Quebecor

Quebecor is a Canadian diversified media and telecommunications company based in Montreal, Quebec. Founded in 1965 by Pierre Péladeau, the company developed from a newspaper-publishing business into one of the most significant privately controlled communications groups in Quebec. Its activities span telecommunications, television broadcasting, digital media, newspapers, magazines, book publishing, film and television production, advertising, music, live events, and sports entertainment. The group’s principal telecommunications operations are conducted through Vidéotron. These activities include cable and broadband internet services, mobile communications, television distribution, business connectivity, digital entertainment, and related consumer brands. Its portfolio has included Helix internet and IPTV services, illico television, Club illico subscription video, Fizz wireless and internet services, Videotron Business, Fibrenoire, VMedia, and Freedom Mobile. The company also operates or has operated specialized services such as Canal Indigo pay-per-view and community television outlets under the MAtv name. Quebecor’s media operations are anchored by Groupe TVA, one of Quebec’s leading French-language broadcasting and content groups. Its assets include the TVA television network, the LCN news channel, TVA Sports, specialty channels, digital video services, production and distribution operations, and a substantial magazine portfolio. Quebecor also publishes major newspapers such as Le Journal de Montréal and Le Journal de Québec, as well as the free newspaper 24 Heures. Digital publishing and audio services have expanded the group’s reach through platforms including QUB Radio, QUB Musique, TVA+, and a range of digital editorial properties. Publishing remains another important part of the business. Through Groupe Livre Québecor Média and associated imprints, the group has been involved in general literature, practical books, school publishing, English-language publishing, and distribution. Its publishing network includes Groupe Sogides, Éditions de l’Homme, VLB, l’Hexagone, La Bagnole, Libre Expression, Stanké, CEC, and other imprints and distribution businesses. The company has also maintained capabilities in printing, advertising sales, out-of-home advertising, press distribution, and news gathering through operations such as Agence QMI. Quebecor has pursued vertical integration across communications and entertainment. Its activities have included MELS Studios, TVA Films, Quebecor Content, record labels such as Musicor and Audiogram, event organizer Gestev, and ownership or management interests connected with sports venues and teams. In 2011, it launched TVA Sports and obtained management and naming rights for the arena that became the Videotron Centre in Quebec City. It acquired the Quebec Remparts in 2014 and later sought an expansion franchise for Quebec City in the National Hockey League, although the league ultimately deferred the bid. The company has historically remained associated with the Péladeau family. It formerly owned Quebecor World, a large international commercial printing company, but that business is no longer part of the group. In French, the corporate name adopted an acute accent—Québecor—in 2012, while the English form remains Quebecor. The company’s present identity is centered on combining telecommunications infrastructure with French-language media, content, publishing, and entertainment assets, particularly for consumers and businesses in Quebec.

Quebecor was established in 1965 by Pierre Péladeau. The company’s early development was tied to newspaper publishing and the growth of a strong French-language media presence in Quebec. Over time, it expanded beyond newspapers into magazines, printing, publishing, broadcasting, distribution, and related communications services. The group subsequently built a broad media portfolio through Quebecor Media and related subsidiaries. Its newspaper operations included Le Journal de Montréal, Le Journal de Québec, and 24 Heures, while its publishing interests covered magazines, books, educational material, and distribution. It also developed production, film distribution, advertising, news-agency, and digital-media capabilities. Quebecor formerly owned Quebecor World, an international printing company, but that business was separated from the current group. Telecommunications became a central pillar through Vidéotron. The business provided cable television, broadband internet, mobile services, business communications, and digital entertainment. Brands and services associated with this activity included illico, Helix, Club illico, Fizz, Fibrenoire, VMedia, Videotron Business, and later Freedom Mobile. This combination gave Quebecor a vertically integrated position linking network access, television distribution, content, advertising, and consumer subscriptions. In broadcasting, Groupe TVA became the company’s principal French-language television arm. The portfolio included the TVA network, LCN news, specialty channels, TVA Sports, digital video services, production activities, and magazine publishing. The launch of TVA Sports in 2011 marked a deliberate expansion into sports broadcasting. The company also developed or acquired music, event, production, and entertainment assets, including Musicor, Audiogram, Gestev, MELS Studios, TVA Films, and Quebecor Content. Sports became more prominent during the 2010s. Quebecor obtained management and naming rights for Quebec City’s new indoor arena in 2011; the venue opened in 2015 as the Videotron Centre. The company bought the Quebec Remparts in 2014 and submitted an application for an NHL expansion franchise in 2015. The application progressed through two stages of league scrutiny, but the NHL later deferred the bid. In 2012, shareholders approved the use of Québecor with an acute accent in French, while Quebecor continued to be used in English. The company has remained closely associated with the Péladeau family and continues to operate as a major Quebec-based communications group. Its current business identity rests on the combination of telecommunications, French-language broadcasting, news, publishing, digital services, and entertainment.

