Television in Quebec

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Television in Quebec is a part of the culture of Quebec, with over 99% of households owning a television in Quebec. Long a preferred medium of many of Quebec's actors, artists, and writers, television has been one of the important forces in Quebec society, including its substantial influence in a series of dramatic changes in the 1960s: the Quiet Revolution.

Contents

Types of television

Although broadcast in French, la télévision québécoise has little relationship to television in France. It is similar to television in the United States: A 30-minute programming grid, commercials, local stations, and a division between broadcast television formed around networks of stations—which is freely available to anyone with a TV within their broadcast area—and cable television channels that require a subscription.

Broadcast television

The four major broadcast television networks in Quebec are Ici Radio-Canada Télé, TVA, Noovo and Télé-Québec. Some local advertising is aired and stations produce local newscasts, but all four networks otherwise air virtually identical schedules throughout Quebec, with the network signals being essentially the output of their Montreal flagships. Local stations affiliated with the networks are located in each of the 10 television markets of Quebec: Montreal, Quebec City, Gatineau–Ottawa, Sherbrooke, Saguenay, Trois-Rivières, Rivière-du-Loup, Rimouski, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, and Carleton-sur-Mer.

TVA is by far the most watched network: in fall 2006, it held 28% of the Quebec francophone primetime television audience, compared to Radio-Canada's 19% and Noovo's 14%. [1]

Given the predominantly French-speaking population, only CBC, the English-language television service (CBMT-DT) funded by the government of Canada, is available over the air throughout the province. Montreal has local owned-and-operated stations of CTV (CFCF-DT), Global (CKMI-DT), and Citytv (CJNT-DT), Canada's three main English-language networks, while Gatineau receives all three networks as part of the Ottawa media market; Global is also available over-the-air in Quebec City and Sherbrooke through rebroadcasters of the Montreal station.

Cable television

Quebec has the lowest cable television-satellite television penetration rates in Canada, with 85.7% of Quebecers having cable television, as of 2006. [2]

Vidéotron and Cogeco are the largest cable companies in Quebec, although a large number of independent cable companies exist. These compete against satellite companies Bell Satellite TV and Shaw Direct, as well as Bell's IPTV service Bell Fibe TV.

The industry

There are two primary television seasons of approximately 13 weeks each with the first being a fall season running from the beginning of September to December and, then, a winter season running from January to April. It is during these two periods that the majority of new domestic series air.

Nearly all Quebecois television outlets are owned by six companies: the federally owned Société Radio-Canada, the provincially owned Société de télédiffusion du Québec, and private companies Groupe TVA, Corus Entertainment, Rogers Sports & Media, and Bell Media. These companies produce programming themselves or, more commonly, by independent producers. Tax breaks provided to independent producers have increased their workload, although the two largest networks produce a large amount of programming themselves.

Television production is centred in Montreal, where Radio-Canada and TVA have their large studio complexes and where most other independent studio facilities exist. A small amount of national programming is produced in Quebec City, in accordance with the licenses of the broadcast networks.

The French-language television industry in Canada uses much more original, domestic productions than English-language outlets. As the French-language stations did not compete with U.S. stations, and viewers were relatively uninterested in dubs of U.S. imports, there was a larger incentive to invest in original dramas and entertainment programming catered towards the captive Quebecois audience. As of 2003 the top ten shows were written and created by Quebecers. The Quebec television industry produced two and one half times more TV series per capita than American networks, and domestic dramas were four times as profitable as American imports. [3]

Because of the large domestic industry, Quebecois television has been described as having an insular "star system" that favours local talent. Personalities may frequently appear across different programs, and an extensive network of local celebrity news outlets cover them. [3] Montreal Gazette media writer Steve Faguy found that there were at least 40 different Quebecois programs with formats dependent on celebrity guests (either as a participant or interview subject). In April 2016, during an interview on Radio-Canada's Tout le monde en parle , Quebecois musician Pierre Lapointe criticized the lack of diversity in the personalities seen on Quebecois television, which he described as a "culture of emptiness". Lapointe explained that "I'm sick of always seeing the same faces, and I'm one of those faces." The episode aired against the 2016 Artis Awards on TVA, which featured many of the same nominees and winners as the previous year's edition. [4]

History

Television began in Quebec (and in Canada) on September 6, 1952, with the launch of CBFT in Montreal, the first station in what would become Radio-Canada's television network. Borrowing the technical standards and frequency plan from television in the United States, the station broadcast on the lowest channel, channel 2. Though initially bilingual, carrying programming from sister broadcaster CBC as well, the network would hold a monopoly on French-language television during all of the 1950s.

