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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2025-308

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Reference: 2025-220

Gatineau, 20 November 2025

Videotron Ltd.
Across Canada

Public record: 2025-0344-0
Public hearing in the National Capital Region
30 October 2025

Videotron Ltd. – Various broadcasting distribution undertakings in Ontario; national on-demand undertaking – Acquisition of assets (corporate reorganization)

Summary

The Commission approves an application by Quebecor Media Inc. (Quebecor Media), on behalf of Videotron Ltd. (Videotron) and Freedom Mobile Inc. (Freedom Mobile), for authority to transfer from Freedom Mobile to Videotron, as part of a corporate reorganization, the assets of terrestrial broadcasting distribution undertakings serving the Greater Toronto Area and the cities of Barrie, Hamilton-Niagara, and Oshawa, as well as the assets of its national on-demand service.

The Commission also approves Quebecor Media’s request for new broadcasting licences to continue the operation of the above-mentioned undertakings.

Application

  1. On 4 July 2025, Quebecor Media Inc. (Quebecor Media), on behalf of Videotron Ltd. (Videotron) and Freedom Mobile Inc. (Freedom Mobile), filed an application for authority to transfer from Freedom Mobile to Videotron, as part of a corporate reorganization, the assets of terrestrial broadcasting distribution undertakings (BDU) serving the Greater Toronto Area (including Ajax, Aurora, Bolton, Brampton, Caledon, Claremont, Etobicoke, Georgetown, King City, Markham, Milton, Mississauga, Nobleton, North York, Pickering, Richmond Hill, Scarborough, Toronto, Vaughan and Woodbridge) and the cities of Barrie, Hamilton-Niagara, and Oshawa, as well as the assets of its national on-demand service. Following the reorganization, Videotron would also be registered as the operator of the online undertaking RiverTV.Footnote 1
  2. Quebecor Media also requested new broadcasting licences to continue the operation of the above-mentioned undertakings under the same terms and conditions as those currently in effect.
  3. In addition, Quebecor Media requested the revocation of the licence of Freedom Mobile’s national on-demand service, to be effective after the close of the transaction. This revocation would be processed administratively.
  4. Freedom Mobile is wholly owned by Videotron, which is controlled by Quebecor Inc. through various subsidiaries. The effective control of Quebecor Media is ultimately exercised by Pierre Karl Péladeau.
  5. The proposed corporate reorganization would consist of the wind-up of Freedom Mobile into Videotron, which would result in the transfer of all of Freedom Mobile’s assets to Videotron.
  6. The corporate reorganization would not affect the effective control of the BDUs and the national on-demand service, which will continue to be exercised by Pierre Karl Péladeau.
  7. Following the completion of the corporate transaction and the issuance of new broadcasting licences, Videotron would become the licensee of the above-mentioned BDUs and the national on-demand service.
  8. The applicant stated that this corporate reorganization is intended to continue its strategy for optimization and operational synergy between its various entities.
  9. The Commission did not receive any interventions in regard to this application.

Regulatory framework

  1. The review of ownership transactions is an essential element of the Commission’s regulatory and supervisory mandate under the Broadcasting Act (the Act). Obtaining a licence to operate a broadcasting undertaking (in this case, BDUs and a national on-demand service) is a regulatory privilege granted by the Commission. A licensee does not have the authority to transfer a licence to a new operator as they see fit. For this reason, licensees must obtain the Commission’s approval before entering into any action, agreement or transaction that changes, directly or indirectly, the effective control of the BDU and the national on-demand service. For the licensed BDUs in this decision, this requirement is set out in section 4 of the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations. For the licenced national on-demand service, this requirement is set out in section 10 of the Discretionary Services Regulations.
  2. Under subsection 18(1) of the Act, the Commission must conduct a public hearing for the issuance of a broadcasting licence. Broadcasting Information Bulletins 2011-222 and 2008-8-2 outline that the Commission generally reviews applications related to the acquisition of assets through public hearings, either appearing or non-appearing. Applications are non-appearing where the Commission is satisfied that the applicant and interested parties had an opportunity to present their views and that the written record is sufficient and further discussion is not necessary.

Canadian ownership and control

  1. Pursuant to paragraph 3(1)(a) of the Act, the Canadian broadcasting system shall be effectively owned and controlled by Canadians. Quebecor Inc., a qualified corporation, owns Videotron through various subsidiaries. All of the members of Videotron’s board of directors are Canadian, as defined in Direction to the CRTC (Ineligibility of Non-Canadians)Footnote 2 [the Direction]. As such, Videotron meets the definition of “Canadian” set out in the Direction and the proposed corporate reorganization satisfies the eligibility criteria set out in the Direction.

