(Montreal) TVA Group will no longer be required to broadcast two regional bulletins on its Quebec station during the weekend, but will have to continue to present more than five hours of news produced in the National Capital each week.
This is one of the reliefs that the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) grants to TVA Group following a request filed by Quebecor last May.
The largest private broadcaster in Quebec demanded the modification of certain requirements for the local programming of the television station CFCM-DT Québec.
To support its request, the media company notably cited a difficult economic and competitive context, specifying that its revenues are declining, just like those of other private broadcasters.
In a decision rendered Monday, the CRTC approved TVA Group’s entire request. Thus, the federal regulator is putting an end to the requirement to broadcast two news bulletins produced in Quebec during the weekend.
However, it urges presenting at least five hours and 30 minutes per week of news produced in Quebec, but TVA “may determine the most appropriate time for the broadcast of its bulletins,” we read in the decision.
The CRTC also agreed to reduce the number of hours of local programming from 18 to 16 per week.
This number includes in particular at least nine hours of programming “which specifically reflects the Old Capital region and which can be broadcast on the TVA network”, including the production of regional bulletins.
The 16 hours of programming must also contain “at least 3 hours and 30 minutes of locally reflective news during each broadcast week.”
Another change accepted by the CRTC, the Quebec station will no longer be required to broadcast a certain number of hours of other programs that reflect the region.
According to the regulator, the changes “should have a modest impact on the Quebec station’s overall programming,” but will offer TVA “greater flexibility while maintaining the number of hours of local news produced by the station “.
“They will also allow it to maintain a production center in Quebec including the presence of journalists and the making of editorial decisions,” wrote the CRTC in its conclusions.
Last June, TVA Group decided to end its Quebec regional bulletins before obtaining authorization from the CRTC.
The Quebecor subsidiary maintained that the CRTC’s administrative delays were “too long” and that it had to make decisions now due to the difficult economic context. But she was forced by the body that regulates broadcasting in the country to change her mind.