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Elle Fictions (stylized ELLE Fictions) is a Canadian French language specialty channel owned by
Remstar Media Group Remstar Media Group is a privately held Canadian media firm, owned by the film production and distribution company Remcorp. It owns the French-language specialty channels Elle Fictions and Max. History In June 2008, Remstar acquired the Frenc ...
. The channel broadcasts general entertainment programming targeting young adult women. It was first established in 1986 as the music television channel MusiquePlus, as a joint venture between
CHUM Limited CHUM Limited was a Canadian media company based in Toronto, Ontario in operation from 1945 to 2007. The company was founded in 1945 as York Broadcasters Limited when it launched CHUM-AM 1050 but was acquired by salesman Allan Waters in 1954. CH ...
—owner of its English-language sister MuchMusic, and Montreal-based radio broadcaster Radiomutuel. Following the acquisition of CHUM by CTVglobemedia, Radiomutuel's successor
Astral Media Astral Media Inc. was a Canadian media conglomerate. It was Canada's largest radio broadcaster, with 84 radio stations in eight provinces. Astral was also a major player in premium and specialty television in Canada, with 23 specialty channels ...
acquired CHUM's stake in MusiquePlus, marking its separation from common ownership with its English counterpart. After the 2013 acquisition of Astral by CTVglobemedia's predecessor
Bell Media Bell Media Inc. ( French: ) is a Canadian company formed by the amalgamation of several companies. Establishment (2011–13) On December 9, 2011, the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan announced the sale of its majority stake in Maple Leaf Sports ...
, MusiquePlus was sold to V Media Group, parent company of Quebec's V network. As with its English counterpart, MusiquePlus was formerly oriented primarily towards music programming. Due to shrinking interest in music television because of the growth of online platforms, MusiquePlus increasingly focused on non-music programming targeting a young adult audience, such as comedy, films, and reality shows. In February 2019, V Media Group announced that it planned to discontinue MusiquePlus entirely, and re-launch the channel with an entertainment format targeting women. The channel officially relaunched as under its current branding,
licensed A license (or licence) is an official permission or permit to do, use, or own something (as well as the document of that permission or permit). A license is granted by a party (licensor) to another party (licensee) as an element of an agreeme ...
from the French women's magazine ''
Elle ''Elle'' (stylized ''ELLE'') is a worldwide women's magazine of French origin that offers a mix of fashion and beauty content, together with culture, society and lifestyle. The title means "she" or "her" in French. ''Elle'' is considered the w ...
,'' on August 26, 2019. As a former Category A service, Elle Fictions was required to be carried on the basic service of all digital television providers serving the province of Quebec. The channel was, and still is, typically offered optionally at the discretion of providers outside of the province.


History


As MusiquePlus

Launching on September 2, 1986, MusiquePlus originated with an eight-hour schedule, sharing channel space with TVJQ (a predecessor of
VRAK.TV Vrak (stylized as VRΔK) is a Canadian French language specialty channel owned by Bell Media. The channel primarily broadcasts live-action programming aimed at youth audiences. History Background The youth channel TVJQ () went on the air in 19 ...
); it consisted of music videos and interviews and performances that were taped from a studio on Boulevard St. Laurent in Montreal. Four hours of this programming was produced from MuchMusic's studios in Toronto and sent to
Vidéotron Vidéotron is a Canadian integrated telecommunications company active in cable television, interactive multimedia development, video on demand, cable telephony, wireless communication and Internet access services. Owned by Quebecor, it primarily s ...
for broadcast in Quebec to subscribers of MuchMusic. This programming repeated once daily. CHUM later submitted an application with the CRTC in 1987 for a licence to operate MusiquePlus as a dedicated 24-hour channel. The CRTC approved its application, and MusiquePlus was launched as a separate channel on September 1, 1988. The channel was a joint venture between CHUM Limited and Radiomutueleach owning 50%. Radiomutuel was acquired by
Astral Media Astral Media Inc. was a Canadian media conglomerate. It was Canada's largest radio broadcaster, with 84 radio stations in eight provinces. Astral was also a major player in premium and specialty television in Canada, with 23 specialty channels ...
in June 1999. In July 2006,
CTVglobemedia Bell Media Inc. ( French: ) is a Canadian company formed by the amalgamation of several companies. Establishment (2011–13) On December 9, 2011, the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan announced the sale of its majority stake in Maple Leaf Sports ...
announced it would make a bid to buy CHUM Limited. Initial plans were to keep MusiquePlus and MusiMax, although CTVglobemedia soon announced that it would sell its stake in MusiquePlus and Musimax. On April 11, 2007, Astral announced that it would acquire the remaining 50% in MusiMax and MusiquePlus from CTVglobemedia, giving it full ownership—separating the network from its original parent. This deal was completed on June 30, 2007—to signify its independence from MuchMusic, MusiquePlus adopted a new logo the following year in September 2008. On August 23, 2010, Astral launched a high definition feed of MusiquePlus.


