V (TV network)

V is a Canadian privately owned French-language television network. The network has owned-and-operated and affiliated stations existing throughout Quebec, although it can also be seen over-the-air in some bordering markets in the provinces of Ontario and New Brunswick. It can also be received in some other parts of Canada by satellite, cable and IPTV.

The network launched in 1986 as TQS, and was known by that name until Remstar rebranded it as V on August 31, 2009 after purchasing the network the previous year. It is currently owned by V Media Group, a separate company majority-owned by Remstar owner Maxime Rémillard (partially through Remstar).

Revenue

The channel V has a 21% revenue share of the French-speaking private television market. The private Francophone sector generates revenue of $361 million which equates to $75 million for V.

History

The history of V goes back to 1968, when the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) first expressed interest in the establishment of a third French-language commercial television service in the province of Quebec along with the existing Télévision de Radio-Canada and the loose association of independent stations that eventually became TVA. However, at that time, the CRTC did not call on applications for licences.