[PHOTOS] The old VAT building: the cradle of private Quebec television at the service of our popular culture

A page of history has turned in recent days in Montreal with the move of VAT, LCN and TVA Sports teams, who have left their 1600, boulevard de Maisonneuve Est.

Created in 1961, Télé-Metropolis, also known as Canal 10 or CFTM-TV, is the ancestor of TVA.

From its beginnings, the new private channel settled in this sector of the Center-Sud district, a stone’s throw from the Jacques-Cartier bridge.

It was however from 1974 to 1976 that the construction of the 1600 building, Boulevard de Maisonneuve was held.

The most watched private network team in Quebec has joined Quebecor Média forces, which are now combining their efforts under one roof in a building on rue Frontenac, in the east of Plateau Mont-Royal since May 5 in May.

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Completely renovated, this place becomes the flagship of Quebecor Média, bringing together under one roof the teams of Montreal JournalVAT, the office of inquiry, Jof Qub Radio, TVA Publications (Magazines) and Numériq, which manages the group’s information sites.

40 years after the inauguration of the rue Frontenac building, which was intended at the time to host The Montreal Journalthe building has a large room of short stories as well as state -of -the -art studios for VAT, LCN, TVA Sports and La Matinale Hello hello.

Many of success

On the 1600, Boulevard de Maisonneuve is forever linked to Quebec society, VAT having made a place of choice to popular culture on the small screen, at a time when some snubbed everything that was Quebecers and rejected the Joual.

Remember mythical meetings Ad Lib, Annie and her men, Help of Béatrice, The beautiful discomfort, The shepherds, In a good mood, Charivari, The circle, City rooms, Masked singers, Chop Suey, Two girls in the morning, Between dog and wolf, Make me a drawing, Fortier, Youth today, The sparrows and the pinson, Gold of time, Banana skin, Hello hello, Symphorian, Tannants et The voiceall associated with the chain and which have made up of great successes of Audimat.

Among the animators, journalists and stars who made VAT the most watched channel in the beautiful province, let us quote in passing Claude Blanchard, Pierre Bruneau, Gino Chouinard, Jean-Pierre Coallier, Joël Denis, Réal Giguère, Gilles Latulippe, Michel Louvain, Pierre Marcotte, Louise-Josée Mondoux, Guy Mongrain, Shirley Théroux and Sophie Thibault, to name only a few names of a long list of darlings from the general Quebec public.

What future for the 1600, boulevard de Maisonneuve is

Regarding the 1600, Boulevard de Maisonneuve is, remember that it is the subject of a requalification plan with a view to making it a residential building which could accommodate social housing. Other phases are also planned in the VAT island, notably for parking located at the corner of Champlain and Sainte-Catherine East streets.

Here are some key dates relating to the story of Télé-Metropole, which has become VAT:

• 1961: Inauguration of the CFTM-TV station by Joseph Alexandre de Sève, president and founder of the Télé-Metropole corporation. These are the beginnings of Canal 10, the first private French -speaking channel in Quebec.
• 1966: A first program is broadcast in color.
• 1968: The City of Montreal renamed the street along the Télé-Metropole building in honor of Joseph Alexandre de Sève, who died in 1968.
• 1970: All the programming is in color.
• 1971: September 12 is marked by the beginnings of the TVA network, connecting CFTM Montreal, CFCM-DT Québec and CJPM-TV Chicoutimi. Eight years later, in 1979, the network had nine stations and four re -emotional.

• 1974-1976: Construction of a building for the administration of Télé-Métropole at 1600, boulevard de Maisonneuve Est.
• 1987: Videotron acquires Télé-Metropole.
• 1989: Télé-metropolis is getting their hands on the Pathonic network.
• 1990: The company is renamed TVA Group.
• 2000-2001: Québecor acquires Videotron, which includes TVA group and TVA Publications. The company must therefore depart from TQS.
• 2025: VAT move on the Mont-Royal set. The process aimed at the conversion of the island of Boulevard de Maisonneuve is, especially in social housing, is underway.