Although the number of users who consume audiovisual content via streaming continues to grow, linear television is still the one that rules. According to the annual analysis of the television-audiovisual industry by Barlovento Comunicación for 2023, 28.2 million viewers watched TV every day as it has always been done. That is, without Netflix, Prime Video or other platforms, but with the usual DTT channels. However, its great disadvantage compared to streaming services is that, if we catch an episode halfway through, we can no longer rewind. At least, that is the theory, but there are modern tricks that allow us to watch it later.
There are times when we remember too late that new episodes of our favourite series are going to be broadcast on television. Other times, due to our work schedule or because we have an appointment, it is impossible for us to watch the episode when it is due, according to the programming of the DTT channel in question.
Luckily, there are more and more ways to watch the TV show that we missed. So, if you were unable to watch it when it was broadcast on La 1, La 2, Antena 3, Cuatro, Telecinco or other channels, you will always have the option of watching it later. The best thing of all is that, with these alternatives to linear television, you can often skip the adverts or, at least, reduce the amount of advertising.
The DTT channel web pages
Virtually any channel we watch on TV is available on the Internet. From their website, we can see the content they are broadcasting live. But they often also give us access to a catalogue of series and films to which they have the rights. Normally, this section is called ‘On demand’:
For example, the Atresmedia group has the Atresplayer page, with Antena 3, La Sexta, Nova, Neox and Atreseries. We also have the Spanish Radio and Television Corporation, which has RTVE Play, with La 1, La 2, 24H, Teledeporte, Clan. And if the series belongs to the Mediaset group, it uses a different page for each of its channels (Cuatro, Telecinco, Factoría de Ficción, Boing, Divinity, Energy and Be Mad), as well as having Mitele.
There are also websites for regional channels. This is ideal if you are on holiday somewhere else and can’t watch your favourite series because that channel isn’t broadcasting it. For example, we have TeleMadrid, Aragón TV, TV Canaria, TV3, Canal Sur, ETB, etc.
Your operator’s television service
If you have Orange TV, Vodafone TV, Movistar Plus+ or a similar television service from an operator, you may be able to rewind the linear programming and watch the episode or programme you are looking for from start to finish without any complications. Also, if it has already finished, you can get rid of the adverts by sliding forward on the time bar when they pause the commercials.
On Orange TV, there is a ‘Last 7 days’ function in the Channels menu, from which you can enjoy everything broadcast during the week. On Vodafone TV, you can also go back in time to the same days from the programming guide.
The same thing happens with Movistar Plus+. It allows you to watch all the content that has been broadcast on the available channels in the last 7 days.
And there are more ways to delay linear TV programming for 7 days. For example, we have the Tivify or LOVES TV payment plan, which offers content from RTVE, Mediaset and Atresmedia.
Streaming platforms
Of course, we had to talk about the streaming audiovisual sector. This continues to grow and there are more and more series and films appearing on Netflix, Prime Video, Max and other services.
Some of them are first released on linear TV and then jump to streaming, or are broadcast at the same time. We have the example of ‘Los Artistas: primeros trazos’, which is going to be broadcast on Antena 3, but is already available on Amazon Prime Video. Or we could also talk about ‘La cocinero de Castamar’, whose episodes were released on the Atresmedia channel and then launched on Netflix.
