RTVE Play: free viewing, favourites, downloads and Play+

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Start with the RTVE product you mean

RTVE Play is the free live and on-demand platform that succeeded A la Carta. RTVEplay+ is the separately named premium offer. A viewer searching a Spanish programme should first establish which product and programme page they have opened, rather than treating the plus sign as an incidental spelling difference.

The free platform brings scheduled channels and chosen programmes into one destination. A live selection and an on-demand episode need different controls. The presence of a programme in a current schedule does not by itself establish a complete replay or a permanent downloadable version.

Use the optional account for personal functions

RTVE’s current FAQ describes access without registration and an optional free account. The account adds functions such as continuing on another device and keeping favourite programmes. Creating that account is not the same transaction as subscribing to the premium Plus service.

When a saved item is missing on a second device, compare the actual sign-in rather than changing the network. Make sure the item was added to the intended account and whether you saved an individual video or the broader programme. Those choices can lead to different things appearing in a list.

A favourite and a downloaded video are separate

RTVE Play’s app distinguishes favourites, unfinished videos and downloads. Saving a favourite retains a reference; using the available download action stores a supported programme for offline viewing. The menu location and available options should be read on the actual mobile app.

Before relying on offline viewing, choose the intended episode, use its download option if offered and inspect the Downloads area. A series in a favourite list is not evidence that every episode is already on the device. Keep storage and offline playback checks separate from a successful live stream on the television.

Premium and regional rights need their own details

The Plus help describes a separate subscription and excludes material for which the required rights are not available in the region. A premium account should therefore not be presented as a universal worldwide Spanish catalogue.

If you are comparing free Play with Play+, use the exact programme and account product. A payment question belongs to the premium purchasing route, while an ordinary account-personalisation question belongs to that platform’s account controls. Keeping the product names intact prevents a straightforward sign-in problem from becoming an accidental second subscription.

Questions answered

Did RTVE Play replace A la Carta?

Yes. RTVE dates the transition to June 2021.

Is RTVEplay+ simply another spelling of the free service?

No. It is described as a separate premium offer.

Sources & further reading

Official references for the subjects discussed. Service terms and device software can change.