Spanish Television and the Democratic Transition: The Political Communication of Change (1976-1979)

Televisión Española (TVE) played a crucial role during the democratic transition. Not only was it the only television station in the country, directly dependent on the state due to its public nature, but it also saw its audience grow during the political shift from the Franco dictatorship to democracy, consequently increasing its influence on public opinion. However, no research had yet been conducted to examine the role of television in political communication within the framework of the Transition strategy. Therefore, this work aims to analyze TVE's role as a key element in the consensus-building process implemented to democratize Spanish politics and society during the period from Adolfo Suárez's rise to the presidency until the second half of 1979, the year in which general and municipal elections were held under the Constitution.