CCMA · 3Cat
Spain · Catalonia · Quick FactsSCState-Controlled, downgraded 20247Governing Council members, two-thirds parliamentary majorityEUR 340.5mContracted contribution for 202629/180Spain, RSF 2026 · 75.42OriginsPredecessor under a 1983 law; Law 11/2007 gave the present name and frameworkStatusPublic-law entity attached to the Generalitat, with functional autonomy provided in lawPresidentRosa Romà i MonfàACN30 per cent stake — an investment, not a CCMA-operated news serviceExecutive bodyManagement Committee, chaired by RomàMedia directorsSigfrid Gras, television · Jordi Borda, radioTelevisionTV3, 3CatInfo, Esport3, SX3 and 33, plus the international TV3CAT. SX3 and 33 share a terrestrial channel at different times of day; the news channel took the 3CatInfo name in September 2025, replacing 3/24. HD transmission does not make TV3 HD an additional editorial serviceRadio and digitalCatalunya Ràdio, Catalunya Música, iCat and the continuous-news 3CatInfo, formerly Catalunya Informació; the 3Cat platform and 3CatInfo's website and appCouncil appointmentElected by the Catalan Parliament by two-thirds majority on proposals from at least three parliamentary groups, after CAC suitability assessment. Parliament elects the President from among the seven, also by two-thirds. Members serve six-year terms, are subject to incompatibility rules and must act independently and without instructionsDirector selectionThe law requires a public selection procedure for directors of the media services. An audit published in 2025 found shortcomings in the criteria and transparency of the 2022 television and radio director selection process; it did not assess whether political authorities directed news coverageAI policyApproved by the Governing Council on 8 April 2026: human editorial judgment and review before AI-created or modified content is published, clear marking of synthetic content, assigned responsibility and an internal responsible-AI commission. It becomes applicable on 8 October 2026, so it was published but not yet applicable at the September cut-offSources: Law 11/2007; CCMA corporate listings; audit published 2025; 3Cat responsible-use AI policy, 8 April 2026; Reporters Without Borders 2026. Classification per the State Media Matrix. Information checked to 30 September 2026.
Typology trajectory — CCMA
Spain · Catalonia · 2022–20262022IP2023IP2024SC2025SC2026SCDowngraded to State-Controlled in 2024 and retained in this review. The strip shows the prior classification as recorded before that change; confirm the pre-2024 label.The editorial evidence17 February 2022The FAPE ethics commission found that TV3's news management had breached its professional code in its treatment of reporter Santiago Torres, who alleged ideological pressure after being moved from documentary work. CCMA disputed his account.March 2025TV3's works council said government-aligned coverage and political pressure remained present at 3Cat, while describing the most egregious situations as less frequent.This evidence supports retaining SC, while distinguishing the earlier adjudicated case from the works council's more recent assessment.CAC measurements, reported separately10.9%PP, largest party share of speaking time, TV3 daily news57.1 : 42.9Governments against parties, political speaking timeJanuary to June 2026. The PP also ranked first on Catalunya Ràdio, and ERC led the count of party interviews on TV3. These are different measures: none captures story selection, tone, the whole schedule or instructions to editors, and they cannot by themselves resolve whether editorial decisions were politically directed.SafeguardsStyle book, professional statute with conscience clause and professional committeesAudience AdvocateLaura Baladas receives audience concernsAdvisory Council16 members, advising on content and programmingExternal scrutinyParliament's control committee and the CAC, which in 2025 asked TV3 to reflect on its Sant Jordi author selection — not a breach of the rulesSources: FAPE ethics commission resolution, 17 February 2022; TV3 works council, March 2025; CAC report, January to June 2026; CAC 2025 finding; CCMA corporate listings. SC = State-Controlled, per the State Media Matrix. Information checked to 30 September 2026.
The Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals (CCMA), operating under the 3Cat identity, is Catalonia’s public broadcasting corporation. Its predecessor was established under a 1983 law; Law 11/2007 gave the corporation its present name and legal framework. It operates television, radio and digital services and reports a 30 per cent holding in the Catalan News Agency (ACN). Rosa Romà i Monfà is President of its Governing Council.
Media assets
Television: TV3, 3CatInfo, Esport3, SX3 and 33, and the international service TV3CAT. SX3 and 33 share a terrestrial channel at different times of day. The television news channel took the 3CatInfo name in September 2025, replacing 3/24. HD transmission does not make TV3 HD an additional editorial service.
Radio: Catalunya Ràdio, Catalunya Música, iCat and the continuous-news station 3CatInfo, formerly Catalunya Informació.
Digital: the 3Cat platform and 3CatInfo’s website and app, alongside other programme and service sites.
News agency interest: a 30 per cent stake in ACN, which should be described as an investment rather than a CCMA-operated news service.
