Canal 24 Horas
Spain's public-service rolling news television channel operated by Televisión Española.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Canal 24 Horas is the all-news television channel of Televisión Española, the television division of Spain's public broadcaster Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE). It provides a continuous news service built around rolling updates, scheduled news bulletins, live coverage, interviews, analysis, weather information and factual programming. The channel is primarily associated with the 24-hour news format and serves as RTVE's dedicated television outlet for immediate national and international news coverage. The service began broadcasting on 15 September 1997, becoming Spain's first dedicated 24-hour rolling television news channel. Its launch expanded TVE's news offer beyond the scheduled bulletins carried by channels such as La 1 and La 2, while also providing a continuous outlet for developing stories and live events. Canal 24 Horas initially formed part of the Vía Digital satellite platform and was distributed in an encrypted form aimed mainly at viewers in Spain. It later expanded through satellite and terrestrial distribution, including free-to-air satellite availability in Europe and digital terrestrial television in Spain. The channel's programming is produced through RTVE's news infrastructure, particularly the Torrespaña facilities. Its output draws on the central newsroom in Madrid, TVE's territorial newsrooms across Spain, foreign correspondents, camera crews and special reporters deployed to major events. This structure allows Canal 24 Horas to combine continuously updated headlines with footage and reporting produced for RTVE's wider news operation. The channel also carries or repeats some of the broadcaster's established programmes and bulletins, including Telediario and factual formats such as Informe Semanal, giving those programmes an additional distribution outlet. Its schedule includes rolling daytime and evening news blocks, regular weekday and weekend bulletins, overnight news and the discussion and analysis programme La noche en 24h. Weather segments and live event coverage complement the headline service. Simulcasts of Telediario may include sign-language interpretation, supporting the public-service remit of the channel and the wider RTVE news operation. Canal 24 Horas briefly occupied a particularly distinctive position in the Spanish television market. It was the country's only nationwide rolling television news service from its launch until CNN+ began broadcasting in January 1999. After CNN+ ended transmissions on 28 December 2010, Canal 24 Horas again became the only nationwide rolling news channel in Spain, according to the referenced historical account. Its competitive identity is therefore based less on a commercial niche than on uninterrupted public-service news coverage backed by RTVE's national and international reporting network. Distribution has changed over time in response to platform economics and technology. In addition to its original satellite presence, the channel became available through digital terrestrial television in Spain from November 2005. It has also been distributed by European satellite systems and, at different times, through services serving viewers in the Americas. RTVE's international distribution arrangements have changed over the years, including a move involving Astra satellite capacity between 2014 and 2020 and terrestrial availability in parts of Puerto Rico from 2019. The precise availability of the service varies by territory and platform. Canal 24 Horas remains part of RTVE's active television portfolio. Its role is to deliver a continuous, publicly funded news service while sharing reporting resources, correspondents, production facilities and editorial infrastructure with TVE's other channels and RTVE's broader media operations.
History
Canal 24 Horas was created by Televisión Española as Spain's first television channel devoted to continuous rolling news. It began broadcasting on 15 September 1997 within RTVE's public-service television structure. At launch, the channel was distributed through the Vía Digital digital satellite package on Hispasat and was encrypted, with a primary focus on the Spanish market. At selected times, its output was also simulcast by TVE Internacional. The service subsequently broadened its satellite presence, including distribution through Astra and Eutelsat Hot Bird systems. It later moved toward free-to-air digital satellite availability in relevant markets. This expansion allowed RTVE to make the channel available not only to viewers in Spain but also to European audiences and, at different points, viewers in the Americas through satellite and pay-television arrangements. Canal 24 Horas entered the Spanish digital terrestrial television environment in November 2005. Its terrestrial distribution strengthened its national reach and made the channel available through the country's emerging digital television infrastructure. La 1 also carries a simulcast during certain overnight and early-morning periods, with the hours varying according to the schedule, holidays and seasonal broadcasting arrangements. The channel's editorial and production base is RTVE's Torrespaña complex. Its output is supplied by the central newsroom, TVE's territorial centers throughout Spain, foreign correspondents and reporters working at the scene of major events. This shared reporting system also supports the Telediario bulletins and factual programming carried by La 1, La 2 and TVE Internacional. Canal 24 Horas therefore functions both as a standalone rolling-news channel and as an additional outlet for RTVE's wider news production. From its launch until CNN+ started in January 1999, Canal 24 Horas was the only rolling television news channel operating nationally in Spain according to the referenced historical material. CNN+ ended its transmissions on 28 December 2010, after which Canal 24 Horas again held that singular position in the national rolling-news field described by the source. Its programming has developed around recurring daytime, evening and overnight blocks, regular weekday and weekend bulletins, weather reports, interviews and current-affairs coverage. Named programmes include Diario 24h, La tarde en 24h and La noche en 24h. The channel also carries Telediario simulcasts and selected factual programming such as Informe Semanal. Sign-language interpretation is available on certain Telediario simulcasts, reflecting RTVE's public-service obligations. International distribution has been adjusted periodically. For economic reasons, RTVE moved the European satellite distribution of Canal 24 Horas and related RTVE services to Astra alongside TVE Internacional and RTVE radio services between January 2014 and January 2020. The channel was also available terrestrially in parts of Puerto Rico through the second subchannel of WORA-TV from 1 July 2019. Earlier distribution in the Americas included Hispasat, while later access depended on Spanish packages offered by satellite television providers. The channel remains an active component of RTVE's television portfolio, with availability determined by current terrestrial, satellite and platform agreements.
