The CRTC could be sued over an online radio station that has sparked indignation in Quebec
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In a letter sent Monday to the CRTC's secretary general and obtained by National Post, Cogeco accused the commission of 'not ensuring the proper progress' in the file, not 'assuming the responsibilities incumbent upon it' and 'not fulfilling its duty towards the public and the Canadian broadcasting system.'
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Moreover, it states that both companies involved in broadcasting the station are operating in an 'illegal situation.' Quebecor replied in its own letter on Wednesday, accusing Cogeco of making 'false and defamatory statements about Quebecor Media, baselessly accusing it of multiple violations and of operating illegally.'
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The deal raised some eyebrows at the time in the industry. When it launched QUB Radio in 2018, Quebecor announced it was 'the new way to do radio.' The company had long been aiming for a breakthrough in Montreal's lucrative and cutthroat radio market.
In fact, the CRTC had already blocked Quebecor from entering the Montreal radio market in the past. In 2008, it prohibited single companies from owning newspapers, television and radio stations in the same market.
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So, Quebecor turned to an unregulated digital platform.
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Until August 2024 when QUB's most popular talk radio shows then became available on a conventional weekday radio frequency, resulting in the demise of music station WKND 99.5 FM. This was without requiring regulatory approval.
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'This agreement is solely a programming agreement providing for live, simultaneous rebroadcast of the QUB radio station's programming on the 99.5 FM frequency, Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.,' said Quebecor's vice president of regulatory and environmental affairs Peggy Tabet in a letter to the CRTC.
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Leclerc Communication's license stipulates that it is required to broadcast a majority of hours of French-language vocal music on weekdays. The company claims to be meeting its obligations but the CRTC recently challenged this claim in a letter after receiving complaints.
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