Tangible benefits

  1. Under the Commission’s Tangible Benefits Policy,Footnote 3 the Commission requires applicants to provide tangible benefits when filing an application for changes in ownership or effective control of a broadcasting undertaking, with the exception of BDUs. Given that approval of this corporate reorganization would not result in a change of effective control of the national on-demand service, the Commission finds that no tangible benefits are required.

Conclusion

  1. In light of all of the above, the Commission approves the application by Quebecor Media, on behalf of Videotron and Freedom Mobile, for authority to transfer from Freedom Mobile to Videotron, as part of a corporate reorganization, the assets of the terrestrial BDUs serving the Greater Toronto Area (including Ajax, Aurora, Bolton, Brampton, Caledon, Claremont, Etobicoke, Georgetown, King City, Markham, Milton, Mississauga, Nobleton, North York, Pickering, Richmond Hill, Scarborough, Toronto, Vaughan and Woodbridge) and the cities of Barrie, Hamilton-Niagara, and Oshawa, as well as the assets of its national on-demand service. Following the reorganization, Videotron will also be registered as the operator of RiverTV.
  2. The four BDUs serving the Greater Toronto Area and the cities of Barrie, Hamilton-Niagara, and Oshawa operate separately under one regional licence.
  3. Videotron shall notify the Commission upon completion of the corporate reorganization. Upon surrender of the current licences held by Freedom Mobile, the Commission will issue new broadcasting licences to Videotron. The BDUs and the national on-demand service shall be subject to the terms and conditions of service set out in Appendices 1 and 2, respectively, to this decision. The new licences will expire 31 August 2026, which is the same expiry date as for the current licences.
  4. The revocation of the licence of the national on-demand service currently owned by Freedom Mobile, which would be effective after the completion of the transaction, will be processed administratively.
  5. Further, Videotron shall file with the Commission the final agreement(s) for the corporate reorganization within 30 days of its completion.
  6. This decision is to be appended to each licence.

Conditions of service

  1. Given that the applicant proposed to operate the BDUs and the national on-demand service under the same terms and conditions as those in effect under the current licences, the Commission makes the following orders consistent with the existing conditions of service.
  2. In regard to the various BDUs, the current licensee is required to adhere to the conditions of service set out in Appendix 1 to Broadcasting Decision 2024-323. The Commission considers it appropriate to require the new licensee to continue to adhere to these conditions of service.
  3. In regard to the national on-demand service, the current licensee is required to adhere to the conditions of service set out in Appendix 2 to Broadcasting Decision 2024-323 as well as the standard conditions of service for on-demand services set out in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2017-138. The Commission considers it appropriate to require the new licensee to continue to adhere to these standard conditions of service.
  4. Further, for the BDUs and the national on-demand service, pursuant to subsection 49(2) of the Online Streaming Act, any regulation made under paragraphs 10(1)(a) or 10(1)(i) of the old Broadcasting Act is deemed to be an order made under section 9.1 of the new Broadcasting Act. As a result, the Commission considers it appropriate to require that the new licensee adhere to these requirements as conditions of service.
  5. Accordingly, for the BDUs serving various locations in Ontario, pursuant to subsection 9.1(1) of the Act, the Commission orders Videotron Ltd., by condition of service, to adhere to the existing requirements relating to signal distribution, adherence to various industry codes, the submission of information as part of its annual returns, and accessibility set out in Appendix 1 to Broadcasting Decision 2024-323, as well as to the applicable requirements in the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations, that were made under paragraphs 10(1)(a) or 10(1)(i) of the old Act.
  6. Further, for the national on-demand service, pursuant to subsections 9.1(1) and 11.1(2) of the Act, the Commission orders Videotron Ltd., by condition of service, to adhere to the standard conditions of service set out in the appendix to Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2017-138, as well as to all applicable requirements set out in the Discretionary Services Regulations and referred to in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2017-138, that were made under paragraphs 10(1)(a) or 10(1)(i) of the old Act.
  7. In addition, consistent with the existing condition of service for the national on-demand service set out in the appendix to Broadcasting Decision 2024-323, pursuant to subsection 9.1(1) of the Act, the Commission orders Videotron Ltd., by condition of service, to provide, by 30 November for each broadcast year of the licence term, a report to the Commission describing its progress in implementing the system it plans to put in place to comply with its condition of service relating to the annual submission of aggregate statistical data.
  8. The terms as well as the specifics of the conditions of service for the BDUs serving the Greater Toronto Area and the cities of Barrie, Hamilton-Niagara, and Oshawa are set out in Appendix 1 to this decision. The terms as well as the specifics of the conditions of service for the national on-demand service are set out in Appendix 2.
  9. The Commission notes that the formal broadcasting licence document issued to a licensee may set out additional requirements for the undertaking, relating to, for example, technical parameters or prohibition on transfer. The licensee shall, therefore, also adhere to any such requirements set out in the broadcasting licences for the undertakings.
  10. The Commission notes that this application, including the proposed conditions of service, were subject to a public proceeding that provided both the applicant and other interested parties notice of, and an opportunity to make representations with respect to, the proposed conditions of service. The Commission is satisfied that, in this case, the public proceeding was sufficient to achieve the purposes of the publication and consultation requirement set out in subsections 9.1(4) and 11.1(7) of the Act.

