The figures confirm a strong trend: adolescents are deserting Quebec television. As we observed in speaking with several of them, the reasons explaining this massive disengagement are numerous and varied. Let’s let Sara, a third-year secondary school student, sum up the predominant one: “Often, it’s just old people we see. »
The listening hours of 12-17 year olds, currently estimated at 9.5 hours per week, generally show annual declines of around 12%, reveal Numéris data compiled by the Cossette Media agency. But recently, this decrease has “greatly accentuated”. When we compare fall 2023 with fall 2022, the drop exceeds 20%.
The disappearance of VRAK, which occurred in October, certainly contributed to the decline recorded. However, it is one factor among many, notes Isabelle Fournier, director, Lead Activation at Cossette Media. Several specialized channels, including Addik, Historia and Canal D, have lost viewing hours among adolescents, just like Radio-Canada and TVA, she specifies.
This reality has worried those in the television sector for a long time. Because when you abandon Quebec shows as a teenager, the chances of returning to them as an adult are rather slim.
Last Monday before the CRTC, the president and CEO of Télé-Québec, Marie Collin, spoke of “urgency to act”. Specialist in television development, production and broadcasting, Denis Dubois is sounding the alarm.
We have let several generations go, who listen to our television less and less. We waited too long. We must react now!
Denis Dubois, specialist in television development, production and broadcasting
To take the pulse of those mainly concerned, we went to meet teenagers who attend the Beauharnois Youth Center, in Montérégie. Their testimonies shed light on the current crisis.
When asked to describe the type of TV they watch, 12-17 year olds have only one word: Netflix. This phenomenon should not surprise anyone. According to a report from the Media Technology Observer (OTM) Junior published in October, Netflix remains the number one subscription video-on-demand (VSDA) service among French speakers under 18: 78% use it. , compared to 56% for Prime Video and 50% for Disney+, two platforms that continue to climb in popularity, the statistics reveal.
“The characters are our age”
Netflix series are popular with many teenagers because they feature characters they can identify with. Kelyane, 16 years old, mentions Outer Banks And Stranger ThingsLaurie-Anne, 12 years old, relieves Sex Education And Ginny & Georgiaand Derek, 12, quotes Locke & Key, a series combining fantasy and horror. “It’s sick!” », Enthuses the supernatural lover.
“The characters are our age,” explains Laurence, 13.
PHOTO CATHERINE LEFEBVRE, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Magali Roussel, Maheva Leduc-Lalonde and Kelyane Pimparé
Currently in secondary five, Magali candidly lists the themes that she would like to see more exploited on the small Quebec screen. “Drugs, alcohol, prostitution, sex, mental health problems… We don’t talk about it enough. And yet, many people make a living from it,” says the young woman, who gives Runaway And The Academy as examples of local series that she has recently devoured.
Fierce competition
To attract the attention of young people, traditional television competes with several types of content, reports an OTM Junior report published in September. In terms of screen time, among 12-17 year olds, it comes in at 5e rank – with only 7% – of the options they favor for relaxing, behind paid video streaming services like Netflix and Prime Video (29%), YouTube (22%), video games (22%) and finally, social networks (19%).
Furthermore, when we compare the data from September 2023 to September 2022, we see that in the space of one year, weekly viewing hours of Netflix and YouTube have increased by more than 50% among 12-17 year olds. years, reveals Cossette Media.
PHOTO CATHERINE LEFEBVRE, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Sara Myles, Laurence Lapierre and Julia Courcelles
Our discussions illustrate this fierce competition. “I don’t really listen to TV,” confides Nathan, 12 years old. I prefer gamer or listen to anime [films d’animation japonais] on Netflix. »
I prefer TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat.
Julia, 15 years old
Hope
Despite the unfavorable statistics, all is not lost for the local television industry. Certain Quebec shows visibly appeal to young people, such as STAT (Radio-Canada), Indefensible (VAT), Red bracelets (VAT), Double occupation (Noovo), Revolution (VAT), Masked singers (VAT), Survivor Quebec (Noovo), Big Brother Celebrities (Noovo), The little tannants (Radio-Canada) and Zenith (Radio-Canada).
” I like Discussions with my parents », maintains Anthony, 13 years old.
“Sometimes, with my parents, I listen Alerts Or 5e Rank », comments Laurence.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Suzanne Clément and Lou-Pascal Tremblay play in STAT on ICI Télé.
” I am STAT And Indefensible, says Kelyane. I’m in secondary 5, and I thought about becoming a lawyer or going into medicine. That taught me a little about that. It gives an image of the profession. »
Most of the teenagers surveyed maintain that they could be tempted by the Quebec offer… under certain conditions. Maheva, 15, would like “even more choice”.
It’s the same thing all the time, the same series… It’s becoming redundant.
Magali, fifth secondary student
“And to have more choice, you have to search and subscribe, and often, it costs money. It’s dog,” continues Magali.
The greatest glimmer of hope, however, came from Derek, who was heard repeating a line fromElvis Gratton II – Miracle in Memphis, while we were putting away our notebook. “I know it’s not closed properly, it’s me who reopened it,” said the teenager, repeating word for word a famous scene from Pierre Falardeau’s film, released well before his birth, in 1999.
The most pessimistic can sleep peacefully (for now): as long as we see new generations quoting Elvis Gratton, Quebec culture will survive.