MONTREAL — Though it’s still struggling to attract viewers, Quebec’s renegade V network, which last fall launched its light and youth-oriented programming lineup, says its audience share is on the rise.

For the 2009 fall season, V’s share was 8.5% among 18- to 49-year-olds. That’s a 29% increase over last year, says Toronto-based VP of sales and marketing Glenn Davies. Roughly 1.2 million viewers tune in to V daily, according to the network.

‘It’s not a surprise that it’s increased so much over last year, because the market share had been so low in 2008,’ says Davies.

Once known as TQS, the network was rescued from bankruptcy protection by Remstar Diffusion in 2008 and was radically restructured after the CRTC, in a controversial decision, allowed it to replace local newscasts with a mix of news, commentary and public opinion.

‘We are satisfied with the public’s response,’ added Remstar co-president Maxime Rémillard in a release. ‘We are progressing.’

The CRTC will revisit Remstar’s news programming commitments during a public hearing in spring 2011.