Broadcasting - Staff Letter addressed to Peggy Tabet (Quebecor Media Inc.)
Ottawa, 16 June 2023
Our reference: 2023-0307-2
BY EMAIL
Peggy Tabet
Vice President, Regulatory and Environmental Affairs,
Quebecor Media Inc.,
Montréal, Quebec
peggy.tabet@quebecor.com
Re: Application by Quebecor Media Inc. on behalf of TVA Group Inc. to remove its requirement to broadcast two newscasts produced in Québec on weekends
Ms. Tabet,
On 1 June 2023, the Commission issued TVA Group Inc.'s (TVA) Part 1 application (2023-0307-2) seeking to reduce regulatory requirements regarding local programming for its station in Québec. TVA wishes to remove its requirement to broadcast two newscasts produced in Québec during the weekend. The public process for this application is open for interventions until 4 July 2023.
In a press release dated 2 June 2023, TVA announced the end of the broadcast of its two newscasts during the weekend in Québec starting the week of 19 June. Commission staff will place that press release, along with this letter, on the public record for this application.
Staff is greatly concerned by TVA’s announcement, as it ignores the ongoing public process, the authority of the Commission, as well as the interest of citizens who keep themselves informed by watching the newscast in the Québec City region.
Staff expects TVA to continue to meet its local programming requirements for its Québec station, including the requirement to broadcast two newscasts produced in Québec during the weekend. Staff reminds TVA that its conditions of service have been imposed in the public interest and that the Commission will consider the public interest in determining whether these conditions should be amended.
Licensees, like TVA, must always comply with their regulatory requirements, otherwise corrective measures may be taken by the Commission. As such, if TVA ceases to broadcast its two weekend newscasts in Québec as planned, it would most likely be found in non-compliance with its regulatory obligations and the Commission may use measures at its disposal under the powers conferred on it by the Broadcasting Act.
Sincerely,
Scott Shortliffe
Executive Director
Broadcasting
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