Quebecor Inc. moved forward on its threat to shut off its TVA Sports signal for Bell subscribers, just as National Hockey League playoffs got underway.

“Under the circumstances, Quebecor unfortunately has no alternative but to proceed with the withdrawal of TVA Sports' signal from Bell subscribers,” the company said in a release late Wednesday.

“Quebecor regrets having to take this action, but given the current obsolete regulatory framework, the survival of specialty channels is at stake.”

The decision came even after Canada's telecom regulator directed Quebecor, which has called for higher rates from Bell for its specialty channels, to continue providing its TVA Sports signal to Bell TV subscribers on Wednesday.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission also warned Wednesday that it is "ready to use the means at its disposal to enforce its regulations," which means that it could attach an order under Section 12 of the Broadcasting Act.

In a binding decision, the CRTC reiterated that the regulations provide that in the event of a dispute, programming must continue to be distributed at the same rates and terms.

In a letter sent to the parties, CRTC secretary general Claude Doucet urged the two companies to resolve their dispute as quickly as possible, pointing out that the CRTC could decide the matter at the request of one of the parties.

Bell’s vice chair for Quebec, Martine Turcotte, said in a statement subsequent to the CRTC’s directive that Quebecor’s threats were “highly inappropriate” and invited the company to negotiate “in good faith”.

With files from The Canadian Press 

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