (CMM). This new brand was accompanied by a new visual identity and the modernization of its broadcast systems, including the introduction of new HD broadcasts, which led to an increase in maintenance costs.

Media assets

Television: CMM TV (HD)

Radio: CMM Radio

State Media Matrix Typology

Independent State-Funded and State-Managed (ISFM)

Ownership and governance

RTVCM was established as a public company in 2000 through Law No. 3, which placed it under the control of the regional government of Castilla-La Mancha. The regional parliament, through the Control Commission of the Public Entity of Radio-Television of Castilla-La Mancha, oversees the broadcaster. In 2023, the CMM Board of Directors, consisting of 13 members elected by the regional parliament, was reconstituted. This new board is once again presided over by José Francisco Rivas.

The station’s executive body, the General Director, is appointed by the regional cabinet, the executive branch of the regional government. The current director general of CMMedia is Carmen Amores, who also served as the rotating president of the Federation of Regional Radio and Television Organizations (FORTA).

Source of funding and budget

CMM is primarily funded through a subsidy from the regional government, which accounts for over 80% of its budget, with the remainder coming from advertising revenues.

The broadcaster’s budget has seen significant changes. The budget was €44.6 million in 2020, which was an increase of nearly €4 million from the previous year. It continued to grow, reaching €51.6 million in 2022 and €54.3 million in 2023. The budget for 2025 is set to surpass €66 million, which will largely be used to cover the rise in personnel costs and new maintenance expenses associated with HD broadcasting.

Editorial independence

CMM has historically faced political and state pressure seeking to influence its editorial content. Officials often raise concerns about the station’s management, and the media has reported on questionable business deals, although these are primarily business-related. Despite these challenges, there has been no documented evidence of the government systematically manipulating CMM’s editorial content.

The broadcaster’s editorial independence is guided by the “General Programming Principles,” a set of rules for its journalists. An Advisory Council, with 15 members appointed by the regional parliament, government, municipalities, the University of Castilla-La Mancha, and the broadcaster’s staff, assists the Board of Directors with suggestions for programming improvements. The council provides feedback at least twice a year.

August 2025