The president and chief executive officer of the Quebec company, Pierre Karl Péladeau, reiterated on Thursday that TVA Sports “still loses money”, despite growth in his market share during the winter.
Mr. Péladeau notably pointed out his main competitor, Bell, who owns RDS. He accused the supplier of not paying “a just compensation” for the distribution of TVA Sports.
“That has been penalizing the situation of TVA sports for a very long time,” said Péladeau in a press briefing, after the annual Assembly of Quebecor shareholders.
Just like during the Assembly of shareholders of the VAT group, held earlier this week, he repeated that “in these circumstances, it should not be surprised that TVA Sports ceases its activities”.
The upcoming renewal of national rights for the broadcast of French matches in the National Hockey League (NHL) will also influence the continuation of things for the specialized channel, suggested Mr. Péladeau.
The CEO of Quebecor relies on reading the agreement recently occurred between Rogers and its Sportnetnet diffuser, and the management of NHL. According to him, “TVA Sports will not have the means or economic models to pay the excessive sums requested by the NHL, for the French -speaking market”.
The agreement between the NHL and the Quebec telecommunications giant network expires in 2026. The terms to renew the contract are currently in negotiation, said Péladeau.
The current agreement provides that TVA Sports broadcasts 22 games from the Canadian on Saturday evening for the next season as well as special events and NHL qualifiers.
Asked by a journalist on the hope that he cultivates as to the future of the specialized channel, Mr. Péladeau replied: “You should know that if there is no Canadian hockey on TVA Sports, the closing probabilities are high, where it is difficult to see a sports chain not having the capacity, the possibility of broadcasting hockey matches”.
He said, however, that “it is premature to make a decision, but at the same time, it would not be honest to exclude it” the closure, also saying that he does not want to negotiate in the public square.
The new 12 -year -old understanding between Rogers and the Canadian Telediffusion Rights League has a value of 11 billion, double the current agreement.
Appeal to governments
Mr. Péladeau also launched, during the Assembly of Shareholders of Quebecor, an appeal to government bodies to better support the television industry.
The manager criticized “the magnitude and the heaviness of the regulations imposed on traditional private companies from here”.
“VAT cannot survive in an increasingly in favor, surcharged and surregled universe without the assistance of public authorities and the federal government,” he said, denouncing that foreign online companies still benefit “regulatory relief, despite the application of the new broadcasting law”.
Mr. Péladeau also judges “insane” that the tax credit for written journalism is not yet extended to television journalism. He pleaded for the addition of an additional tax incentive for advertising purchases in Quebec and Canadian media companies.
In addition, the CEO of Quebecor still shows an interest in the regional media of the National Independent Information Cooperative (CN2I), while the latter put an end last month to discussions with “the press” concerning a possible merger.
A questioned in a press point on this subject, Mr. Péladeau said that his company could “have a very important added value” for the daily newspapers of CN2I, either The sun, The right, The Nouvelliste, The platform, The daily et The voice of the East.
“It is only up to them. We know a little bit about the situation that is theirs, “he said, recalling that the cooperative has announced a workforce reduction last week.
“But we are certainly on the phone to receive their call and then discuss if necessary on a capacity to be able to group our respective forces and precisely ensure quality regional information for Quebecers of the regions,” added Mr. Péladeau.
Recall that during the talks between CN2I and “La Presse”, Mr. Péladeau went up to the niche last March to ask the employees of the Coops to hear all the options. However, CN2I and “La Presse” had an exclusivity agreement, which prevented all discussions with Quebecor.
Financial results
Quebecor published its financial results of the first quarter on Thursday. During the first three months of 2025, the company recorded a profit up 10.1 % compared to the same period last year, despite a decline in its income.
The company reported that its net profit attributable to shareholders amounted to 190.7 million, or 82 cents per share, during its quarter which ended on March 31.
This result is compared to a profit attributable to shareholders of $ 173.2 million, or 75 cents per share, for the same period during the year 2024.
In the first quarter, Quebecor’s revenues amounted to $ 1.34 billion, down $ 19.7 million, or 1.4 %compared to the same period a year earlier.
Income decreased in the telecommunications sector (from $ 1.18 billion in the first quarter from 2024 to 1.16 billion to that of 2025) and in that of the media (from 168.8 million to 164.6 million).
However, they increased in that of sports and entertainment (from 46.7 million to 49.7 million).
Mr. Péladeau welcomed the addition of 54,400 new mobile telephony lines, “the best growth rate among the main industry companies in Canada in the first quarter of 2025”.
