In the ruthless world of Quebec sports media, behind the scenes there are often captivating stories.
The latest tells of an ambitious, but unsuccessful, attempt by TVA Sports to save its hockey coverage…and the station as a whole.
According to our information, the latter were approached in a desperate attempt to wrest them from Cogeco.
The following video extract will give Félix Séguin and Patrick Lalime goosebumps:
Despite certainly tempting offers, McGuire and Dubé chose to remain loyal to Cogeco and the audience that has supported them for decades.
When I interviewed Sylvain Chamberland, he did not explicitly name McGuire and Dubé, but according to our internal source at TVA Sports, they were indeed approached.
Chamberland is the founder and CEO of Arsenal Media. Former vice-president of Quebecor Media and director of information at TVA and -, he knows the workings of the industry better than anyone, he who owns 26 radio stations.
By saying that people were approached by TVA Sports and who decided not to go, we automatically think of McGuire and Dubé.
The Quebecor empire, in search of renewal in the face of endless financial losses and plummeting popularity, seems to have tried everything to restore a plummeting station.
This striking refusal sheds a cruel light on the situation of TVA Sports. With nearly $300 million in cumulative losses since its creation in 2011, the chain seems to be sailing through troubled waters.
The inability to attract established talent like McGuire and Dubé only accentuates the feeling of a station in decline, forced to settle for default solutions.
The mention of Félix Séguin and Patrick Lalime in this context is not insignificant. Although the latter currently occupy key roles within TVA Sports, Chamberland’s revelations highlight a brutal reality: they are not the first choices.
This information adds a poignant dimension to Séguin’s remarks during his interview with The Presswhere he showed great emotion, concluding the interview with tears in his eyes.
Here are the words of journalist Nicholas Richard, who spoke to Séguin for 60 minutes.
Séguin, with a smile on his lips and moist eyes, concludes the interview with a response that alone sums up the 60 minutes of the discussion: “I really like that. All I want to do is describe hockey games. »
If this declaration testifies to his undeniable love for his profession, it also highlights a vulnerability in the face of incessant criticism and the roller coaster context in which he works.
Félix Séguin regularly finds himself under fire from critics. While there is no doubt about his dedication and passion for hockey, he nonetheless remains a figure who is constantly targeted in Quebec.
Félix Séguin’s style of describing matches is often criticized for its lack of fluidity and its monotonous tone.
Unlike descriptors like Martin McGuire or Pierre Houde, known for their dynamism and precision, Séguin struggles to convince the public.
Some viewers also criticize him for emotional escalation during key moments of matches, which they consider artificial or forced.
As for Patrick Laline, although he is French-speaking, his sometimes clumsy use of the French language has been singled out.
Syntax errors or imprecise turns of phrase have often been noted, particularly on social networks, where these blunders quickly become viral.
Despite his statements about the time he devotes to preparing for games, the majority of hockey fans believe that Séguin’s descriptions lack depth and detail, as does Lalime’s analysis.
They often compare his work to that of RDS, where describers like Pierre Houde and analysts like Marc Denis stand out for their rigor and in-depth knowledge of players and strategies.
Félix Séguin has chosen to withdraw from social networks, explaining that this allows him to avoid nasty criticism and preserve his mental health.
However, this decision is seen by some as an inability to deal with public reactions.
Working at TVA Sports, a channel in difficulty, does not help Séguin and Lalime get out of this spiral. Constantly compared to figures from RDS, he carries the weight of the channel’s mediocre performances on his shoulders, whether he likes it or not.
Recent reports that TVA Sports attempted to recruit Martin McGuire and Dany Dubé to replace Séguin and Patrick Lalime have only amplified the criticism.
This context gives the impression that the Séguin-Lalime duo is in office by default and not by strategic choice, a feeling which further weakens its position.
Even within TVA Sports, some employees and collaborators have expressed reservations about his ability to represent the channel competently.
Despite everything, Félix Séguin remains deeply committed to his work. During his recent interview with La Presse, he spoke of his love for hockey and his desire to continue describing matches, while admitting to being very critical of himself:
“I spent nights not sleeping, because I blamed myself for the mistakes I had made. I’m the first to know I was wrong. »
However, these words, although moving, are not enough to appease the critics. The pressure is immense, and Séguin must not only meet the public’s high expectations, but also prove that he deserves his place in an increasingly competitive industry.
With the possible end of TVA Sports in 2026, their future is more uncertain than ever.
Félix Séguin and Patrick Lalime will have to redouble their efforts to regain the trust of a demanding public and an employer looking for results.
All this knowing that TVA Sports tried to replace them with the best duo in Quebec.
The refusal of McGuire and Dubé proves the colossal challenges facing TVA Sports. As the channel struggles to stay relevant with horrendous ratings, Quebecor’s attempts to attract established talent show that even massive investments can’t make up for structural flaws.
Meanwhile, Pierre-Karl Péladeau, at the head of Quebecor, must juggle striking contradictions. While the TVA network, thanks to its general public broadcasts, remains a leader in the Quebec media landscape, its sports division is a financial pit.
The NHL’s recent broadcast deal, which cost $720 million, brought in only crumbs in terms of programming and viewership.
For TVA Sports, recent events underline an unavoidable truth: money is not enough to gain the trust of hockey fans and attract top-tier talent.
The refusals of McGuire and Dubé, combined with the channel’s internal challenges, paint the picture of a media empire struggling to maintain its status.
Faced with these failures, we better understand the tears of Félix Séguin. Being at the top of a channel in difficulty, facing an audience that demands excellence, is a heavy burden to bear.
As for Patrick Lalime, he must deal with an avalanche of criticism, often targeted at his linguistic shortcomings, which undermine his credibility.
In this context, we can affirm that TVA Sports, despite its ambitions and financial means, remains in the shadow of its rival RDS and its indirect radio rival Cogeco.
The future of the channel now hangs on a thread: the refusal of McGuire and Dubé will resonate for a long time in the corridors of Quebecor as a brutal reminder that TVA Sports is on life support.
It will soon be time to unplug it.
