Strengthening the global footprint of Spanish drama, Mediterráneo Mediaset España Group has licensed the first season of hit period series “La Favorita 1922” to HBO Max Latin America.

The deal marks the first collaboration between both companies and brings the series’ total sales to 70 territories worldwide, consolidating its status as one of the most widely sold Spanish dramas in recent years, outside streamer global pickups.

Produced by Mediaset España in collaboration with Studiocanal-backed Bambú Producciones, “La Favorita 1922” premiered in March on Mediaset’s free-to-air network Telecinco with a standout 17.1% audience share — the best launch for a local fiction since 2022. 

It quickly became one of the most-streamed titles in Spain during its early weeks online.

Blending lavish production values, emotional storytelling and a strong female ensemble, the series has fuelled strong word of mouth both domestically and internationally. 

Created by Bambú founder Ramón Campos, Gema R. Neira, Paula Fernández and Curro Serrano, with executive production by Josep Cister Rubio, “La Favorita 1922” stars Verónica Sánchez (“The Pier,” “Sky Rojo”), Luis Fernández (“Los Protegidos”) and Raquel Querol.

Set between Seville and Madrid in 1922, the drama centers on Marquise Elena de Valmonte, a woman ahead of her time who escapes an oppressive marriage to open a restaurant that becomes both a sanctuary of independence and a battleground of ambition and survival.

Even before its domestic debut, “La Favorita 1922” sparked strong market demand, with Mediterráneo securing pre-sales in over 20 territories across Europe and the Americas. 

Buyers included Telecom Argentina’s Flow for Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay; Walter Presents for the U.S. and Canada; and  European outlets such as Proximus in Belgium and Lithuanian National Radio and TV.

The drama represents the first collaboration between Mediaset España and Bambú, the producer behind global hits such as “Grand Hotel,” “Velvet” and Netflix’s first scripted series in Spain, “Cable Girls,” and audience and sales hit “The Vow,” aired by public broadcaster RTVE.

“La Favorita 1922” shot on sets covering more than 2,000 square meters and featured over 500 handcrafted costumes, highlighting Bambú’s hallmark meticulous period craftsmanship. 

Mediterráneo’s Third-party catalog

Reinforcing its international strategy of diversifying its scripted slate, Mediterráneo is also expanding its third-party catalog with new titles for global distribution.

After announcing in April the pickup of “Punto Nemo,” from Prime Video and Portuguese pubcaster RTP, Mediterráneo has recently picked up thriller “Desaparecido” (“Vanished”), a production by Grupo iZen’s Zebra Producciones with Pausoka Entertainment for Netflix Spain and Basque broadcaster EiTB’s Primeran, plus “Olivia,” a series produced by Studio60 and Womack, currently shooting.

Created by Xabi Zabaleta and Marta Grau, “Desaparecido” has scored a huge viewership both on Netflix, where it remained in its Top 10 of most-watched series in Spain for nine weeks, and on Primeran, becoming the most-watched series in the Basque streamer’s history.