CRTC issues directive that Quebecor's plan to arbitrarily cut
off service to Bell customers would breach broadcast
regulations
MONTRÉAL, April 8, 2019 /CNW
Telbec/ - Cable and media company Quebecor, owner of Videotron and
TVA Group, has threatened to deny Bell TV subscribers access to its
TVA Sports channel over a business dispute between the two
companies. In an unprecedented move, Quebecor also issued a series
of misleading statements on its hockey broadcasts and other media
platforms that falsely claimed Bell itself planned to remove access
to TVA Sports, and that also directed Bell TV customers to switch
to Quebecor's cable TV subsidiary Videotron.
Bell requested and the Canadian Radio-television and
Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today issued a directive
requiring Quebecor to continue to provide TVA Sports to Bell TV and
its customers.
"Quebecor's reckless campaign and illegal actions are all about
our negotiations over pricing for its TVA Sports channel and Bell's
Media's RDS sports network," said Martine
Turcotte, Bell's Vice Chair, Québec. "Quebecor actually
wants to charge Bell more to access its TVA Sports channel than
Quebecor/Videotron is willing to pay for RDS. However, the reality
is that RDS is the leading French-language sports network by far,
consistently outpacing TVA Sports in both content and viewership,
and Bell Media will not devalue the clear fan favourite."
In 2018, the latest period for which audience figures are
available, RDS viewership was on average 67% higher than for TVA
Sports.
"Bell will continue to negotiate with Quebecor in good faith as
we always have and we look forward to a fair resolution. Our focus
is always on delivering for the fans, and that's why RDS is #1,"
said Ms. Turcotte.
About Bell
Founded in Montréal in 1880, Bell is
Canada's largest communications company, providing advanced
broadband wireless, Internet, TV, media and other communication
services to consumers and business customers throughout the
country, and a proud partner of the Montreal Canadiens and their
home, the Bell Centre.
The Bell Let's Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health
with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let's
Talk Day and significant Bell funding of community care and access,
research and workplace leadership initiatives across the country.
To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. (TSX. NYSE: BCE). To learn
more, please visit Bell.ca or BCE.ca.
Media inquiries:
Caroline Audet
514 391-9794
caroline.audet@bell.ca
@Bell_News
SOURCE Bell Canada