There will no longer be a regional newscast in Quebec City on TVA weekends.

Citing the “devastating effects of current media reality,” Quebecor announced on Friday that it would end production of the two weekend news programs in the Old Capital starting June 19, two weeks from now.

However, the media giant is committed to keeping its reporting teams on the ground on Saturdays and Sundays and adding their content to TVA and LCN’s Montreal bulletins.

As its President and Chief Executive Officer, Pierre Karl Péladeau, has often done in the past, Quebecor blames “fierce competition from web giants and Radio-Canada, significant declines in advertising revenue, and a costly and unfair regulatory framework.”

Ensure sustainability

In a press release, the company states: “To ensure the sustainability of our activities, Groupe TVA must now make difficult choices.” To ensure coverage of 60 minutes from Monday to Friday, a decision that is maintained.

Quoted in the press release, Pierre Karl Péladeau reiterated that “the production of information and programming that reflects Quebec’s diverse regions requires significant investment and in the current economic and competitive environment we are unable to maintain the status quo.” This action is therefore not taken lightly, but its aim is to maintain the high quality and variety of news that we in Quebec are proud to produce.

Disadvantaged

The company complains that “compared to competing media outlets, including public broadcaster Radio-Canada,” it is “the only company subject to such demanding programming and local news requirements.”

As its big boss has done countless times in the past, Quebecor accuses Radio-Canada of “unfairly competing with private broadcasters by exploiting colossal sums from the state instead of producing its mission, which is precisely to inform and to inform, to ensure adequately.” to educate the Canadian public while acknowledging regional diversity.”

The press release, again citing Mr Péladeau, said: “It is imperative that government and regulators act quickly to implement the new Online Streaming Act (C-11) and pass Bill C-18 to introduce more regulatory to ensure flexibility. ‘fair treatment in favor of Canadian broadcasters’.

lower income

The same arguments were made in mid-February when Groupe TVA announced the loss of 240 jobs, including 140 directly at Groupe TVA while presenting the company’s annual results, while the others were redistributed to other entities in Quebecor.

Then, last May, following the release of fiscal first-quarter results, Mr. Péladeau, in an interview with Radio-Canada, didn’t rule out the possibility of further cuts. As a result, TVA Group saw its revenue drop by $8.4 million.

TVA Group declined to be interviewed by the Canadian Press in connection with Friday’s announcement.