The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Quebecor's Owner Warns TVA Is In Financial Trouble

**Posted by RadioActive** May 21, 2025 3:58 pm

At least 30 jobs were cut at the French TV network on Wednesday, as Pierre Karl Peladeau warns things seem to be going south for private Canadian stations and not just in La Belle Province. It comes after the TVA Group already let over half its workforce go in 2023.

"TVA Group’s financial results for the first quarter of 2025, released on May 5, 2025, confirmed the trend once again. TVA Group’s total net loss over the past three years now stands at $76.1 million. The financial burden has been borne entirely by its shareholders, who have seen the value of their shares collapse.

This despite the fact that TVA Group’s channels and programs consistently top the Québec ratings. How is it possible that a broadcaster that reached 80% of the population every week during the winter 2025 season is in financial peril? And yet, that is the reality."

He blames the CRTC's policies, the CBC's overreach for online advertising, and Bell's refusal to pay a "fair market price" for the station and is urging relief for each problem - or else.

The future of private broadcaster TVA Group is at stake

**Posted by RadioAaron** May 21, 2025 4:12 pm

Kinda makes the idea of Quebecor buying Corus seem silly.

**Posted by RadioActive** May 21, 2025 4:34 pm

Speaking of financial woes, here's a story I'm not sure I understand. A radio company that owns stations in Alaska has filed for bankruptcy protection - in Canada.

This article is not all that well written, going over every other similar instance of station groups having financial issues before getting to the point at the end.

I'm obviously no lawyer so perhaps this is a common practice. But it's very confusing, at least to me. Why would a U.S. company that doesn't do business in this country bring such a motion in a court in Calgary? The story says it protects them from having their assets seized in the American state while the motions are worked out here and that the debtors are Canadian.

"The Chapter 15 filing invokes an automatic stay on any court proceedings against the debtors while the case proceeds in Canada."

Does anyone here understand how this works, what Chapter 15 is or why it's being done this way? I hate to see any radio group in trouble, even a small and obscure one like this. But it sounds to me like they're just delaying the inevitable.

Troubled radio station company files for Chapter 15 bankruptcy

**Posted by Binson Echorec** May 21, 2025 6:19 pm

RadioAaron wrote:
Kinda makes the idea of Quebecor buying Corus seem silly.

Came here to post a similar thought.

**Posted by Chrisphen** May 21, 2025 7:27 pm

IIRC they kept the Sun newspaper brand floating in its toilet until Postmedia assumed responsibility.

**Posted by RadioAaron** May 21, 2025 7:32 pm

Chrisphen wrote:
IIRC they kept the Sun newspaper brand floating in its toilet until Postmedia assumed responsibility.

...and the toilet.

**Posted by torontostan** May 21, 2025 7:45 pm

There isn't room for more than 3 english networks in this country anymore.... and 2 french.... they're cannibalizing each others ad dollars