LE QUÉBEC DES BÂTISSEURS

This chapter recounts the leading role played by Quebec entrepreneurs in the development of a media industry and a rich ecosystem, from the very beginnings of broadcasting in the 1920s to the present day.  The chronology of milestones is determined by the evolution of technologies - radio, terrestrial television, cable television, the Internet - and changes in the regulatory framework to reflect changes in the media industry structure and the nature of the competitive environment.  The contribution of universities to the training of audiovisual professionals and craftsmen is emphasized as well as access to capital as a necessary condition for ensuring competitiveness and supporting business growth.  The main stages in the development of Cogeco, Québecor and TC Transcontinental, the three main companies in the sector that are now billionaires, are then described.  The chapter concludes with a summary of the challenges facing all media categories, and the initiatives taken by the governments of Canada and Quebec to counter the deleterious effects of the web giants' stranglehold on the media industry.