This "golden age" would end with a producers' strike at Radio-Canada in December 1958. The strike would lead one popular television host, René Lévesque, to launch a career in politics, one that would lead him to found the Parti Québécois and, later, nine-years as the Premier of Quebec.

In 1961, Télé-Métropole in Montreal signed on the air with decidedly populist programming. Known as le 10 for its channel number, it was first private French-language television broadcaster, the station would become the backbone of what is now the largest and highest-rated network in Quebec. In 1971, the network was formalized and given a name: TVA. By the early 1980s, its broadcast coverage reached nearly the entire province.

Colour began to be introduced in the 1960s, and by the end of the decade, unique cable television programming began with the introduction of télévision communautaire, the community channel.

Radio-Québec, now Télé-Québec, began in 1972, creating a third network, focusing on cultural and educational programming; first, its programming only appeared on cable, three years later, it began broadcasting as Montreal's first UHF station.

In the following years, additional Quebec cable networks appeared: TVSQ, covering sports, and surpassed in 1988 by RDS; TVJQ, with children's programming, later becoming Le Canal Famille, and now VRAK.TV; the TEQ, carrying an assortment of ethic programming, and now CJNT-TV; and TVFQ-99 (now TV5 Québec Canada).

In 1986, Télévision Quatre-Saisons, later V, now Noovo, launched as the newest television network, and the first to be distributed by satellite. With stations in Montreal and Quebec City, its reach was extended with partnerships with Radio-Canada affiliates elsewhere in the province, creating what is known as a twinstick.

At the same time, expansion of the number of cable channels continued: MusiquePlus (now Elle Fictions) in 1986; MétéoMédia in 1987; Réseau de l'information (now ICI RDI) and Canal D in 1995; MusiMax (now simply known as Max), Canal Vie, Télétoon, and Le Canal Nouvelles in 1997; Évasion, Historia, Séries+ (now SériesPlus) and Canal Z (later renamed as Ztélé; now simply known as Z), in 2000; and ARTV (now Ici ARTV) in 2001.

In the middle of the decade, as the growth of digital cable expanded, digital-only cable channels began to appear; today they include such channels as AddikTV, Argent, CASA, Cinépop, MOI ET CIE, Prise 2, RDS2, RDS Info, Télétoon Rétro, TVA Sports and Natyf TV.

See also

Related Research Articles

Noovo is a Canadian French-language terrestrial television network owned by the Bell Media subsidiary of BCE Inc. The network has five owned-and-operated and three affiliated stations throughout Quebec. It can also be seen over-the-air in some bordering markets in the provinces of Ontario and New Brunswick, and in some other parts of Canada on cable television or direct broadcast satellite.

TVA is a Canadian French-language terrestrial television network, owned by Groupe TVA, a publicly traded subsidiary of Quebecor Media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Télé-Québec</span> Provincial public broadcaster in Quebec

The Société de télédiffusion du Québec, branded as Télé-Québec, is a Canadian French-language public educational television network in the province of Quebec. It is a provincial Crown corporation owned by the Government of Quebec. The network's main studios and headquarters are located at the corner of de Lorimier Street and East René Lévesque Boulevard in Montreal.

CFCF-DT is a television station in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, part of the CTV Television Network. It is owned and operated by network parent Bell Media alongside Noovo flagship CFJP-DT. Both stations share studios at the Bell Media building, at the intersection of Avenue Papineau and Boulevard René-Lévesque Est in downtown Montreal, while CFCF-DT's transmitter is located atop Mount Royal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CHOT-DT</span> TVA affiliate in Gatineau, Quebec

CHOT-DT, branded on-air as TVA Gatineau–Ottawa, is a television station in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, serving the National Capital Region as an affiliate of TVA. The station is owned by RNC Media, as part of a twinstick with Noovo affiliate CFGS-DT. The two stations share studios on Rue Jean Proulx and Rue Buteau in the former city of Hull; CHOT-DT's transmitter is located at Camp Fortune in Chelsea, Quebec. This station can also be seen on Vidéotron channel 4 and in high definition channel 604 in Gatineau, and on Rogers Cable on channel 10 and digital channel 610 and in high definition on digital channel 611 in Ottawa.

CBOFT-DT is an Ici Radio-Canada Télé station in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, serving the National Capital Region. It is part of a twinstick with CBC Television station CBOT-DT. Both stations share studios at the CBC Ottawa Broadcast Centre on Queen Street in Downtown Ottawa, alongside the main corporate offices of the CBC; CBOFT-DT's transmitter is located on the Ryan Tower at Camp Fortune in Chelsea, Quebec, north of Gatineau.

