A telethon is a fundraising event broadcast on TV. Televisió de Catalunya, popularly known by the acronym TV3 is the public broadcasting network of Catalonia. It broadcasts in the Catalan language. If you are in twitter you maybe read the hashtag #maratóTV3. It was about this annual telethon. This year edition was for cancer research. It featured solicitations for pledges combined with interviews both with doctors and patients as well as variety show style entertainment. There are no similar events in the more than a dozen channels, in Spanish language across the Kingdom of Spain. In fact, the last Telethon in a Spanish TV obtained 1 milion € among 47,000,000 people; the Catalan Telethon obtained yesterday 10,000,000 milion € among 7 milion people.
The Catalan telethon, 'La Marató' lasted for more than fifty hours as usual. The first edition was in 1992 and every year it changes the subject. The 2012 raised 10,113,152 €. It means the highest per capita solidarity event in the world. Some of the events were both against cancer and pro independence as the candle light Catalan freedom flag in Calella (see picture). The 2012 Catalan Telethon beats World record raising 1,35€/inhabitant. Never seen before. One of the arguments of the Spanish nationalists is that Catalonians lack of solidarity... No words.
What is 'La Marató'?
TV3 was the first public television station in Spain to broadcast a telethon, in 1992. While these programmes enjoy a long tradition in the USA and in other European countries, it represented a new challenge at the time for Catalan television. TV3’s work over the years has turned the telethon into an enormous success.
This live television programme is broadcast in December every year and lasts about 15 hours. It is hosted by one or two well-known individuals who, like the rest of the team, put in a true marathon effort. Every year La Marató attracts an audience of more than 3 million viewers, collects an average of 7 million euros, and mobilises so many people that it is regarded as Catalonia's great festival of community spirit and generosity. It is the most successful televised fund-raiser in Spain and ranks among the most prestigious international telethons.
The programme is designed to raise awareness, to inform, and to entertain. During the course of the broadcast the audience is informed about these diseases by personal accounts from individuals suffering from them and from their families, and by doctors and scientists associated with them, with the aid of state-of-the art audiovisual technology. While maintaining its spirit of scientific and ethical rigour, La Marató de TV3 also aims to provide quality entertainment. Participants include well-known individuals from the world of music, theatre, film and sports, who donate their talents just as many other anonymous volunteers donate their time, taking donor pledges or performing other support tasks.
To continue reaching its goals La Marató de TV3, which started out as just a television programme, has grown and developed over the years and now includes spin-offs such as the Disc de La Marató, a DVD collection of music performed during the Telethon, and a book entitled Llibre de La Marató. The Catalan cultural world – artists, writers, record companies, publishers – co-operate in this effort to raise funds and to heighten people’s awareness and knowledge of the disease or diseases under consideration.
Every year the programme’s results reflect TV3’s ability to spark interest in a cause and the willingness of the Catalan public to join together in an expression of generosity. Public reaction can be measured not only by the amount of money raised but also by the number of people and companies that rally to the cause. In addition to their donations, individuals contribute time and energy, both as volunteers and as organisers of the more than 1,000 different events that take place throughout Catalonia in support of La Marató. Companies too offer their services, products and financial donations to raise awareness of these diseases and support research into them.
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