‘Veneno’, ‘Cardo’ producer Atresplayer Premium is preparing documentary series about Marbella

Atresplayer Premium, the pay-tv platform of the media conglomerate Atresmedia Group, is strengthening its profile as a Spanish reference point not only for TV dramas but also for documentaries, preparing the documentary series “Érase una vez en Marbella” (Once upon a time in Marbella).

Produced by Atresmedia TV in collaboration with Seville-based company Happy Ending (“Pongamos que hablo de…”), the 50-minute, four-episode series delves into real-life stories that have had a profound impact on the city of Marbella on the southern Andalusian coast , as a common element.

The documentary explains how in just a few years, since the 1950s, Marbella has transformed from a fishing village in the province of Málaga into one of the most glamorous leisure centers for the global jet set.

“Once upon a time in Marbella” will describe various events and characters linked in one way or another to the city of the Costa del Sol and its universe.

Among the stories it will address are those of Princess Diana, famously photographed shirtless by paparazzi; the inauguration of a new nightclub by the French businesswoman Olivia Valère, that of the young German-Spanish nobleman and real estate developer Alfonso von Hohenlohe and his dream of building the most important hotel in the world, the Marbella Club.

The project, which is expected to premiere in the second half of 2023, confirms Atresplayer Premium’s goal of becoming a major player in documentary film production once it has consolidated its position as a major platform for Spanish TV fiction.

In 2022, the pay-TV platform celebrated the premiere of “Los Borbones: una familia real”, the first documentary series about the Spanish royal family, which attracted a great deal of media attention. It also launched “Pajares y cía”, a journey through recent Spanish history, from the democratic transition to the present, through humor.

For 2023, Atresplayer Premium plans to release the true crime series No se lo digas a nadie, formerly known as Besos Marvin, about the 2016 murder of an entire Brazilian family in the municipality of Pioz, Guadalajara, by a youth was committed man.

Other non-fiction formats broadcast by Atresplayer include “Salvados” and “Lo de Évole” which airs on the Atresmedia free-to-air channel La Sexta.

The burgeoning OTT service, which has grown rapidly since its launch in 2019, has established itself as the platform that bows to most Spanish TV fiction, with about 20 national titles a year, both originals and series that only exist on of the platform in Spain – as well as record titles originating from its broadcast network Atresmedia. It currently has around 45 series in various stages of production or development.

In recent years, it has been the platform that has released standout TV dramas such as the HBO Max hit “Veneno” and “Cardo” sold to TelevisaUnivision’s ViX, both series produced by Buendía Estudios in association with Los Javis by Suma Content were produced.

Other successful titles on Atresplayer Premium include Alba, a Boomerang TV adaptation of the Turkish hit Fatmagul, La cocinera de Castamar, which was acquired by Netflix, and Paco Cabezas’ crime novel, La novia gitana, which co-wrote VIS was produced by Banijay Diagonal TV.

In November, the platform “La Ruta”, a production by Caballo Films, will premiere and plans to launch other TV fiction series such as “Los Protegidos: adn”, “UPA Next”, “Las Noches de Tefía”, “Déjate ver ‘, ‘Zorras’, ‘Red Flags’ and ‘Camilo Superstar’.