New Spain TV and streaming labels give parents a clearer warning before children press play

Sex, violence, drugs or upsetting scenes will no longer be hidden behind an age badge. Spain’s new rules mean viewers should receive clearer information before choosing what to watch, both on traditional television or a participating streaming service.

New rating rules

Spain’s new content-classification system came into force today, Thursday, September 10, following publication in the BOE. It brings common age ratings and content warnings to television, on-demand services and certain high-profile online video creators.

For English-speaking families, the practical benefit is that now a +12, +16 or +18 symbol should be backed up by a clearer explanation of why a programme has received that rating.

Existing classifications are still in place: TP (Todos los Publicos, suitable for all audiences), +7, +12, +16, +18 and X, the adult-only category. A further label, Especialmente recomendado para la infancia, means “especially recommended for children”.

Broadcasters and participating platforms must now apply common criteria when deciding those ratings. Live television must show the age category clearly on screen and in the electronic programme guide, and on-demand services must include it on a title’s information page and when playback begins.

Series will usually receive one classification for an entire season, based on the episode with the highest age restriction. That should help avoid parents assuming every episode is suitable simply because early installments appeared harmless.

Warnings for sex, violence and drugs

New content descriptors will explain material that may concern families before they settle down to watch. Early reporting on the agreement refers to alerts covering issues including sex, violence, inappropriate or offensive behaviour, addiction-related content and unsuitable language. Government and industry bodies say the system is intended to make viewing choices more informed and to make parental-control tools easier to use. In everyday terms, viewers should be able to see not only that a programme is rated +16, but whether that is due to frightening scenes, explicit language, violence or other mature themes.

What stays outside the labels

News and current-affairs programming does not require a formal age rating, although channels must give verbal warnings if they are about to show footage that may be unsuitable for children. Live sports, music, cultural and political coverage is usually exempt too. Boxing and other combat sports may still need a rating where their nature makes it appropriate.

Programmes containing gratuitous violence or pornography cannot be shown on free-to-air television. On streaming services, that type of material must be kept in catalogues separate from ordinary programming. Other content rated for adults only may be broadcast on television only between 10pm and 6am.

Fines and complaints

Anyone who sees a programme without a rating, or believes it has been rated incorrectly, can submit a complaint under the new Code of Conduct. A monitoring committee will oversee signatories’ commitments and providers can seek advice in advance on how to classify content.

Serious breaches can lead to penalties, including cases where material is classified two or more levels below the appropriate age category. Reports on the code state that base fines can range from €750 to €75,000, depending on the operator’s income.

Older titles already properly rated under the previous system can keep their current labels without the new detailed warnings for now. New releases arriving after the transition period, however, will be expected to carry both the age rating and the explanatory content notices.