José Pablo López, the president of Spanish public broadcaster RTVE, has called for less digital cruelty on social media when television programs are cancelled.
López shared a reflection addressing the hostility that often greets show cancellations across all broadcasting networks. He acknowledged experiencing the situation firsthand and noted that taking risks and making mistakes are routine parts of an industry where creative work requires time, effort, and courage.
The executive highlighted the large workforce behind every audiovisual production, emphasizing that a television show should never be viewed merely as an audience rating figure. Technicians, scriptwriters, producers, and workers across many other roles spend months of effort and enthusiasm on each project before it reaches viewers.
López warned that a lack of empathy following a professional failure dehumanizes both the television industry and society as a whole. He stated that destroying work from behind the anonymity of a screen takes only a few seconds, urging the public to show respect for everyone working in the audiovisual sector regardless of the network involved. He concluded that criticism is not at odds with basic humanity.
Appearance before parliamentary committee
López delivered his comments alongside an appearance before the Parliamentary Control Joint Committee at the Congress of Deputies in Madrid. As president of the board of directors of the RTVE Corporation, he answered questions from lawmakers regarding public broadcasting operations.
RTVE, officially known as Corporación de Radio y Televisión Española, is Spain's state-owned public broadcaster. The organization operates national television channels including La 1 and La 2, as well as national radio networks and digital services.
Legal background and early broadcasting career
José Pablo López Sánchez was born on May 15, 1977, in Sayalonga, a municipality in the province of Málaga, Spain. He trained in both journalism and law, earning a double degree from CEU San Pablo University in Madrid.
He began his professional career in the legal sector, working at a law firm before transitioning into the media industry. In 2005, he joined the legal advisory department of Spanish commercial television network laSexta, playing a key role in its operations until 2010.
In 2010, López was appointed general director of 13TV, the national channel currently known as TRECE. He spent six years managing the network, helping to consolidate its position within the Spanish television market.
Executive leadership at Telemadrid and RTVE
López took over as general director of regional public broadcaster Telemadrid in 2017 following a consensus agreement among political parties in the Assembly of Madrid. During his tenure, which lasted until 2021, he implemented a major renewal of network content and introduced a pluralistic editorial approach that improved audience ratings and public perception.
In May 2022, he was appointed director of general content at RTVE. In that role, he played a central part in relaunching flagship network La 1, driving gains in viewership and restoring its prominence in Spanish television.
López was appointed president of RTVE in November 2024, assuming leadership of the entire public broadcasting corporation.
