Judge orders Quebecor to reconnect TVA Sports signal for Bell TV subscribers

Quebecor head office is seen in downtown Wednesday, May 6, 2015 in Montreal. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz)

A Quebec judge has ordered Quebecor to reconnect the signal for three TVA Sports channels to Bell TV customers Friday night.

Quebec Superior Court Justice Claude Champagne refused, however, to prohibit the media company from making negative publicity about Bell, as its rival had requested, citing freedom of expression.

Quebecor CEO Pierre Karl Peladeau told reporters that the company was going to obey the injunction.

The ruling came after lawyers for Bell Canada and rival Quebecor Inc. were in court Friday, battling over three French-language sports channels that Bell TV subscribers haven't received since the NHL playoffs began this week.

Bell lawyer Francis Rouleau said that Quebecor planned well in advance to cut the signal on Wednesday as the National Hockey League playoffs began.

Rouleau said Quebecor's action breached their contract and flouted Canada's Broadcasting Act.

Bell asked for an interim court order to be issued quickly because interlocutory injunction proceedings would take months and a decision would come after the playoff season is over.

Rouleau said it was "disturbing" that Quebecor has publicly denounced the rules of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, which says feeds should remain intact during contractual disputes.

Quebecor's lawyer responded that the company believes the CRTC rules are invalid.