TV ads in Spain
What advertising on Spanish television looks like, how it has changed over the decades and where to watch the ads people remember.
What TV ads are
TV ads (also called spots or commercials) are short audiovisual pieces that a brand or an institution pays to air between programmes. They usually last 10 to 60 seconds and combine pictures, music and a closing message: the slogan.
In Spain, regular television began in 1956 and for more than three decades advertising ran on a handful of public channels. From 1989 and 1990, private channels arrived and the number of ads multiplied. That is why many of the best-remembered ads come from the 1980s and 1990s: almost the whole country watched them at the same time.
Where to watch Spanish TV ads
This site gathers Spanish TV ads published on video platforms and sorts them so they are easy to find:
- By decade: 1980s ads, 1990s, 2000s and also earlier and later decades.
- By brand: the brand index lists every ad of a brand.
- By theme: food, drinks, toys, cars, Christmas, songs and jingles, public-interest campaigns…
- By channel: ads aired on TVE, Antena 3, Telecinco and others.
Each page includes the video with its original title and description, the year when known and brand details. To look for a specific ad, use the ad search.
How TV advertising has changed
- Few channels, shared audiences. Until 1989 television advertising was concentrated on public television, so one ad could be seen by almost everyone at once.
- More channels, more formats. Private channels brought new campaigns, longer ad breaks and higher-budget spots.
- No commercial advertising on TVE. Since 1 January 2010 the state public broadcaster stopped airing commercial advertising, and brands concentrated on private channels.
- From analogue switch-off to the internet. Analogue television was switched off in Spain on 3 April 2010. Since then many campaigns also premiere or circulate on video platforms.
Types of ads you will see
The guide to advertising in Spain explains the formats with examples: classic spot, programme sponsorship, infomercial and public-interest campaigns. On the site they are tagged as social campaigns and songs and jingles.
About video rights
Ads belong to the brands or agencies that created them. We host no videos: they are embedded from the platform that publishes them. If you are a rights holder and want a page removed, see the legal notice.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I watch old Spanish TV ads?
Here, sorted by decade (1960s to 2000s), brand, channel and theme. Videos play from YouTube, Dailymotion, Vimeo or the Internet Archive.
How do I find an ad if I only remember the song or slogan?
Use the search box with a word from the slogan or lyrics. If it does not show up, open the decade you saw it in and the product theme: food, drinks, toys, cars, and so on.
What is the difference between ad, spot and commercial?
They are different names for the same thing: a short audiovisual advertising piece. “Spot” is the industry term; in Spain people say “anuncio”.
Why can some ads not be played here?
Videos are hosted by the original platform. If the owner removes them or blocks playback elsewhere, the page links to the platform or says the video is no longer available.