To enhance its global presence in Spanish drama, Mediterráneo Mediaset España Group has secured a license for the first season of the acclaimed period series “La Favorita 1922” to air on HBO Max Latin America.
This partnership marks the inaugural collaboration between both organizations, increasing the series’ sales to 70 countries globally, further establishing its reputation as one of the most successfully distributed Spanish dramas in recent times, aside from major global streaming acquisitions.
Produced by Mediaset España in alliance with Studiocanal-supported Bambú Producciones, “La Favorita 1922” debuted in March on Mediaset’s free channel Telecinco, achieving an impressive 17.1% in audience share — the strongest opening for local fiction since 2022.
In its initial weeks, the series quickly emerged as one of the most viewed titles online in Spain.
With its opulent production quality, poignant narratives, and a powerful female cast, the series has generated significant buzz both domestically and on the international scene.
The creative team includes Ramón Campos (founder of Bambú), Gema R. Neira, Paula Fernández, and Curro Serrano, with executive production led by Josep Cister Rubio. The show features performances from Verónica Sánchez (“The Pier,” “Sky Rojo”), Luis Fernández (“Los Protegidos”), and Raquel Querol.
Set against the backdrop of 1922 Seville and Madrid, the narrative revolves around Marquise Elena de Valmonte, a progressive woman who flees an oppressive marriage to establish a restaurant that transforms into both a haven for independence and a fierce arena for ambition and survival.
Even prior to its local premiere, “La Favorita 1922” ignited strong interest in the market, with Mediterráneo successfully closing pre-sales in more than 20 territories across Europe and the Americas.
Notable buyers include Telecom Argentina’s Flow for Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay; Walter Presents for the U.S. and Canada; along with European platforms such as Proximus in Belgium and Lithuanian National Radio and TV.
This drama signifies the first partnership between Mediaset España and Bambú, the studio known for worldwide successes like “Grand Hotel,” “Velvet,” and Netflix’s inaugural scripted series in Spain, “Cable Girls,” in addition to the widely acclaimed “The Vow,” aired by public broadcaster RTVE.
“La Favorita 1922” was filmed in sets covering over 2,000 square meters and boasts a collection of more than 500 bespoke costumes, exemplifying Bambú’s dedication to meticulous period detail.
Mediterráneo’s Third-party Catalog
To strengthen its international strategy and expand its scripted offerings, Mediterráneo is enriching its third-party catalog with new productions for global distribution.
Following the announcement in April about acquiring “Punto Nemo,” from Prime Video and Portuguese broadcaster RTP, Mediterráneo has recently secured the thriller “Desaparecido” (“Vanished”), produced by Grupo iZen’s Zebra Producciones in collaboration with Pausoka Entertainment for Netflix Spain and Basque broadcaster EiTB’s Primeran. Additionally, they are also in production for “Olivia,” a series created by Studio60 and Womack currently underway.
Conceived by Xabi Zabaleta and Marta Grau, “Desaparecido” has achieved remarkable viewership on Netflix, maintaining a position in the Top 10 most-watched series in Spain for nine weeks, while also becoming the most popular series in the history of Primeran, the Basque streaming service.
