Montreal-based Quebecor said that its deal with Rogers Communications to broadcast NHL games "has been an early success even though the venture will take up to five years before it is profitable," according to Ross Marowits of the CP. Since adding the games to its schedule this season, including Canadiens matches on Saturday night, TVA Sports has "increased its subscriber base to two million," up 25% in a year. The company signed an $800M (all figures Canadian) deal in '13 with Rogers "to broadcast NHL games over 12 years starting with the current season." Quebecor President & CEO Pierre Dion said that more subscribers "will be drawn to the network as playoffs get underway in April." As the exclusive French-language playoff broadcaster, Quebecor "sees TVA Sports attracting additional viewers to the 80 to 90 playoff games," as well as the '16 World Cup of Hockey. Until that subscriber base "fills up," however, the $65M a year in programming costs "will weigh on the earnings of Quebecor's media business." Overall, Quebecor swung to a $59.5M loss in Q4 "from a $300,000 profit a year earlier as it absorbed one-time charges and additional programming costs" (CP, 3/12).
