Euphoria: a TV3 hit
Eufòria is a television program that has captivated the Catalan audience. Despite not being the program with the most screen share, it achieved an impressive 17.1% share last Friday. This program is known for being the one that contributes the most to the image of TV3 among the premieres of recent years. While other programs such as Polonia, Joc de cards, APM or Com si fisa yesterday are from the past, Eufória has become a real success in just three years. This program has several noteworthy aspects: it promotes the Catalan language, captivates the new generations, transmits positive values and is a family program, musical and without controversy, except for an accusation of plagiarism made by Josep M. Mainat, creator of Operación Triunfo, against Gestmusic, the Eufòria production company (https://www.softcatala.org/resum-de-textos-en-catala/).
The production of Euphoria
The production company Veranda is in charge of producing Euphoria and receives a payment of 1.9 million euros for the realization of the program for three consecutive months of Friday. In addition, TV3 assumes the technical costs related to the sets and the technical staff. Although this production has a high cost, it is profitable for TV3 and avoids the payment of royalties that Gestmusic wants to claim, since they created Operación Triunfo, a similar talent show with jury and expulsions (https://www.softcatala .org/resum-de-textos-en-catala/).
The controversy with Josep M. Mainat
Josep M. Mainat, ex-member of Gestmusic and creator of Operación Triunfo, has reported Eufòria and TV3 to the courts for an alleged case of plagiarism. Relations between Mainat and the television network are strained, to the point that TV3 did not invite him to the 40-year gala, which deeply displeased Mainat, since La Trinca and Gestmusic have played a key role in the 40 years from TV3. In addition, Mainat has publicly criticized the musical level of Eufòria’s contestants, stating that some of them were excluded from the casting of Operación Triunfo because they were considered bad singers.
Mainat’s accusations
Mainat has accused the production company Veranda of industrial espionage, since it seems that they had access to the list of Catalan candidates who were discarded in the casting of Operación Triunfo and who later participated in Eufòria. This situation has generated a great deal of controversy, since the candidates usually announce their participation in the castings through their social networks. Mainat has revealed the names of the five contestants who were discarded in the casting of Operación Triunfo and who are now the best participants of Eufória. However, Mainat does not criticize the contestants, but the way in which Veranda carried out the casting, considering that they were handpicked.
The future of Euphoria
The case is currently in trial and the judge is expected to decide whether or not there was plagiarism. Meanwhile, Mainat and Nina, ex-members of Gestmusic and Operación Triunfo, continue to criticize Eufòria. Some voices suggest that it would be convenient for the program to rest for a few years in order to find new Catalan talents. It should be noted that the last edition of Operación Triunfo did not have any Catalan contestants, something that had never happened before. According to Mainat, this is due to the lack of talent among Catalan singers, who end up participating in TV3.
