Videotron registered continued growth in the second quarter of 2009
for all its services, i.e., cable television, Internet access,
cable telephone service and wireless telephone service. The results
again confirm Videotron's leadership position, founded on its wide
selection of entertainment offerings and technologically innovative
products.
"We are pleased to have achieved our targets for the period,"
said Robert Depatie, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Videotron. "We have now recorded growth for all our products for 16
consecutive quarters. Our constant efforts to deliver the best
possible customer experience continue to bear fruit. Although
customer satisfaction with Videotron's products and services is
holding high at 96%, we plan to further enhance our customer
service. For example, Videotron has announced the opening of a new
$35-million-plus Customer Contact Centre in the Lanaudiere region,
representing 271 new permanent jobs."
CABLE TELEVISION
The customer base for Videotron's basic cable television service
increased by 3,453 during the second quarter to 1,732,621 as of
June 30, 2009, including 990,308 customers for illico Digital TV.
The popularity of Videotron's digital service, which grew its
customer base by 27,155 during the period, is being driven by its
many advantages, including flexibility, choice and the quality of
the available entertainment content. The proportion of Videotron
cable television customers who subscribe to the digital service
stood at 57% at the end of the second quarter of 2009, compared
with 50% at the same point last year.
Videotron's signature offerings include a video on demand
service with a catalogue of more than 3,500 titles, the largest
selection of French-language HD channels, and a custom channel
package option.
INTERNET
Videotron is the largest provider of high-speed Internet access
service in Quebec with 1,109,900 residential and business
subscribers at the end of the second quarter of 2009, an increase
of 20,649 during the quarter.
Videotron is continuing the roll-out of its Ultimate Speed
Internet 30 and 50 services, which deliver better value for
customers with speeds of 30 mbps and 50 mbps, the fastest in
Quebec. Since July, Ultimate Speed Internet 30 and 50 have been
available to approximately 300,000 Montreal West Island households
and businesses and 50,000 new potential customers in Laval,
completing the Laval roll-out.
CABLE TELEPHONE SERVICE
The cable telephone service registered the strongest quarterly
growth of all Videotron products with an increase of 43,919
residential and business lines, bringing the total to 934,837 as of
June 30, 2009.
The addition of cable telephone service to Videotron's product
line has helped propel the growing popularity of Videotron's
attractive multiproduct packages, also supported by Videotron's
superior, robust network and high-quality customer service. As of
June 30, 2009, 67% of Videotron customers were subscribed to two or
more services, compared with 61% at the same time last year.
WIRELESS TELEPHONE SERVICE
The number of activated business and residential lines on
Videotron's wireless telephone service increased by 5,468 during
the quarter, outpacing the growth recorded in the same quarter of
2008 and bringing total activated lines to 73,483.
WIRELESS NETWORK
The Company is continuing the build-out of its wireless network,
which will be one of the most advanced in the world. Videotron
plans to invest up to $1 billion in this major project over the
next four years. Videotron has reached roaming agreements with
wireless providers Rogers Communications Inc. ("Rogers") and
T-Mobile USA, Inc., enabling it to provide future customers with
advanced wireless services throughout the two providers' service
areas in Canada and the U.S.
The Company has also reached tower-sharing agreements with
Rogers and Bell Mobility for a number of sites in Quebec and the
Ottawa area, allowing Videotron to build out its network at
anticipated cost.
"The Company welcomes these new partnerships, which will equip
us to offer our future customers wireless services across Canada
and the U.S.," said Robert Depatie. "The tower-sharing agreements
will benefit both Videotron and the general public by limiting the
proliferation of new sites."
SPREADING CULTURE
Sponsor of Just for Laughs and FrancoFolies festivals
Videotron supports the Just for Laughs / Juste pour rire and
FrancoFolies festivals and broadcasts their content on all its
platforms, providing Francophone performers with greater visibility
and giving customers who cannot go to the festival sites an
opportunity to enjoy performances and concert excerpts.
As the main sponsor and presenter of Just for Laughs / Juste
pour rire, Videotron is offering an impressive list of more than 50
comedy shows, events and programs on all its platforms.
Videotron is also supporting the FrancoFolies de Montreal and
its performers for another two years, up to 2011. By continuing the
partnership, Videotron is helping to bring the FrancoFolies to an
ever wider audience and promoting cultural development.
Videotron Ltd. (www.videotron.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of
Quebecor Media Inc., is an integrated communications company
engaged in cable television, interactive multimedia development,
Internet access services, cable telephony and wireless telephone
service. Videotron is a leader in new technologies with its illico
interactive television system and its broadband network, which
supports high-speed cable Internet access, analog and digital cable
television, and other services. As of June 30, 2009, Videotron was
serving 1,732,621 cable television customers in Quebec, including
990,308 illico Digital TV subscribers. Videotron is the Quebec
leader in high-speed Internet access, with 1,109,900 subscribers to
its cable modem service as of June 30, 2009. As of the same date,
Videotron had activated 73,483 lines on its wireless telephone
service and was providing cable telephone service to 934,837 Quebec
households and organizations. For the fourth consecutive year,
Videotron has been named Quebec's most respected telecommunications
company by Commerce magazine, based on a Leger Marketing
survey.
Contacts: Media contact only: Eve Lacasse Specialist, Media and
Analysts Corporate Communications 514-380-7772 Mobile:
514-516-7772
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