CBFT-DT is a television station in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, serving as the flagship station of the French-language service of Ici Radio-Canada Télé. It is owned and operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation alongside CBC Television outlet CBMT-DT. Both stations share studios at Maison Radio-Canada on René Lévesque Boulevard East in Downtown Montreal, while CBFT-DT's transmitter is located atop Mount Royal.

CBVT-DT, virtual channel 11.1, branded on-air as ICI Québec, is an Ici Radio-Canada Télé owned-and-operated station licensed to Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The station is owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. CBVT-DT's studios are located on Rue Saint-Jean and Aut Dufferin Montmorency in the Quebec City borough of La Cité-Limoilou, and its transmitter is located on Avenue de la Montagne/Dumont Belair Ouest in Val-Bélair. On cable, the station is available on Vidéotron channel 2 and in high definition on digital channel 602. On satellite, it is carried on Bell Satellite TV channel 111 and in high definition on channel 1813.

CFTM-DT is a television station in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, serving as the flagship of the French-language TVA network. Owned by Groupe TVA, the station has studios on Boulevard de Maisonneuve East and Rue Alexandre de Sève in the Ville-Marie borough of Montreal, and its transmitter is located on Voie Camillien Houde.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CJNT-DT</span> Citytv station in Montreal

CJNT-DT is a television station in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, part of the Citytv network. Owned and operated by network parent Rogers Sports & Media, the station maintains studios inside the Rogers Building at the corner of McGill College Avenue and Cathcart Street near the Place Ville Marie complex in downtown Montreal, and its transmitter is located at Mount Royal Park, near downtown Montreal.

CHLT-DT, virtual and VHF digital channel 7, is a TVA owned-and-operated television station licensed to Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. The station is owned by the Groupe TVA subsidiary of Quebecor Media. CHLT-DT's studios are located on Rue King Ouest in Sherbrooke, and its transmitter is located in Orford. This station can also be seen on Vidéotron channel 4 and in high definition on digital channel 604.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Television in Canada</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">ICI Radio-Canada Télé</span> Canadian French-language public TV network

ICI Radio-Canada Télé is a Canadian French-language free-to-air television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster. Its English-language counterpart is CBC Television.

CKSH-DT, virtual and VHF digital channel 9, branded on-air as ICI Estrie, is an Ici Radio-Canada Télé owned-and-operated station licensed to Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada and serving the Estrie region. The station is owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. CKSH-DT's studios are located on Rue King Ouest in Sherbrooke, and its transmitter is located in Orford. On cable, the station is available on Vidéotron channel 10 and in high definition on digital channel 602. On satellite, it is carried on Bell Satellite TV channel 108 and in high definition on channel 1820.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CKRN-DT</span> Defunct TV station in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec

CKRN-DT was a privately owned Ici Radio-Canada Télé-affiliated television station licensed to Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, Canada, which essentially functioned as a semi-satellite of Montreal Radio-Canada flagship station CBFT-DT due to not having alternative non-network sources of programming available. It broadcast a digital signal on VHF channel 9 from a transmitter near Chemin Powell in Rouyn-Noranda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CKRT-DT</span> Defunct Ici Radio-Canada Télé affiliate in Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec

CKRT-DT, virtual and VHF digital channel 7, was an Ici Radio-Canada Télé-affiliated station licensed to Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec, Canada. Owned by the Simard family and their company, Télé Inter-Rives, it was sister to Noovo affiliate CFTF-DT and TVA affiliate CIMT-DT. This arrangement made the station part of a so-called "triple-stick"—three stations owned by a single company. The three stations shared studios on Rue de la Chute and Rue Frontenac in Rivière-du-Loup; CKRT-DT's transmitter was located near Chemin du Mont Bleu in Picard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ici ARTV</span> Canadian French arts channel

Ici ARTV is a Canadian French language specialty channel owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The channel broadcasts the arts and culture including music, dance, theatre, visual arts, films and scripted television series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CFHD-DT</span> Independent multicultural television station in Montreal

CFHD-DT is an independent multicultural television station in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, owned by Sam Norouzi and his family. The station's studios are located on Christophe Colomb Avenue in Montreal's Ahuntsic district, at the home of the family's production company Mi-Cam Communications. Its transmitter is located at Mount Royal Park, near Downtown Montreal.

References

  1. ↑ "Portrait de TVA" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-12-15.
  2. ↑ "How Many Canadians Subscribe to Cable TV or Satellite TV?". Canadian Media Research Inc. for the CRTC. August 2006. Retrieved 2007-03-18.
  3. 1 2 Bailey, Patricia (2003-07-06). "Why Canuck TV sucks - and Quebec shows thrive". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  4. ↑ "Quebec's insular star system may be too much of a good thing". Toronto Star. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
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