Quebecor Media has pledged to resume its monthly payments to the Canadian Television Fund, though it is standing by its original complaints that it is poorly managed and in need of an overhaul.

Quebecor CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau made the abrupt about-face Tuesday night, pledging in a statement that his company, which controls the Videotron cable outfit, will resume payments to the troubled TV fund.

The change of heart follows remarks made earlier that day by newly named CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein, who warned Quebecor and its cohort Shaw Communications that all CTF stakeholders ‘must play by the rules.’

Von Finckenstein also threatened to ‘expeditiously’ rewrite CRTC rules so that cable companies would be required to make monthly payments to CTF, closing a loophole that specified only yearly contributions.

Péladeau is still pushing for an overhaul of CTF, however.

‘Quebecor Media maintains the position that CTF no longer corresponds to the modern reality and… constitute[s] a real danger for the future of the industry,’ reads the statement, going on to say the company is prepared to work with federal officials on a longer-term solution.

Producers in Quebec are relieved, but they are anxious to see what Shaw Communications will do.

‘We are very, very happy that Quebecor has decided to do this, but Shaw is also important. If Shaw doesn’t contribute, there will still be a major shortfall in the fund,’ says APFTQ spokesperson Céline Pelletier.

Playback Daily‘s calls to the Calgary-based cable giant were not returned by press time.

According to Quebecor spokesman Luc Lavoie, the company sent a cheque to the fund on Wednesday due to the ‘great openness’ of von Finckenstein. ‘It’s clear he’s acknowledging our concerns and this is really important. We can’t ignore this,’ says Lavoie.

Péladeau clearly sees von Finckenstein as a sympathetic ear, describing the CRTC chair as someone with the ‘fresh vision required to undertake the reforms needed to maintain a strong and dynamic broadcasting system in Canada.’ Péladeau is also pleased that the CRTC is seriously considering his proposal to create a new private stream to finance Canadian content.

This week, von Finckenstein said in a statement that ‘The CRTC is prepared to work with the CTF board of directors, Quebecor and Shaw to resolve the matters in contention.’

No date has been set for any discussions, says Lavoie. ‘It’s only been 24 hours. I’m sure something will happen soon.’

The APFTQ wants any discussions around CTF to be open to the public: ‘These talks can’t happen behind closed doors between a couple of big companies and the government,’ says Pelletier.