(Montréal, June 15, 2005) – METRO is very disappointed with TVA Network's decision not to renew the agreement between METRO RICHELIEU INC. and TVA Group for co-production of the MetroStar Gala.

“With the expiry of the latest co-production agreement covering the 2003, 2004 and 2005 MetroStar Galas, we were open to reviewing the different aspects of our partnership, which has lasted for 17 years, since 1989,” said Serge Boulanger, Vice-President, Marketing, for METRO RICHELIEU INC. “After preliminary discussions, however, management of TVA Network demanded new conditions from METRO in regards to the printing of flyers, an activity that has no link with television. These conditions were, unfortunately, unacceptable.”

For the past 20 years, METRO has administered the Gala MetroStar's entire nomination and public voting process, in addition to co-producing the show. METRO has always acted fairly with all Québec television broadcasters by insisting on impartiality among them and by serving the best interests of Québec's viewing public, for whom the MetroStar Gala is the television highlight of the season, year after year.

Because this is the public's celebration, no single television station or network has ever had exclusive broadcast rights to the show. As a result, since its inception, the MetroStar Gala has been broadcast by TQS in 1986, by Radio-Canada in 1987-88 and by TVA since 1989.

METRO, owner of the business brand Gala MetroStar, is currently examining every possibility regarding the presentation of the 21st MetroStar Gala in the spring of 2006 on another network.

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Source: METRO INC.

Information:
Marie-Claude Bacon
Senior Consultant, Corporate Affairs
(514) 643-1086

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