Radio / Television News

Quebecor might drop “must carry” provision for SunTV News


OTTAWA – Quebecor Inc. president and CEO Pierre-Karl Péladeau said the company is considering removing the "must carry" provision in an application for its English-language all news channel SunTV.

Péladeau made the comments immediately following a luncheon speech at the Canadian Club of Ottawa on Tuesday. While he didn’t say for sure that the company is going to drop its must carry bid, Péladeau talked about the challenges that SunTV is currently facing in the conventional TV market.

"We’ve been losing money in a declining market and a more competitive market," he said. During his 45-minute speech, Péladeau outlined Quebecor’s convergence strategy, highlighting the particular importance that the wireless platform will play.

"Content and technology are so intertwined, that it would be an illusion to think one can talk about media without simultaneously talking about the technology that supports it," he said. "Media firms can only ignore at their own perils the ways that technology has opened up new means of accessing information and entertainment.

Cartt.ca will have more on Péladeau’s speech later in the week.