Iker Jiménez defends Horizonte coverage after clash over pixelated landlord interview

The dispute over the Madrid eviction

The Spanish television dispute surrounding the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen in Madrid expanded this week following a broadcast on Cuatro's program Horizonte. Maricarmen had lived in her apartment for more than seven decades before her eviction generated nationwide protests. An agreement in principle was subsequently reached to allow the octogenarian to return to the residence. The confrontation between rival television programs escalated after Horizonte, hosted by Iker Jiménez and Carmen Porter, questioned reporting by El Intermedio journalist Andrea Ropero, who had broadcast from inside the home during the eviction. In response to the ongoing coverage, Horizonte invited Urbagestión co-owner Ricardo Alonso onto the set on Tuesday night to present the property firm's perspective.

Concealed broadcast and industry backlash

During Tuesday's broadcast, Ricardo Alonso appeared with his face pixelated, stating that he and his business partner had received continuous threats and required protection. Presenter Iker Jiménez defended the decision to obscure Alonso's image on air, describing him as a Spanish businessman targeted by concentrated activism.

That shot is by necessity, because a guest who is here, Mr. Ricardo, one of the partners in Urbagestión, that company on everyone's lips, turns out cannot show his face. He is here bravely. Spain 2026. As far as I know, he is not a terrorist, he is not a jihadist, he is not someone throwing Molotov cocktails, attacking women.

OKDiario director Eduardo Inda backed the framing during the panel discussion, drawing comparisons to witnesses needing concealed identities in Mexico, Venezuela, Russia, and North Korea. Alonso subsequently referred to Urbagestión on air as a small or medium enterprise.

Rival presenters respond to the coverage

The interview prompted immediate reaction from competing television hosts on social media. Jordi Évole criticized the segment on social platforms, questioning why the program centered its coverage on the landlord rather than the evicted tenant.

Finally a program giving voice to the real victims of the housing problem. Those who evict. Not the evicted. Let us see if we finally understand the truth. Thank you for opening Spain's eyes.

Manu Sánchez, presenter of El perro andaluz on RTVE, echoed the criticism, joining several Atresmedia figures who had previously challenged the program. The dispute had begun the prior week when Atresmedia news director César González Antón, El Intermedio host El Gran Wyoming, and presenter Iñaki López rejected insinuations made on Horizonte that Maricarmen had received compensation to allow cameras into her home during the eviction.

Audience numbers and host defence

Following the broadcast, Iker Jiménez addressed the controversy on social media, asserting that the production team would continue its reporting approach without yielding to industry pressure. He noted that the program retained strong viewer engagement despite television competition.

We do not accept being force-fed lies and we do not care at all. We do not submit to the structures and batons that have dominated everything for years and decades.

On Tuesday night, Horizonte dropped 3.1 rating points compared to the previous Tuesday and lost 232,000 viewers, competing against a live match featuring the Spanish national football team. Jiménez stated on social media that the production team remained grateful to its audience and indicated that further coverage on the case would follow in subsequent broadcasts.