Réseau Pathonic
Encyclopedia
Réseau Pathonic was a French-language
television network
operating in the Canadian
province of Quebec
from approximately 1986 to 1990. The network was owned by Pathonic Communications Inc., controlled by the family of Paul Vien with 51%, and Télé-Métropole with 34%, with the remaining 15% owned by others. Although Pathonic was a Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)-licensed network within Quebec, its operations and coverage would be more comparable today to a television system
rather than a full-fledged network.
The network consisted of the following stations:
All of these stations were owned by Pathonic with the exception of CIMT, in which Pathonic held a 45% interest through Télé Inter-Rives
.
All of the stations in the Pathonic network were also affiliated with TVA
. However, these stations often aired programming substantially different from other TVA affiliates – even though Télé-Métropole, owner of TVA flagship station CFTM-TV
Montréal
, was a major minority shareholder. In those days, TVA, much like CTV
at the time and Global
today, did not have what could be considered a main schedule. The differences between schedules were strong enough that CHLT was carried on nearly all cable systems
in Montréal from the early 1980s onward; CHLT's over-the-air signal covers most of Montréal. The closest parallel to this in English Canada
was the now-defunct Baton Broadcast System
(in operation during the 1990s), as most of its stations were also CTV affiliates.
The network is believed to have been dissolved shortly after Pathonic Communications merged with Télé-Métropole in 1990. The sale unified the ownership of most of TVA's major affiliates (all except CHOT-TV
in the Ottawa
area) and ultimately unified the network's schedule.
Pathonic Communications also owned CKMI-TV
, an English-language station in Quebec City which was affiliated with CBC Television
(and which is now a Montréal-based Global O&O).
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
television network
Television network
A television network is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, whereby a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay TV providers. Until the mid-1980s, television programming in most countries of the world was dominated by a small...
operating in the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
from approximately 1986 to 1990. The network was owned by Pathonic Communications Inc., controlled by the family of Paul Vien with 51%, and Télé-Métropole with 34%, with the remaining 15% owned by others. Although Pathonic was a Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)-licensed network within Quebec, its operations and coverage would be more comparable today to a television system
Television system
A television system is a Canadian term for a group of television stations which share common ownership, branding, and programming, but are not considered a full television network....
rather than a full-fledged network.
The network consisted of the following stations:
- CFCM-TVCFCM-TVCFCM-TV is the TVA owned and operated station in Quebec City. Its studios and transmitter are co-located on Myrand Street in the former suburb of Sainte-Foy...
Quebec CityQuebec CityQuebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest... - CFER-TVCFER-TVCFER is a television station. It is the TVA affiliate in Rimouski, Quebec.The station was launched on June 4, 1978.CFER also has a rebroadcast transmitter in Sept-Îles, CFER-TV-2, broadcasting on Channel 5 with 100 kW of power.-External links:**...
Rimouski - CHLT-TVCHLT-TVCHLT-TV is the TVA owned and operated station in Sherbrooke, Quebec.The station went on the air for the first time on August 12, 1956. It was owned by La Tribune, the city's major newspaper, along with CHLT radio. Like most television stations in Quebec, it was a dual affiliate of both CBC and...
Sherbrooke - CHEM-TVCHEM-TVCHEM-TV is a Canadian television station. It is the TVA owned and operated station in Trois-Rivières, Quebec.The station was founded on August 29, 1976 and was owned by Telemedia. It was originally a semi-satellite of CHLT-TV in Sherbrooke, and has been a TVA station for its entire existence. ...
Trois-RivièresTrois-RivièresTrois-Rivières means three rivers in French and may refer to:in Canada*Trois-Rivières, the largest city in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada*Circuit Trois-Rivières, a racetrack in Trois-Rivières, Quebec... - CIMT-TVCIMT-TVCIMT-TV is a television station. It is the TVA affiliate in Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec.-History:The station was launched on September 17, 1978...
Rivière-du-Loup
All of these stations were owned by Pathonic with the exception of CIMT, in which Pathonic held a 45% interest through Télé Inter-Rives
Télé Inter-Rives
Télé Inter-Rives is a broadcasting company based in Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec. The company operates three stations in Rivière-du-Loup in a rare "triple-stick" :* CKRT 7/5/13...
.
All of the stations in the Pathonic network were also affiliated with TVA
TVA (TV network)
TVA is a privately owned French language television network in Canada. The network is currently owned by Groupe TVA Inc. , a publicly traded subsidiary of Quebecor Media...
. However, these stations often aired programming substantially different from other TVA affiliates – even though Télé-Métropole, owner of TVA flagship station CFTM-TV
CFTM-TV
CFTM-DT channel 10, is the flagship of the TVA television network, located in Montreal, Quebec.-History:It opened on February 19, 1961, a few weeks after CFCF-TV went on the air for the first time. It was owned by Joseph Alexandre DeSève and his company, Télé-Métropole...
Montréal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, was a major minority shareholder. In those days, TVA, much like CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
at the time and Global
Global Television Network
Global Television Network is an English language privately owned television network in Canada, owned by Calgary-based Shaw Communications, as part of its Shaw Media division...
today, did not have what could be considered a main schedule. The differences between schedules were strong enough that CHLT was carried on nearly all cable systems
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
in Montréal from the early 1980s onward; CHLT's over-the-air signal covers most of Montréal. The closest parallel to this in English Canada
English Canada
English Canada is a term used to describe one of the following:# English-speaking Canadians, as opposed to French-speaking Canadians. It is employed when comparing English- and French-language literature, media, or art...
was the now-defunct Baton Broadcast System
Baton Broadcast System
ONT was initiated in 1991, consisting of eight CTV affiliates - seven owned by Baton and Electrohome's CKCO. Initially providing 10.5 hours of common programming each week, this was soon expanded to 35 hours....
(in operation during the 1990s), as most of its stations were also CTV affiliates.
The network is believed to have been dissolved shortly after Pathonic Communications merged with Télé-Métropole in 1990. The sale unified the ownership of most of TVA's major affiliates (all except CHOT-TV
CHOT-TV
CHOT-DT is a television station in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. It is affiliated with the TVA network, and also serves Franco-Ontarians in the neighbouring city of Ottawa, Ontario. Its studios are located in the former city of Hull. The station broadcasts on channel 40, and it is owned by RNC Media...
in the Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
area) and ultimately unified the network's schedule.
Pathonic Communications also owned CKMI-TV
CKMI-TV
CKMI-DT-1 is the Global Television Network owned-and-operated station in Quebec.Originally a privately owned CBC Television affiliate in Quebec City, the station moved most of its operations to Montreal in 1997 after launching a rebroadcaster there and becoming a Global affiliate as Global Quebec...
, an English-language station in Quebec City which was affiliated with CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
(and which is now a Montréal-based Global O&O).