The numbers confirm a strong trend: young people are leaving television in Quebec. As we discovered in conversations with several of them, the reasons for this massive withdrawal are many and varied. Let's let Sara, a third-year secondary school student, summarize the prevailing: “Often it's only old people we see.” »
Published at 1:18 am. Updated at 5:00 am.
Listening hours among 12- to 17-year-olds, currently estimated at 9.5 hours per week, generally show an annual decline of about 12%, according to Numéris data compiled by the Cossette Media agency. But recently this decline has “increased sharply”. If we compare fall 2023 with fall 2022, the decline is more than 20%.
The disappearance of VRAK in October certainly contributed to the decline recorded. However, it is one factor among many, notes Isabelle Fournier, Head of Lead Activation at Cossette Media. Several specialty channels, including Addik, Historia and Canal D, have seen drops in viewing time among young people, as have Radio-Canada and TVA, she says.
This reality has long troubled the television industry. Because if you give up shows in Quebec as a teenager, your chances of returning there as an adult are slim.
Last Monday, Télé-Québec President and CEO Marie Collin spoke to the CRTC about the “urgency to act.” Denis Dubois, specialist in television development, production and broadcasting, sounds the alarm.
We have let go of several generations who are listening to our television less and less. We've waited too long. We have to react now!
Denis Dubois, specialist in television development, production and broadcasting
To feel the pulse of those most affected, we visited teenagers who attend the Beauharnois Youth Center in Montérégie. Your statements shed light on the current crisis.
When asked what type of television they watch, only one word comes to mind for 12- to 17-year-olds: Netflix. This phenomenon shouldn't surprise anyone. According to a report published in October by Media Technology Observer (OTM) Junior, Netflix remains the number one subscription video on demand service (VSDA) among French-speaking children under 18: 78% use it, compared to 56% for Prime Video and 50% for Disney+, two platforms that are becoming increasingly popular, statistics show.
“The characters are our age”
Netflix series are very popular with many teenagers because they feature characters they can identify with. Kelyane, 16, mentions Outer Banks and Stranger Things, Laurie-Anne, 12, mentions Sex Education and Ginny & Georgia, and Derek, 12, cites Locke & Key, a series that combines fantasy and horror. “It's sick!” » enthuses the supernatural lover.
“The characters are our age,” explains Laurence, 13.
PHOTO CATHERINE LEFEBVRE, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Magali Roussel, Maheva Leduc-Lalonde and Kelyane Pimparé
Currently in fifth grade, Magali candidly lists the themes she would like to see implemented more on the small screen in Quebec. “Drugs, alcohol, prostitution, sex, mental health issues… We don’t talk about them enough. And yet many people make a living from it,” says the young woman, who cites Fugueuse and L'Académie as examples of local series that she has recently devoured.
Tough competition
To capture young people's attention, traditional television is competing with different types of content, according to a report from OTM Junior published in September. In terms of screen time, it is the fifth choice of relaxation options among 12 to 17 year olds at just 7%, behind paid video streaming services such as Netflix and Prime Video (29%), YouTube (22%) ). %), video games (22%) and finally social networks (19%).
Furthermore, if we compare the data from September 2023 to September 2022, we see that within a year, weekly viewing hours of Netflix and YouTube have increased by more than 50% among 12-17 year olds, reveals Cossette Media.
PHOTO CATHERINE LEFEBVRE, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Sara Myles, Laurence Lapierre and Julia Courcelles
Our conversations illustrate this fierce competition. “I don’t really listen to TV,” admits Nathan, 12 years old. I prefer playing or listening to anime [films d’animation japonais] on Netflix. »
I prefer TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat.
Julia, 15 years old
Hope
Despite the unfavorable statistics, all is not lost for the local television industry. Certain Quebec programs obviously appeal to young people, such as STAT (Radio-Canada), Indefensible (TVA), Les bracelets rouge (TVA), Occupation double (Noovo), Révolution (TVA), Chanteurs masqueés (TVA), Survivor Québec ( Noovo), Big Brother Celebrities (Noovo), Les petits tannants (Radio-Canada) and Zénith (Radio-Canada).
“I like discussing things with my parents,” says Anthony, 13.
“Sometimes I listen to Alertes or 5e Rang with my parents,” comments Laurence.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, LA PRESSE ARCHIVE
Suzanne Clément and Lou-Pascal Tremblay star in STAT on ICI Télé.
“I’m STAT and unsustainable,” says Kelyane. I'm in secondary school 5 and have been thinking about becoming a lawyer or studying medicine. That taught me a little bit about that. It gives a picture of the profession. »
Most teenagers surveyed say they could be tempted by what Quebec has to offer… under certain conditions. Maheva, 15, would like “even more choice”.
It's always the same thing, the same series… It becomes redundant.
Magali, a fifth secondary school student
“And to have more choice, you have to search and subscribe, and that often costs money. It’s a dog,” continues Magali.
The biggest glimmer of hope, however, came from Derek, who we heard repeating a line from Elvis Gratton II – Miracle in Memphis as we put our notebook away. “I know it's not closed properly, I opened it again,” said the teenager, repeating word for word a famous scene from Pierre Falardeau's film, which was released long before he was born in 1999.
The pessimists can sleep easy (for now): as long as we see new generations quoting Elvis Gratton, Quebec culture will survive.