- 2020
Astra distribution period concludes
[1]The referenced distribution history identifies January 2020 as the end of the period during which Canal 24 Horas was distributed in Europe through the Astra arrangement.
- 2019
Terrestrial availability begins in parts of Puerto Rico
[1]From 1 July 2019, the channel became available terrestrially in parts of Puerto Rico through the second subchannel of WORA-TV.
- 2014
European satellite distribution shifts to Astra
[1]RTVE moved the European satellite distribution of Canal 24 Horas and associated RTVE services to Astra for economic reasons during the period beginning in January 2014.
- 2010
CNN+ ends transmissions
[1]CNN+ ceased broadcasting on 28 December, restoring Canal 24 Horas' position as the only nationwide rolling-news service identified in the source.
- 2005
Digital terrestrial distribution begins
[1]Canal 24 Horas became available on Spanish digital terrestrial television from November 2005.
- 1999
CNN+ enters the Spanish rolling-news market
[1]CNN+ began broadcasting on 27 January, ending Canal 24 Horas' period as the only nationwide rolling television news service described by the historical source.
- 1997
Launch of Canal 24 Horas
[1]Televisión Española launched Canal 24 Horas on 15 September as Spain's first dedicated 24-hour rolling television news service.
Products and positioning
A public-service, nationwide Spanish rolling-news channel distinguished by continuous coverage, RTVE's correspondent network and integration with the broadcaster's wider television news operation.
Television news · 1997
Rolling news service
The channel's core offering is a continuous news stream combining headlines, live reports, correspondent coverage, interviews, updates and scheduled bulletins. Reporting is produced through RTVE's central newsroom, territorial centers, foreign correspondents and special reporters. The service is designed to provide an immediate public-service television outlet during both routine news cycles and breaking events.
News bulletin
Diario 24h
Diario 24h is a named daytime news block associated with Canal 24 Horas. It organizes the channel's rolling output into a scheduled presentation of national, international, political, economic and social news, supported by live updates and reporting from RTVE's wider newsroom network.
News and current affairs
La tarde en 24h
La tarde en 24h is an afternoon news programme that combines continuously updated reporting with interviews, analysis and live coverage. It forms part of the channel's weekday schedule and extends the rolling-news format into a more structured current-affairs presentation.
News analysis
La noche en 24h
La noche en 24h is an evening discussion and analysis programme broadcast from Monday to Thursday. It provides a more interpretive treatment of the day's major stories while remaining connected to the channel's live rolling-news operation.
Television news bulletin
Telediario simulcasts
Canal 24 Horas carries simulcasts of TVE's Telediario bulletins. These broadcasts connect the dedicated news channel with RTVE's principal television news franchise and may include sign-language interpretation, reinforcing the broadcaster's public-service and accessibility role.
Factual and public-affairs programming
Informe Semanal
Informe Semanal is among the factual programmes produced for RTVE's wider television service and also broadcast on Canal 24 Horas. Its inclusion broadens the channel beyond minute-by-minute headlines to include longer-form reporting and public-affairs coverage.
Brand decisions
2014
Adjust European satellite distributionStrategyBackground
RTVE reviewed European satellite distribution because of economic considerations and coordinated the carriage of Canal 24 Horas with TVE Internacional and RTVE radio services.
Action taken
The European distribution arrangement moved to Astra during the period from January 2014 to January 2020.
Aftermath
The channel continued to be available through satellite in Europe under a revised distribution configuration, subject to platform and territorial changes.
2005
Expand to digital terrestrial televisionStrategyBackground
The channel's original satellite distribution limited access compared with terrestrial broadcasting as Spain's digital television infrastructure developed.
Action taken
Canal 24 Horas was added to Spanish digital terrestrial television from November 2005.
Aftermath
The move expanded the channel's domestic reach and made its rolling-news service available through the country's digital terrestrial platform.
1997
Create Spain's first dedicated rolling-news channelProduct launchBackground
RTVE sought to provide a continuous television outlet for news rather than relying solely on scheduled bulletins on its general-interest channels.
Action taken
Televisión Española launched Canal 24 Horas on 15 September 1997 as a 24-hour rolling news service.
Aftermath
The launch established Canal 24 Horas as RTVE's dedicated all-news television channel and the first service of its type operating nationally in Spain.
Recent events
- 2010
CNN+ ceases transmissions, leaving Canal 24 Horas as Spain's only nationwide rolling news service[1]
Other
CNN+ ended transmissions on 28 December 2010. The change restored Canal 24 Horas' position as the only nationwide rolling television news service identified in the referenced account.
- 1999
CNN+ begins broadcasting, ending Canal 24 Horas' period as Spain's only rolling news channel[1]
Other
CNN+ started broadcasting on 27 January 1999, introducing a second nationwide rolling-news competitor after Canal 24 Horas had operated alone in that category.
- 1997
Canal 24 Horas launches as Spain's first 24-hour rolling news service[1]
Product launch · Other
Televisión Española introduced Canal 24 Horas on 15 September 1997, creating Spain's first dedicated continuous television news service.
Sources2 sources
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