Assessment of compliance

  1. When a new licence is issued, the Commission assesses the licensee’s compliance with its regulatory requirements. When a new licence is issued as part of an ownership transaction, this assessment is typically conducted as part of the Commission’s examination of that transaction, rather than at licence renewal.
  2. In the present case, however, the following factors weigh in favour of assessing compliance with the undertakings’ requirements at licence renewal:
    • the transaction is a corporate reorganization and the licences will ultimately be controlled by the current owner, Pierre Karl Péladeau;
    • the new licences will be issued under the same conditions as those in effect under the current licences; and
    • the expiry date for the licences involved in the transaction is 31 August 2026.Footnote 4
  3. In light of the above, the Commission will assess the licensee’s compliance in regard to the BDUs and the national on-demand service at the time of their next licence renewals.
  4. Nevertheless, the Commission expects Videotron to assume responsibility for any non-compliance by Freedom Mobile in regard to its regulatory requirements that may occur during the current licence term for the undertakings, if such non-compliance is identified at the next licence renewal.

Reminder

Employment equity

  1. Because this licensee is subject to the Employment Equity Act and files reports concerning employment equity with the Department of Employment and Social Development (also known as Employment and Social Development Canada), its employment equity practices are not examined by the Commission.
  2. The amendments to the Broadcasting Act resulting from the Online Streaming Act place greater emphasis on the inclusion of Indigenous persons, Canadians from Black or other racialized communities, and Canadians of diverse ethnocultural backgrounds, socio-economic status, abilities and disabilities, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and ages, in the Canadian broadcasting system. The Commission has announced consultations on diversity and inclusion in its Regulatory plan to modernize Canada’s broadcasting framework. In the meantime, the Commission expects the licensee to reflect this emphasis in its operational decisions.

Secretary General

Related documents

Appendix 1 to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2025-308

Terms, conditions of service and expectations for the terrestrial broadcasting distribution undertakings serving the Greater Toronto Area (including Ajax, Aurora, Bolton, Brampton, Caledon, Claremont, Etobicoke, Georgetown, King City, Markham, Milton, Mississauga, Nobleton, North York, Pickering, Richmond Hill, Scarborough, Toronto, Vaughan and Woodbridge) and the cities of Barrie, Hamilton-Niagara, and Oshawa, Ontario

Terms

The licence will expire 31 August 2026.

Conditions of service

Conditions of service applicable to all of the undertakings
  1. The licensee shall adhere to all applicable requirements set out in the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations, that were made under paragraph 10(1)(a) or under paragraph 10(1)(i) of the old Broadcasting Act.
  2. The licensee shall adhere to the Wholesale Code set out in the appendix to The Wholesale Code, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2015-438, 24 September 2015, in its dealings with any licensed or exempt broadcasting undertaking.
  3. The licensee shall adhere to the Television Service Provider Code set out in the appendix to The Television Service Provider Code, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2016-1, 7 January 2016.
  4. The licensee shall be a participant in the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services Inc.
  5. In the annual return that the licensee is required to submit to the Commission by 30 November for the broadcast year ending the previous 31 August, the licensee shall include the number of hours of original programming broadcast during each broadcast year on each of its community channels or an on-demand service on which the licensee distributes programming that qualifies as local expression.
  6. In the annual return that the licensee is required to submit to the Commission by 30 November for the broadcast year ending the previous 31 August, the licensee shall include information relating to the following:
    • the availability of accessible set-top boxes and remote controls and their accessibility features;
    • the penetration of accessible set-top boxes and remote controls with the licensee’s customer base; and
    • the number of accessibility-related queries received by the licensee and the number successfully resolved.
  7. The licensee shall close caption 100% of original licensee-produced English- and French-language programming aired on its community channel or an on-demand service on which the licensee distributes programming that qualifies as local expression by the end of the licence term.
  8. The licensee shall provide audio description for all the key elements of information programs, including news programming on its community channel or on-demand service on which the licensee distributes programming that qualifies as local expression (that is, the voice-over of key textual, graphic design and still image elements, such as phone numbers, stock information or weather maps that are posted on the screen).
  9. The licensee shall provide the necessary training to host and access producers associated with its community channel concerning the provision of audio description.
  10. The licensee shall provide one or more simple means of accessing described programming, whether in an open or embedded format, that requires little or no visual acuity.
  11. The licensee shall promote information on all of its disability-specific services and products in the accessible manner(s) of its choice.
  12. The licensee shall incorporate an easy-to-find home page link to the sections of its website dealing with the needs of persons with disabilities, if its website includes such sections.
  13. The licensee shall make the information on its website accessible to the point of providing reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. Examples of what the Commission considers to be reasonable accommodations are listed in paragraph 66 of Accessibility of telecommunications and broadcasting services, Broadcasting and Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2009-430, 21 July 2009.
  14. Where customer service functions on its website are not accessible, the licensee shall ensure that persons with disabilities will not incur a charge or otherwise be disadvantaged if they use an alternate avenue of customer service.
  15. The licensee shall make accessible any customer service functions that are available solely over its website.
  16. The licensee shall make its general call centres accessible to the point of providing reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities by:
    • training customer service representatives in handling enquiries from persons with disabilities and familiarizing them with the service provider’s products and services for persons with disabilities; and
    • making its Interactive Voice Response systems accessible.
Condition of service specific to the broadcasting distribution undertakings serving Barrie, Hamilton-Niagara, and Oshawa, Ontario
  1. The licensee is authorized to distribute, on a discretionary basis, the signals of WNLO-TV and WNYO-TV Buffalo, New York.

