Alberto Lafuente de Pablo, Creative Director for Southern Europe / Marcomms Director Spain at Hearst Networks Southern Europe: "We have evolved while always offering fresh content without grand pretensions"
On March 1st, Cosmo (formerly Cosmopolitan TV) celebrated its 25th anniversary in Spain. The channel was an initiative of Cynthia Hudson during her tenure at Hearst Entertainment (where she served as Senior VP and Editorial Director of Cosmopolitan Television from 1997 to 2005).
As a reflection of the evolution of women, the channel has transformed over the years. Initially, Cosmo’s programming mirrored the content of Cosmopolitan magazine. However, as noted by Alberto Lafuente de Pablo, Creative Director for Southern Europe / Marcomms Director Spain at Hearst Networks Southern Europe, “The channel has evolved just as the world and the perception of women have. Women no longer identify with a traditional magazine cover girl. About six years ago, we transitioned to using the name Cosmo instead of Cosmopolitan.”
Over the past six years, Cosmo has focused on airing series and films featuring strong female protagonists. “Surprisingly, crime series led by women perform best with our audience,” Lafuente commented.
Currently, Cosmo is only available in Spain—although it was once present in Latin America and Canada—and ranks among the top 10 pay-TV channels in the market.
“We were pioneers in launching a female-oriented channel. We have evolved while always offering fresh content without grand pretensions. Being a small channel has allowed us to explore different series and formats, experiment, take risks, make mistakes, and learn from them. This constant experimentation and evolution are what has made us a beloved and appreciated brand,” Lafuente explained.
Cosmo has full distribution across all platforms in Spain. “I believe we reach around eight to ten million households in the country,” he added.
Cosmo curates a selection of international productions, particularly focusing on exclusive European series. Notable examples include:
– Death in Paradise, is an iconic crime drama with 14 seasons on the channel.
– Sisi: Empress of Austria, a lavish historical production centered on a passionate, intelligent, and rebellious woman.
– I Am, is an anthology drama featuring actresses such as Kate Winslet.
For films, the channel blends major studio titles with more independent productions.
Additionally, the lineup includes entertainment programs featuring international stars, such as The Graham Norton Show and Escape to the Chateau.
Lafuente highlighted the channel’s strong commitment to social issues. “We have a well-recognized and appreciated social commitment. We run campaigns against breast cancer and advocate for women’s rights, gender equality, and the fight against sexism and the glass ceiling. One of our most significant initiatives is producing original short films—we’ve created nine so far, seven of which address gender violence,” he explained.
These short films feature prominent Spanish cinema talents. “Our short films have won nearly 70 national and international awards and have been selected for over 300 film festivals worldwide. Four have been nominated for the Goya Award for Best Short Film. They have given us significant prestige as a brand and recognition among clients and platforms,” Lafuente said.
Among them, 17 Minutes with Nora was a 2023 Goya nominee for Best Short Film.
“At Cosmo, we specialize in storytelling, so we felt the best way to support these causes was through original short films. With this initiative, we aim to educate on diversity, equality, and freedom while sparking debate and reflection. We are very proud of these films’ recognition,” Lafuente concluded.
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