Telecinco taps Carlos Sobera for 'Rueda la letra', the new home of 'El Rosco' after Supreme Court ruling
The Mediaset network announced Friday that veteran host Carlos Sobera will front 'Rueda la letra', a Bulldog TV production that revives the iconic word-game test after a Supreme Court ruling forced Antena 3 to drop it from 'Pasapalabra'.
The legal shake-up
A Supreme Court ruling in late May 2026 recognised MC&F as the owner of the 'El Rosco' format, the word-game test that had closed each episode of 'Pasapalabra' on Antena 3. The decision forced Antena 3 to replace the round with a new test called 'AlaZ', while Mediaset moved quickly to acquire the rights to the original format. The ruling set off a scramble between Spain's two largest commercial broadcasters, with Mediaset determined to bring the popular quiz segment back to its own schedule.
The new programme
On 24 July, Mediaset confirmed that the new show will be called 'Rueda la letra' and is being produced in collaboration with Bulldog TV. The network said production is in its final stages, though no premiere date has been set. The programme is built around the 'El Rosco' test, which will serve as the main and decisive element of each episode. Mediaset described the launch as one of its major premieres for the coming season.
The on-screen and off-screen team
Carlos Sobera, one of Mediaset's most recognisable entertainment presenters, will host 'Rueda la letra'. Sobera has a long track record with game shows and large-scale formats on the network. Behind the cameras, Rafa Guardiola will direct. Guardiola directed 'Pasapalabra' during its more than ten-year run on Telecinco, a period in which the show became one of the most-watched formats on Spanish television. His appointment is intended to bring continuity and deep knowledge of the genre to the new project.
The brand war
Mediaset is fighting on two legal fronts. Through the production company that holds the 'El Rosco' rights, it has filed a lawsuit against Atresmedia, arguing that 'AlaZ' is a copy of the protected test. At the same time, the group is pursuing ownership of the commercial brand 'Pasapalabra'. If that administrative process succeeds, 'Rueda la letra' could eventually adopt the 'Pasapalabra' name. For now, the network is pressing ahead with the new title while the legal disputes continue.
What comes next
With the host and director now in place, Telecinco and Bulldog TV are fine-tuning the final details of 'Rueda la letra'. The programme's launch will mark the return of the 'El Rosco' test to Telecinco after the forced separation from Antena 3's 'Pasapalabra'. The network has not yet disclosed a broadcast date, but the announcement signals that the countdown to the premiere has begun.