Sale to Remstar/V Media Group

While MusiquePlus has operated separately from MuchMusic ever since the deal, the network was almost re-united with its former parent in 2012 when CTVglobemedia's successor
Bell Media Bell Media Inc. ( French: ) is a Canadian company formed by the amalgamation of several companies. Establishment (2011–13) On December 9, 2011, the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan announced the sale of its majority stake in Maple Leaf Sports ...
attempted to acquire the entirety of Astral Media for an estimated $3.38 billion. However, the proposed deal was rejected by the CRTC. On March 4, 2013, following consultation with the Competition Bureau, Bell announced that it would go through with the purchase, but divest MusiquePlus, Musimax, and four other Astral-owned channels. On December 4, 2013,
Remstar Remcorp is a Canadian private investment firm founded by businessman Maxime Rémillard. Its head offices are located in Montreal, Quebec. History The company was founded in 1997. At first involved in the entertainment industry, Remcorp now ma ...
, owners of the French television system V, announced that it would acquire MusiquePlus and MusiMax for an undisclosed amount. On September 11, 2014, the CRTC approved the sale. The acquisition is valued at $15.5 million; to fund the purchase, Remstar sold 15% stakes in the holding company
V Media Group Remstar Media Group is a privately held Canadian media firm, owned by the film production and distribution company Remcorp. It owns the French-language specialty channels Elle Fictions and Max. History In June 2008, Remstar acquired the French ...
to the Caisse,
Fonds de solidarité FTQ The largest development capital network in the province, the Fonds de solidarité FTQ was created on the initiative of the FTQ, Québec's largest central labour body. As of Novembre 30, 2022, the Fonds held $17.8 billion in net assets and ha ...
and
Investissement Québec Investissement Québec is a company established in 1998 under an act passed by the National Assembly of Quebec to favour investment in Quebec by Quebec-based and international companies. Its registered office is located in Quebec City. In December 2 ...
, and sold $1.5 million in advertising time across MusiquePlus and MusiMax to Bell. Remstar also successfully applied to have the amount of music-oriented programming the channel must air reduced to 80%. The sale was closed on September 16, 2014.


As Elle Fictions

In February 2019, V Media Group announced that MusiquePlus would be rebranded and relaunched later in the year, as a network featuring scripted programming catered towards a female audience. The company cited the successful relaunch of sister channel MusiMax as the general entertainment channel Max as a factor in the decision. In May 2019, it was announced that the channel would re-launch on August 26 as Elle Fictions, and that it would feature series and films targeting "active" young adult women. The branding is licensed from the French magazine ''
Elle ''Elle'' (stylized ''ELLE'') is a worldwide women's magazine of French origin that offers a mix of fashion and beauty content, together with culture, society and lifestyle. The title means "she" or "her" in French. ''Elle'' is considered the w ...
'': the French Canadian version of the magazine had previously been published by Remstar rival Groupe TVA, but it had been announced that the rights were being acquired by KO Media—owned by local personality Louis Morissette.