1. 2024Brian Mulroney dies

   Brian Mulroney, a former Canadian prime minister and former Quebecor board chair, died in February 2024.

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2. 2015Videotron Centre opens

   The Quebec City arena associated with Quebecor’s management and naming-rights agreement opened as the Videotron Centre.

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3. 2015NHL expansion application is submitted

   Quebecor submitted an application for an NHL expansion franchise in Quebec City. The league later deferred the proposal.

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4. 2014Quebec Remparts are acquired

   Quebecor purchased the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

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5. 2012French corporate spelling changes to Québecor

   Shareholders approved adding an acute accent to the company name in French; the English spelling remained Quebecor.

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6. 2011TVA Sports is launched

   Quebecor launched TVA Sports as a French-language sports television network.

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7. 2011Quebec City arena rights are obtained

   Quebecor obtained management and naming rights for the Quebec City indoor arena later known as the Videotron Centre.

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8. 1965Quebecor is founded

   Pierre Péladeau founded Quebecor in Canada, establishing the business that would develop into a diversified Quebec media group.

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A Quebec-centered integrated communications group combining telecommunications infrastructure with French-language broadcasting, news, publishing, digital content, and sports entertainment.

• VidéotronTelecommunications

  Vidéotron is Quebecor’s principal telecommunications business. Its activities include broadband internet, cable and IPTV television, wireless service, business connectivity, fiber infrastructure, and digital entertainment. Associated offerings include Helix, illico, Club illico, Videotron Business, Fibrenoire, Fizz, VMedia, and Freedom Mobile.

• Groupe TVABroadcasting and media

  Groupe TVA is Quebecor’s major French-language broadcasting and media division. It includes the TVA network, LCN news, specialty channels, TVA Sports, digital video services, production and distribution operations, and a large magazine portfolio.

• TVATelevision broadcasting

  TVA is a French-language television network serving Quebec. Its stations and programming form one of the principal components of Quebecor’s broadcast business, supported by news, entertainment, sports, and digital catch-up services.

• TVA SportsSports television2011

  TVA Sports is a French-language sports television network launched by Quebecor in 2011. It extends the company’s media offering into dedicated sports programming and complements its ownership and management interests in sports and event properties.

• Le Journal de MontréalNewspaper

  Le Journal de Montréal is a major Montreal newspaper within Quebecor’s news portfolio. It represents the company’s continuing presence in metropolitan newspaper publishing alongside digital editorial services.

• Le Journal de QuébecNewspaper

  Le Journal de Québec is a Quebec City newspaper owned by Quebecor. It forms part of the group’s French-language newspaper and digital news operations.

• HelixInternet and television platform

  Helix is a Vidéotron platform combining internet connectivity, television distribution, and app-based access to services. It illustrates Quebecor’s strategy of packaging network infrastructure and entertainment in an integrated consumer proposition.