Ownership and governance
CCMA is a public-law entity formally attached to the Generalitat de Catalunya. Law 11/2007 expressly provides for functional autonomy from that administration. Its operating companies are publicly owned through the corporation.
The seven-member Governing Council is elected by the Catalan Parliament by a two-thirds majority, on proposals from at least three parliamentary groups. The Audiovisual Council of Catalonia (CAC) assesses candidates’ suitability before their parliamentary examination. Parliament elects the President from among the seven, also by a two-thirds majority. Council members serve six-year terms, are subject to incompatibility rules, and must act independently and without instructions.
CCMA lists Rosa Romà as President, Àngels Ponsa as Vice-President and Lluís Garriga as member-secretary; Carme Figueras, Lluís Noguera, Gemma Ribas and Josep Riera complete the Council. Its executive coordinating body is the Management Committee (Comitè de Direcció), chaired by Romà. Sigfrid Gras directs television and Jordi Borda directs radio. The published references to Rosa Cullell, Jaume Peral and Saül Gordillo as current executives are removed. CCMA’s current structure does not list a separate director-general.
The law requires a public selection procedure for directors of the media services. An audit published in 2025 found shortcomings in the criteria and transparency of the 2022 television and radio director selection process. That is a material governance finding; the audit did not assess whether political authorities directed news coverage.
Source of funding and budget
CCMA receives most of its funding from the Generalitat and also earns commercial income. Its 2024 to 2027 programme contract provides for the following contributions through the Department of the Presidency. These amounts are contract commitments, not CCMA’s total budgets or its audited receipts in each year.
CCMA programme contract, 2024 to 2027
Contributions through the Department of the Presidency. Contract commitments, not total budgets or audited receipts.| Year | Contracted contribution |
|---|---|
| 2024 | EUR 330,502,000 |
| 2025 | EUR 335,502,000 |
| 2026 | EUR 340,502,000 |
| 2027 | EUR 340,502,000 |
| Total | EUR 1,347,008,000 |
Sources: CCMA programme contract 2024 to 2027; CCMA published accounts; Sindicatura de Comptes Report 2/2025. Information checked to 30 September 2026.
The Sindicatura de Comptes’ Report 2/2025 audited procurement and personnel expenditure for 2021 and 2022. Among its findings were deficiencies in procurement, management recruitment and the recording of public transfers.
Editorial independence
CCMA’s published style book sets editorial and professional standards. Its professional statute provides for journalists’ rights, including the conscience clause, and establishes professional committees. The Audience Advocate, currently Laura Baladas, receives audience concerns; a 16-member Content and Programming Advisory Council advises on content and programming. Parliament’s control committee and the CAC provide external scrutiny. These safeguards should be assessed in practice as well as described in law.
There is a documented editorial dispute. In a resolution dated 17 February 2022, the journalism ethics commission concluded that TV3’s news management had breached its professional code in its treatment of reporter Santiago Torres, who alleged ideological pressure after being moved from documentary work. CCMA disputed his account.
In March 2025, TV3’s works council said that government-aligned coverage and political pressure remained present at 3Cat, while also saying that the most egregious situations had become less frequent.
Recent CAC findings are available. In its report covering January to June 2026, the regulator found that the PP received the largest share of party speaking time in TV3’s daily news, at 10.9 per cent; it also ranked first on Catalunya Ràdio. Across TV3’s measured news, representatives of governments collectively received 57.1 per cent of political speaking time, compared with 42.9 per cent for parties. The CAC reported that ERC led the count of party interviews on TV3.
The CAC has also raised specific content concerns with CCMA. In 2025 it asked TV3 to reflect on its selection of authors interviewed around Sant Jordi, noting the proportion with professional links to CCMA; it said the practice identified was not a breach of the rules. This illustrates active scrutiny.
AI and digital policy
3Cat publishes a responsible-use AI policy, approved by its Governing Council on 8 April 2026. It requires human editorial judgment and review before AI-created or modified content is published, calls for synthetic content to be clearly marked, assigns responsibility for published material and provides for an internal responsible-AI commission. The policy states that it becomes applicable six months after approval, on 8 October 2026.
Classification rationale
CCMA remains classified State-Controlled (SC), following its 2024 downgrade.
It is principally funded by the Generalitat de Catalunya, while the Catalan Parliament elects its Governing Council and President. Statutory independence requirements and external oversight by the Audiovisual Council of Catalonia provide safeguards.
The editorial assessment rests on documented interference as well as these institutional arrangements. The FAPE ethics commission found that TV3 news management had sidelined a journalist for ideological reasons. TV3’s works council reported in 2025 that government-aligned coverage and political pressure persisted, although it described the most egregious episodes as less frequent. This evidence supports retaining SC while distinguishing the earlier adjudicated case from the works council’s more recent assessment.
September 2026