Bell Media has entered into an agreement with the shareholders of Groupe V Média to acquire French-language conventional television network V along with its related digital assets, including ad-supported VOD service Noovo.ca.
The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and financial terms were not disclosed.
“With today’s announcement Bell Media welcomes French-language conventional TV to its portfolio, creating more opportunities for viewers, advertisers, and content creators in Québec,” said Karine Moses, president, Bell Media Québec, in a release. “In a fast-changing ecosystem, we are excited to provide new opportunities for V with the guidance and expertise of our dedicated and experienced Montréal-based management, programming, and production teams. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the local Francophone production community in delivering highly engaging original programming on V. We salute Maxime Rémillard and his team for their work in bringing V to where it is now, and we thank them for trusting Bell Media to ensure the long-term legacy of the network.”
In the same release, Rémillard, the president and founder of Groupe V Média, acknowledged that it’s become “increasingly difficult to ensure the sustainability of a conventional channel within a non-integrated group.”
“After 10 years of ensuring V’s success as an independent conventional channel, I am proud to have found in Bell Media a partner to ensure the continuity of this success,” said Rémillard. “The industry in which we are evolving is constantly, deeply and rapidly changing. This was true when we took over the reins of TQS and allowed the network to survive; it is all the more true today. I have made the best decision for the future of V. Bell Media will certainly allow V to continue to evolve and reach out to the Québec public on a massive scale.”
The network’s original programs include Occupation double, L’amour est dans le pré, and Un souper presque parfait. V Média owns and operates television stations in Montréal, Saguenay, Sherbrooke, and Trois-Rivières, and has affiliate stations in Gatineau, Rivière-du-Loup and Val-d’Or. In addition to V and Noovo.ca, Groupe V also operates specialty channels ELLE Fictions and MAX, which are not included in the transaction.
Bell Media’s Quebec assets include French-language specialty and pay TV channels Canal D, Canal Vie, Z, VRAK, Investigation, Super Écran, and Cinépop, in addition to sports channel RDS, CTV Montreal, and more than 40 websites and digital properties, including RDS Direct. Its media assets in the province also include 25 radio stations in 14 communities, and Montréal-based out-of-home advertising network Astral.
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