• QUB RadioDigital audio

  QUB Radio is an online radio and podcast platform associated with Quebecor’s digital-media activities. It broadens the group’s audio offering beyond traditional television and newspaper formats.

• Videotron CentreSports and entertainment venue2015

  The Videotron Centre is an indoor arena in Quebec City for which Quebecor obtained management and naming rights. The venue opened in 2015 and supports the company’s sports, event, and entertainment strategy.

• 2015Application for an NHL expansion franchiseOther

  With the Videotron Centre nearing completion, Quebecor sought to bring an NHL franchise back to Quebec City.

  What changed. Quebecor submitted an application for a National Hockey League expansion franchise.

  Aftermath. The application passed two stages of league scrutiny, but the NHL later deferred the bid.

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• 2014Acquisition of the Quebec RempartsM&A

  Quebecor was building a stronger connection between its media portfolio and sports entertainment in Quebec City.

  What changed. The company purchased the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

  Aftermath. The acquisition added direct team ownership to Quebecor’s sports and venue activities.

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• 2012Adoption of Québecor in FrenchOther

  The company maintained distinct English and French forms of its corporate identity.

  What changed. Shareholders voted to add an acute accent to the company name in French.

  Aftermath. The French form became Québecor, while the English form remained Quebecor.

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• 2011Launch of TVA SportsProduct launch

  Quebecor was expanding its integrated French-language media portfolio and sought a dedicated sports broadcasting presence.

  What changed. The company launched TVA Sports as a French-language sports television network.

  Aftermath. TVA Sports became part of Groupe TVA’s broadcast portfolio and supported Quebecor’s broader sports-entertainment strategy.

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• 2011Expansion into Quebec City venue managementStrategy

  Quebecor was extending its media activities into live events and sports infrastructure.

  What changed. The company obtained management and naming rights for the new Quebec City indoor arena.

  Aftermath. The arena opened in 2015 under the name Videotron Centre.

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• 2024Brian Mulroney dies while serving as Quebecor board chair

  Former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney, who had served as chair of Quebecor’s board, died in February 2024.

  Leadership change
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• 2015Quebecor submits an application for an NHL expansion franchise

  Quebecor submitted an application seeking a National Hockey League expansion franchise for Quebec City. The proposal advanced through two phases of league review before being deferred.

  Other
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• 2015Québecor submits an application for a Quebec City NHL expansion franchise

  Québecor submitted an expansion application to the National Hockey League for a franchise based in Quebec City. The bid advanced through two stages of review before the league later deferred a decision.

  Other
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• 2014Quebecor acquires the Quebec Remparts

  Quebecor purchased the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, strengthening its position in sports entertainment.

  M&A
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• 2014Québecor acquires the Quebec Remparts

  Québecor purchased the Quebec Remparts junior hockey club, strengthening its sports and entertainment portfolio.

  M&A
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• 2012Quebecor adopts the Québecor spelling in French

  Shareholders approved adding an acute accent to the company name in French. The English-language spelling remained Quebecor.

  Other
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• 2012Québecor adopts the acute accent in its French corporate name

  Shareholders approved the use of Québecor in French, while the English form remained Quebecor.

  Other
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• 2011Quebecor launches TVA Sports

  Quebecor launched TVA Sports as a French-language sports television network, expanding its broadcasting portfolio into dedicated sports programming.

  Product launch
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• 2011Quebecor obtains management and naming rights for Quebec City arena

  The company acquired management and naming rights connected with the indoor arena in Quebec City that later opened as the Videotron Centre.

  Other
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• 2011Québecor launches TVA Sports

  Québecor introduced TVA Sports as a French-language sports television network, expanding its specialty-channel and sports-content presence.

  Product launch
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• 2011Québecor obtains naming and management rights for Quebec City's new arena

  The company secured management and naming rights for the Quebec City arena that later opened as the Videotron Centre.

  Other
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1. Quebecor
2. Quebecor official website