Brazilian presenter Eliana announced a temporary hiatus for her TV Globo program, Em Família, during the 2026 World Cup. Following a live broadcast on June 7, the show will pause to accommodate tournament coverage, with a scheduled return to the airwaves on July 12 after the games conclude. The hiatus follows a strategic decision by TV Globo’s programming department to prioritize sports coverage, aligning with the network’s long-standing broadcasting rights for major FIFA events.
The announcement came during an emotional live episode where Eliana addressed her viewers directly. As reported by news.google.com, the presenter expressed deep gratitude to her family—specifically mentioning Manu and Arthur—and her production team, noting the privilege of entering the homes of millions of Brazilians every Sunday.
Eliana’s Audience Growth and Planned Format Shifts
Despite the upcoming break, the program is entering its hiatus on a high note. According to O TEMPO, the show has maintained uninterrupted leadership since its debut in March, boasting a consistent 9-point average. The 9-point average, as measured by Kantar IBOPE Media, solidifies the program’s position in the highly competitive Sunday afternoon window. This performance follows Eliana’s high-profile transition from SBT to Globo, a move that reshaped the network’s weekend programming strategy following her debut in March. Eliana highlighted a significant demographic shift, noting that the program has successfully tapped into a new, younger audience and a strong female viewership. This demographic shift has also been a key metric for Globo’s advertising sales teams, who target these segments for high-value brand placements.
However, the presenter is not resting on these metrics. She has signaled that the return in July will not merely be a resumption of the status quo, but rather a period of significant evolution involving new segments and a refreshed format.
“I have never interpreted success as a place of comfort. Em Família is doing very well, but it deserves to renew itself always, just like any variety show. I learned, in my 35-year career, that this restlessness is essential to making open television in Brazil. And I put that into practice in all my projects.”
Eliana, via O TEMPO
Competitive Pressure at SBT
The hiatus occurs against a backdrop of intensifying rivalry in the Brazilian television market. While Globo prepares for the global spectacle of the World Cup, competitors are grappling with their own internal shifts. iG Gente reported that Celso Portiolli and the production teams at SBT are feeling the pressure, with internal perceptions suggesting that Portiolli’s programming may be losing its emotional edge and creative momentum. The competition for Sunday viewership is intensified by the seasonal migration of advertising revenue; during World Cup years, a significant portion of marketing budgets shifts from variety programming to live sports, placing additional pressure on SBT to maintain engagement levels.
This tension is compounded by broader strategic shifts at SBT, including discussions surrounding the future of Rodrigo Bocardi’s afternoon programming and the network’s decision to outsource portions of its journalism. This outsourcing strategy is part of an effort to streamline costs, a move that coincides with the network’s difficulty in reclaiming the vice-leadership position from TV Record. The struggle for this second-place slot is particularly evident in the Sunday afternoon block, where TV Record has maintained a consistent presence throughout the first half of the year.
Critical Reception and the Search for Identity
The success of Em Família has not been without its detractors. While the ratings suggest a win for Globo, some critics argue the program lacks a distinct identity in a crowded weekend lineup. VEJA noted that the show can occasionally lean into a sentimental tone that feels uninspired, comparing its energy unfavorably to Marcos Mion’s Saturday program, Caldeirão, which is seen as having a more engaging rhythm. While Marcos Mion’s Caldeirão utilizes a high-energy, music-and-game-centric structure, Em Família has historically focused on lifestyle and human-interest segments.
The upcoming format changes Eliana has promised may be the network’s answer to these critiques. By introducing new segments and breaking from the current structure, the production aims to move away from the “stale” feeling described by critics and solidify its hold on the Sunday afternoon slot. The goal is to introduce more dynamic segments and varied pacing to bridge the gap between sentimental storytelling and high-energy entertainment.
World Cup Context and Program Timeline
The timing of the hiatus is dictated by the 2026 World Cup, which begins on June 11. The tournament, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will dominate the broadcasting landscape, necessitating the temporary removal of variety programming to make room for live match coverage. The tournament’s expansion to 48 teams will result in a significantly longer broadcast schedule and a higher volume of matches than seen in previous iterations. With venues spread across major metropolitan hubs in North America, the tournament will require a continuous broadcasting presence, prompting Globo to adjust its entire weekend lineup to accommodate the live match windows.
- Program Hiatus: June 2026
- World Cup Kickoff: June 11, 2026
- Scheduled Return: July 12, 2026
- Primary Demographic Gains: Youth and female audiences
Whether the promised “renewal” will satisfy both the surging young audience and the skeptical critics remains to be seen. For now, the focus shifts from the studio to the pitch, as the television industry braces for the massive viewership shifts that only a World Cup can trigger.