Expectations

Accessibility

The Commission expects the licensee to ensure that subscribers are able to identify programming with described video in the electronic program guide.

The Commission expects the licensee to make information available in alternative formats to subscribers regarding, among other things, the programming and services offered and the channel line-up.

The Commission expects the licensee to ensure that 100% of original English- and French-language access programming aired on its community channel or on-demand service on which the licensee distributes programming that qualifies as local expression is closed captioned by the end of its licence term.

The Commission expects the licensee to ensure that advertising, sponsorship messages and promos inserted into local availabilities are closed captioned.

Cultural diversity

The Broadcasting Act places greater emphasis on the inclusion and reflection of Indigenous persons, Canadians from Black or other racialized communities, and Canadians of diverse ethnocultural backgrounds, socio-economic status, abilities and disabilities, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and ages, in the Canadian broadcasting system. The Commission expects the licensee to take concrete measures to ensure it contributes to this inclusion and reflection in both its programming and its employment practices.

Non-compliance by the previous licensee

The Commission expects the licensee to assume responsibility for any non-compliance by Freedom Mobile Inc., the former licensee, with its regulatory obligations that occurred since the issuance of Various terrestrial broadcasting distribution undertakings – Licence renewals and imposition of requirements relating to a set-top box audience measurement system, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2018-270, 2 August 2018, if any such non-compliance is identified during the next licence renewal for the undertakings.

Appendix 2 to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2025-308

Terms, conditions of service, expectations and encouragements for the national on-demand service

Terms

The licence will expire 31 August 2026.

Conditions of service

The licensee shall adhere to the conditions of service set out in the appendix to Standard requirements for on-demand services, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2017-138, 10 May 2017. Further, the licensee shall adhere to the requirements set out in the broadcasting licence for the undertaking.

The licensee shall adhere to all applicable requirements set out in the Discretionary Services Regulations and referred to in the conditions of service set out in the appendix to Standard requirements for on-demand services, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2017-138, 10 May 2017, that were made under paragraph 10(1)(a) or under paragraph 10(1)(i) of the old Broadcasting Act.

The licensee shall, by 30 November for each broadcast year of the licence term, provide a report to the Commission describing its progress in implementing the system it plans to put in place to comply with its condition of service relating to the annual submission of aggregate statistical data, specifically, condition 25 set out in the appendix to Standard requirements for on-demand services, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2017-138, 10 May 2017.

Expectations

Standard expectations

The standard expectations for this service are set out in the appendix to Standard requirements for on-demand services, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2017-138, 10 May 2017.

Cultural diversity

The Broadcasting Act places greater emphasis on the inclusion and reflection of Indigenous persons, Canadians from Black or other racialized communities, and Canadians of diverse ethnocultural backgrounds, socio-economic status, abilities and disabilities, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and ages, in the Canadian broadcasting system. The Commission expects the licensee to take concrete measures to ensure it contributes to this inclusion and reflection in both its programming and its employment practices.

Non-compliance by the previous licensee

The Commission expects the licensee to assume responsibility for any non-compliance by Freedom Mobile Inc., the former licensee, with its regulatory obligations that occurred since the issuance of VMedia – National on-demand service – Licence renewal, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2023-401, 4 December 2023, if any such non-compliance is identified during the next licence renewal for the service.

Encouragements

Standard encouragements

The standard expectations for this service are set out in the appendix to Standard requirements for on-demand services, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2017-138, 10 May 2017.

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