Pablo Motos's El hormiguero faces criticism from online creators

El hormiguero, the long-running Spanish prime-time entertainment and interview show on Antena 3, and its presenter Pablo Motos became the focus of a public debate with online content creators around the start of 2024. Several Spanish youtubers and streamers questioned the programme's interview style and its place in the country's media landscape.

The discussion reflected a wider shift in Spain, where creators with large online audiences, often working in long-form podcasts and live streams, increasingly compete with traditional television for viewers, guests and cultural influence. Critics from the online world argued about how television interviews are conducted, while defenders of the show pointed to its long record of audience success and its access to major national and international guests.

The exchange mattered because it highlighted a growing tension between established broadcasters and independent creators. It also set the context for later contact between the two worlds, including appearances by well-known creators on mainstream television, such as the one now being announced for Jordi Wild.