Jean Pouliot - First Publicly Traded Quebec Broadcaster

First Publicly Traded Quebec Broadcaster

In 1957, Pouliot became the general manager of Télévision de Québec, and launched CKMI-TV, Quebec's second private television station. CKMI-TV became Quebec City's CBC affiliate, and CFCM-TV converted to French language-only broadcasts. The new station was profitable in under a year. While at Télévision de Québec, Pouliot served from 1961 to 1965 as Vice-President, Television, of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB), and as its first francophone president from 1965 to 1967.

In 1971, Télévision de Québec expanded into radio, acquiring CHRC Limitée (CHRC-AM and CHOI-FM) and CKLM Montréal, as well as into movie production, with the purchase of Ciné-Capitale Ltée. In addition, together with Roland Giguère of Télé-Métropole, Pouliot co-founded the French language network TVA. The company, renamed Télé-Capitale, became the first publicly traded Quebec broadcaster in 1972, with Jean Pouliot at its head as president, CEO, and major shareholder. From 1971 to 1977, Pouliot was also the president of Broadcast News.