Spanish television network Antena 3 will premiere La Mesa, a new live current affairs program hosted by journalist Cristina Pardo, on September 2.
The weekly broadcast will air in prime time directly following the network's flagship show El Hormiguero, serving as one of the broadcaster's major commitments for the new television season.
Atresmedia has launched a high-profile promotional campaign to generate expectation for the debut. The promotional video features prominent network figures including Pablo Motos, Matías Prats, Carlos Alsina, and Roberto Leal, who welcome Pardo while attempting to guess details about the upcoming show.
Antena 3 is Spain's primary commercial free-to-air television channel owned by Atresmedia, one of the country's leading media conglomerates. The station enters the new television season seeking to reinforce its audience leadership, following five consecutive seasons as Spain's most-watched television channel and six years leading prime-time viewership.
Program Format and Set Design
The visual identity and set design of La Mesa are built around a central table. Broadcaster Atresmedia stated that the physical element is designed to serve as a key narrative tool that will structure conversations and act as the central point for distributing news information.
According to the network, the program aims to offer a fresh approach to social issues by using daily current affairs as a starting point while delving deeper than basic factual reporting.
The format will avoid traditional panel show debate structures and sequential guest interviews. Instead, the network described the project as a live, rigorous format open to diverse perspectives, designed to combine information and entertainment smoothly.
Production Team and Presenter Background
The production will feature actual news protagonists as guests. Producers emphasized active listening, accessibility, spontaneity, and Pardo's signature sense of humor as core elements of the format.
Pardo brings extensive journalism experience to the new venture. She has spent much of her career at Atresmedia, having previously presented and reported on programs such as laSexta Noticias, Liarla Pardo, and Más Vale Tarde.
