History


In 40 years of serving Quebecers, Videotron has learned what the public wants in television and Internet services. Despite deregulation of the television distribution market, Quebecers continue to choose Videotron over the competition.

1964
Télécâble Vidéotron ltée, the precursor of Le Groupe Vidéotron ltée, founded with André Chagnon as President. It has 66 subscribers to its cable system in the Montréal suburbs of Montréal-Nord and Laval.

1966-1969
Videotron buys, modernizes and builds cable networks across Québec.

1969
First pay-per-view service launched under the name Sélecto-TV. Many other innovations of the kind follow.

1974
In an international first, two-way cable service is launched in Saint-Jérôme.

1980
Groupe Vidéotron acquires National Cablevision and becomes the largest cable operator in Québec.

1985
Initial Public Offering (IPO) on November 20. Groupe Vidéotron issues shares, is listed on the Montréal Stock Exchange.

1986
Groupe Vidéotron acquires Télé-Métropole inc., the largest French-language private broadcaster in North America.

1989
Launch of Le SuperClub Vidéotron ltée, now the largest chain of video stores in Québec.

Groupe Vidéotron builds a long-distance fibre-optic network between Montréal and Québec City for its own telecommunications needs.

1990
Videotron introduces Videoway set-top box, the first interactive television system in North America.

1995
Videotron enters the Internet age. The following year, Videotron launches the InfiniT.com Internet portal, one of Québec's most popular gateways to the Web.

1997
Groupe Vidéotron acquires CF Cable TV Inc., which serves customers primarily in the western part of the Island of Montréal and the southern part of Laval.

1999
Digital television is launched in Montréal in the spring, and then in Hull and Québec City in the fall. It is an instant success, with nearly 25,000 subscribers signed up by November 30, 1999.

2000
Quebecor Media acquires Groupe Vidéotron on October 2.

2001
CRTC approves the transfer of the assets of Vidéotron ltée to Quebecor Media on May 23.

illicoTM interactive television service launched.

2003
Video on Demand and High-Definition Television launched.

2004
Videotron becomes the first major cable company in Québec to offer customers a High Definition Personal Video Recorder (HD-PVR).

2005
Videotron becomes the first major cable company in Canada to offer residential cable telephone service.

2006
Videotron Telecom is merged into Videotron and Videotron Business Solutions is created.

Videotron becomes the first major telecom in Canada to offer 16 mbps residential Internet access throughout its service area.








612 St. Jacques St. 
Montréal (Québec)
H3C 4M8
Tel. Montréal:
514.281.1711

Rest of the province:
188-Vidéotron

www.videotron.com





© Quebecor Inc., 2004