Radio-Canada’s senior vice-president of French services, Michel Bissonnette, is leaving his position effective immediately. The information first transmitted by Le Soleil was confirmed by the public broadcaster this morning.
The departure of this Quebec television industry veteran comes in a special context for Radio-Canada. In recent months, there have been disagreements over the use of the N-word, particularly between English-speaking and French-speaking executives at the state-owned company. Budget cuts are also feared within public broadcasting.
The state-owned company did not say whether it was a resignation or a dismissal. Dany Meloul, director general of Television de Radio-Canada, will take over in the interim.
Michel Bissonnette has been in office since January 2017 and has directed all French-language programs broadcast on television, radio and the internet. One thing is certain: the news surprised many people, as the indicators for the French services are generally positive.
Since his appointment, ICI Radio-Canada Télé’s ratings have fallen in favor of the platforms – like those of all other television networks – but the French-language channel has withstood this difficult situation quite well, with a market share of around 25%. significantly higher than those collected by CBC. The radio sector experienced significant growth under Michel Bissonnette’s leadership. Last year, ICI Première and ICI Musique achieved market shares of 22% in the Montreal region, significantly exceeding expectations.
Which reason ?
In a short press release, CBC/Radio-Canada President Catherine Tait laconically praised the outgoing vice-president’s work. “I would like to thank Michel Bissonnette for his nearly seven-year contribution to strengthening Radio-Canada’s role at the heart of French-speaking culture across the country,” she said.
It has been widely known in recent months that Radio-Canada’s French-language leaders did not take the same positions as Catherine Tait on the broadcast’s use of the N-word. Ms. Tait, who is closely associated with the EDI (equity, diversity and inclusion) shift at CBC/Radio-Canada, just saw her mandate extended to 2025 by the Liberal government.
Michel Bissonnette is also leaving Radio-Canada as the institution says it is under budget pressure amid inflation and declining advertising revenue. As La Presse revealed last week, future cuts were discussed at a meeting of executives and journalists.
The possible coming to power of Pierre Poilievre, who is ahead in the latest polls, could also change the situation for the public broadcaster. The Conservative leader vows to kill the CBC but pledges to preserve at least part of Radio-Canada. However, this prospect is a cause for concern on the French-speaking side.
A TV pioneer
Le Devoir contacted Michel Bissonnette to find out the reasons for his sudden departure; He did not respond to our interview request.
He is one of the most important figures in the television industry in Quebec. In 2000, he co-founded Zone 3, now one of the largest manufacturing companies in Quebec. We owe him series like Minuit, le soir and Le coeur for his reasons.
He was also involved in the Quebec Liberal Party for a long time. Notably, he was president of the party’s youth commission and also led the party’s election campaign in 2012, when Jean Charest’s Liberals lost power to Pauline Marois’s PQ.