Toledo Urges Launch of RTVC's Digital “Transformation,” Better Coordination and New

The general administrator defends the public nature of news programming and hopes to approve the radio collective agreement before Christmas.

General Administrator’s Vision

The General Administrator of Radio Televisión Canaria (RTVC) advocated on Monday for launching a digital “transformation” at a time he described as “difficult” due to shifting information‑consumption habits. He also emphasized the need to improve coordination among departments so that there are no “loose ends.”

Speaking before the Canary Islands Parliament’s control commission, he asked for prudence because he has just taken office; therefore, there will be no “immediate changes,” but rather the laying of foundations for a new structure that will evolve with the forthcoming audiovisual law.

“It is not about improvising but about guiding and transforming based on knowledge, analysis and professional listening.”

He acknowledged that the context is “demanding but full of opportunities” because “people get their news from multiple platforms” and on‑demand content.

He noted that island residents demand “more information about the Canary Islands with closeness and public service,” stressing that RTVC “must remain a space where the Canary Islands are found and recognized” as a reference, pluralistic and trustworthy medium.

Toledo highlighted that trust in public media “has been built over years” and that plurality is an obligation that “must be guaranteed by regulations and professionalism.”

He called for “organising operations with a global vision” to optimise strategies and resources through a cross‑departmental system with shared protocols and interconnected production circuits.

He underscored that professionals “are the main engine” for the transformation, aiming to create “spaces to foster new languages,” involving not only the 450‑person staff but also external production companies.

“There is aesthetic and narrative dispersion across programmes and formats; we need to give a narrative personality, raise quality and promote interaction among producers, rooting the narrative in our fragmented island territory.”

Toledo also announced that he will not engage in partisan “riff‑raff” during his term. He plans to meet television staff on Wednesday and radio staff on Friday to hear their demands, with the goal of approving the collective agreement before Christmas.

He reaffirmed the public nature of news services and praised journalists Marta Cairós and Carolina Pérez, who have taken interim leadership after the resignation of Francisco Luis Quintana.

Opposition Reactions

Nira Fierro (PSOE) – Censuring Government Control

• Described her bloc as “extremely critical” of Toledo’s appointment, insisting he “only has to succeed” in his mandate.
• Warned that RTVC faces a “critical moment” due to the Canary Government’s attempt to control the broadcaster.
• Criticised the Nationalist Group’s “persistent rancor” and lamented the lack of concrete strategic planning.
• Called for shielding the public nature of news services on television and expressed concern over the merger of the two companies.
• Accused regional administrations of reinforcing editorial supervision and politicising public media, limiting their independence.

Melodie Mendoza (ASG) – Emphasising Modernisation

• Stated that the audiovisual subsector is undergoing a “deep transformation” that requires a modern, innovative RTVC.
• Cited new consumption habits, digitalisation, and artificial intelligence as drivers.
• Urged the swift approval of the public radio collective agreement, calling the digital and technological transformation urgent and non‑postponable.
• Demanded greater visibility for all islands and stronger linkage with the archipelago’s audiovisual industry.
• Offered her support provided Toledo’s management upholds public service, editorial independence, and territorial cohesion.

Javier Nieto (Vox) – Fiscal Concerns

• Described RTVC as an economic burden for the autonomous community and called for spending cuts.
• Proposed the creation of a content platform and questioned the neutrality of public media.
• Requested more children’s programming, streaming options, and a study to determine the true cost of acquiring external content.

Carmen Hernández (NC‑bc) – Seeking “Labor Peace”

• Acknowledged she has just over a year in office, limiting the depth of reforms she can implement.
• Set a basic goal of achieving “labor peace” for both television and radio.
• Criticised the regional government for discarding consensus in favour of governmental imposition, noting the lack of attempts to approve a Control Board.
• Accused Toledo of lacking “legitimacy from the people and democracy.”

Carlos Ester (PP) – Defending Public‑Service Values

• Mocked the opposition’s “spirit of democracy,” contrasting it with RTVE’s dependence on the Spanish government.
• Asserted that the Canary Islands “defend values of independence, public service, and quality journalism,” far from the opposition’s conception of television.
• Called for a 21st‑century leap: on‑demand, pluralistic, public‑service TV “for everyone” to be truly useful.
• Encouraged Toledo to care for staff, calling them “the jewel of the house.”

José Alberto Díaz‑Estébanez (CC) – Defending the New Audiovisual Law

• lamented the opposition’s “pre‑emptive attacks” that prevent a fair assessment of Toledo’s management, recalling similar treatment of his predecessor María Méndez.
• Dismissed accusations that the new audiovisual law aims to privatise news services, reaffirming commitments to plurality, identity, unity, truthfulness, calm and normality as guiding principles for the new era.

The article reflects a broad spectrum of political viewpoints on the proposed digital transformation and organisational reforms at RTVC, highlighting both the administrator’s strategic vision and the opposition’s concerns about governance, funding, and public‑service integrity.