The end of traditional television seems more and more imminent, especially in the face of the rapid evolution of digital platforms.
But there is one more problem. For the young journalists of RDS, the announcement of the upcoming retirement of Alain Crête, a legendary figure of the channel, is a hard blow in several respects.
Alain Crête, a pillar of sports broadcasting in Quebec, recently announced that he would retire in two years, in 2026.
This decision arouses palpable disappointment among the young journalists at RDS, who see him as both a mentor and an obstacle.
On the one hand, his long career is admired and respected; on the other hand, its prolonged presence has often been perceived as an obstacle to the rise of new generations.
By remaining in office, veterans like Crête take up valuable positions, limiting opportunities for young journalism graduates who come out of college with the hope of finding employment in the field.
This has always been the problem at RDS. Gaston Therrien, Guy Carbonneau, François Gagnon, Stéphane Leroux and company are all competent, but at some point, you have to give the new generations a chance.
This situation is amplified by the imminent threat posed by the end of the Montreal Canadiens television broadcasting rights for RDS in 2026.
If RDS and TVA Sports lose these rights, this will inevitably lead to massive layoffs within the two channels.
The Sports Network (RDS) and Geoff Molson, the owner of the Montreal Canadiens, will inevitably separate. The reason is simple: diametrically opposed visions and deeply conflicting interests.
For years, RDS, owned by Bell Media, has been a key player in the broadcast of Montreal Canadiens matches.
In 2026, the contract between TVA Sports and the NHL will end, and RDS hoped to regain its monopoly on the broadcasting of CH matches.
With persistent rumors about the imminent closure of TVA Sports, RDS awaited this deadline with a certain serenity, believing it could once again become the main source for broadcasting hockey matches.
However, Geoff Molson, the visionary owner of the Montreal Canadiens, had other plans. Rather than renewing a broadcast contract with RDS or TVA Sports, Molson will decide to launch its own paid streaming service.
Inspired by streaming giants like Apple TV, Molson plans to broadcast his team’s games directly through his own platform, HABS TV. Some matches will also be broadcast on Amazon.
This bold decision will shake up the Quebec sports media landscape. With HABS TV, Molson anticipates generating enormous revenue, capitalizing directly on the wallets of passionate Montreal Canadiens fans.
This paid streaming model will transform the way fans access their favorite team’s matches, but it will also require them to pay out of pocket directly to the CH owner.
For RDS, this new strategy from Molson is a hard blow. By losing the rights to broadcast CH matches, RDS risks losing a significant part of its audience and revenue.
The potential closure of TVA Sports could mean a simultaneous demise of the two major sports broadcasters, an ironic fate where the longtime rivals will fall together.
Ironically, this situation could offer some consolation to Quebecor and its president, Pierre-Karl Péladeau. If TVA Sports and RDS disappear, Quebecor could see this double fall as a kind of poetic justice. After all, if one has to go, the other might as well follow, thereby reducing the pain of loss.
In this complex scenario, the real winner remains Geoff Molson. By launching HABS TV, he not only controls the broadcast of his team’s matches, but he also monetizes the fan experience in a new and profitable way.
Molson thus secures a direct and potentially lucrative source of income, solidifying its position both financially and strategically.
Prepare for the arrival of HABS TV in 2026. Hockey fans will have to get used to a new way of watching games, while being ready to open their wallets.
In this media war, Geoff Molson has clearly taken a head start, leaving RDS and TVA Sports in a race against time for their survival.
Alain Crête, well aware of this reality, chose this precise moment to plan his departure.
“I will continue for two more years with RDS, because our contract with the Montreal Canadiens and the National Hockey League ends in two years. This will be my real retirement and I will leave room for others”he explained, thus highlighting a strategic transition before the potential collapse of sports channels.
“I’m going to be quite old, let’s say, so there will be time to do something else. »
However, he also announced a gradual reduction in his appearances, focusing only on match days.
“Starting next year, it will be hockey only. I’m only going to work on match days, so I won’t work when there’s no match. People told me not to make a drastic cut and that’s what I’m going to do. »
For young RDS journalists, this situation highlights an uncertain future. On the one hand, the retirement of legendary figures like Alain Crête could open the way for new voices and perspectives; on the other, the potential loss of the Montreal Canadiens’ broadcasting rights could mean fewer available positions, increasing competition and instability in the industry.
With traditional television on life support, these young professionals find themselves navigating a transforming media landscape, where the future seems as bleak as it is uncertain.
The end of traditional TV? The end of a dream for many young journalists. On Alain Crête’s side, he jumps from the ship…before it sinks…