Programming


As Elle Fictions

The channel primarily broadcasts French-language dubs of drama series, as well as an originally-Spanish-language
telenovela A telenovela is a type of a television serial drama or soap opera produced primarily in Latin America. The word combines ''tele'' (for "television") and ''novela'' (meaning "novel"). Similar drama genres around the world include ''teleserye'' ...
. * '' Dawson's Creek'' * '' Desperate Housewives'' * '' For the People'' * ''
Gilmore Girls ''Gilmore Girls'' is an American Comedy drama, comedy-drama television series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino and starring Lauren Graham (Lorelai Gilmore) and Alexis Bledel (Rory Gilmore). The show debuted on October 5, 2000, on The WB and beca ...
'' * '' Gossip Girl'' * ''
Pasión prohibida ''Pasión Prohibida'' () is a Spanish-language romantic drama telenovela produced by United States-based television network Telemundo Television Studios, Miami. It is a remake of the Turkish telenovela '' Aşk-ı Memnu'' by Ece Yörenç and Mele ...
'' * ''
Road to Avonlea ''Road to Avonlea'' is a Television in Canada, Canadian television series first broadcast in Canada between January 7, 1990, and March 31, 1996, as part of the ''CBC Family Hour'' anthology series, and in the United States starting on March 5, ...
''


As MusiquePlus

In the beginning of MusiquePlus, its programming relied heavily on music videos, which came from a much more diverse selection of genres because MusiquePlus was the only French language music service available at the time. With the launch of
MusiMax Max is a Canadian French language specialty channel owned by Remstar Media Group, a division of Remstar. The channel primarily broadcasts entertainment programming, focusing on scripted television series and films. Established in 1997 as MusiMax ...
, a sister channel aimed at an older demographic (and similar to MuchMusic's sister channel
MuchMore M3 was a Canadian English language Category A cable and satellite specialty channel owned by Bell Media. Established in 1998 as MuchMoreMusic, the network began as a spin-off of the youth-oriented MuchMusic, targeting an older demographic wit ...
), MusiquePlus began to cater its programming to younger viewers. As the channel grew over time, dependence on music videos decreased and programming began to include films, reality TV series and comedies (such as '' L'Gros Show''). '' Décompte MusiquePlus'' served as the channel's weekly top-20 program.


Notable former staff

* Sonia Benezra *
Véronique Cloutier Véronique Cloutier (born December 31, 1974), also known as Véro, is a popular French Canadian TV and radio personality. She is the daughter of Guy Cloutier and the sister of Stéphanie Cloutier. She has hosted various programs on Radio-Canada, i ...
* Marlyne Afflack * Abeille Gélinas * Louis-José Houde * Pierre Landry * Patrick Langlois * Anne-Marie Losique * Marie Plourde * Catherine Pogonat * Juliette Powell * Claude Rajotte *
Anne-Marie Withenshaw Anne-Marie Withenshaw is a Canadian television and radio personality, from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Career Withenshaw graduated from Concordia University with a Bachelor of Arts & Science in Communications Studies. She started working on MuchMu ...


See also

*
Music of Quebec Like many cosmopolitan cities, Quebec is a home for all genres of music. From folk music to hip hop, music has always played an important role in Quebecer culture. In the 1920s and '30s singer/songwriter Madam Bolduc performed comedic songs in ...
*
Culture of Quebec The culture of Quebec emerged over the last few hundred years, resulting predominantly from the shared history of the French-speaking North American majority in Quebec. Québécois culture, as a whole, constitutes all distinctive traits – spiri ...


References


External links

* {{Elle magazine Elle (magazine) Television channels and stations established in 1986 1986 establishments in Quebec French-language television networks in Canada