A nuclear bomb hits the media world hard in Quebec.
Before I continue the article, I want to point out that our government makes laws for a so-called free country, Have you ever crossed a border without papers to see if you are free?
Is freedom of the press in Canada truly so frightening?
Bell and Cogeco filed a complaint with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) against QUB radio, Quebecor’s station.
This action comes in a context where the traditional media market faces significant challenges against the digital giants.
The history of the monopoly is repeated in modern Quebec history, recalling the complaint filed against NATYF TV at the CRTC by Quebecor, Bell, Cogeco and others.
Details of the complaint
Both companies request the CRTC to stop broadcasting QUB Radio on the 99.5 FM airwaves.
They are of the view that the agreement between Quebecor, owner of TVA and Journal de Montréal, and Leclerc Communication, owner of 99.5 FM, contravenes the rules prohibiting a company from owning a television station, radio station and newspaper in the same market.
Reaction from Mario Dumont
Host Mario Dumont was highly critical of the complaint, pointing out that the real danger to traditional media comes from web giants like Facebook.
He said: "Everyone is in survival mode," highlighting the difficulties of the media sector.
Dumont also highlighted the dominant position of Bell and Cogeco, which "have a total of 35 radio stations in Quebec, including 11 in Montreal, representing 95% of the market".
This complaint comes in the context of media closures in recent years. Dumont defended the arrival of QUB as a new player in a troubled sector, stating that "QUB is almost the only new media that has been created".
See the video below:
Reminder: the complaint against NATYF TV
It is important to note that this situation is not unprecedented. Indeed, a similar complaint had been filed against NATYF TV with the CRTC in the past. Today’s mass media sees all new small players as front-line enemies.
The situation had gone so far that it reached political circles where Hull-Aylmer MP Greg Fergus violated the Conflict of Interest Act by submitting a letter of support to Natyf Inc. to the CRTC.
Press freedom at the heart of the scandal
This complaint by Bell and Cogeco against QUB Radio highlights the existing tensions in the Canadian media sector. While traditional media are struggling to survive in the face of digital giants, regulatory and competition issues remain at the heart of the debate.
The CRTC will need to carefully consider this complaint and its implications for the future of the media landscape in Quebec and Canada.