Frequently asked questions and eligibility criteria

Is Your Commercial Eligible?

Key Next Steps for Agencies and Advertisers

Prize Terms and Restrictions

How Public Voting Works

Campaign Promotion Guidelines

How the Competition Microsite Works

Winner Announcement Process

Is Your Commercial Eligible?

To participate, your campaign must meet the following criteria:

  • Media Buy:
    You must purchase at least one brandsell spot of 15 seconds or longer (or a 3 x 10-second format) across the network, covering both the original New Year's Eve broadcast AND the January rerun of Bye Bye 2026.
  • Original Content:
    Because this competition celebrates new creative work, your campaign must air for the first time in 2026. Creative concepts produced prior to 2026 will not be accepted.
  • Talent Rights:
    All talent contracts (actors, performers, public figures, etc.) featured in your commercial must remain valid through January 17, 2027, to accommodate post-competition publicity for the winning brands.
  • Clearance:
    All creatives must comply with Radio-Canada Advertising Standards. We strongly recommend securing pre-approval for your creative assets from the Radio-Canada Advertising Standards team. Submitting your materials as early as possible during the creative process helps prevent unexpected delays or compliance issues at final delivery. This clearance check confirms alignment with Bye Bye brand guidelines (detailed below), protects sponsor exclusivity and ensures your script complies with current advertising standards (including Quebec's Office de la protection du consommateur [OPC] and Ad Standards guidelines) as well as internal policies. Note that clearance is mandatory for all Bye Bye 2026 advertisers, whether participating in the competition or not. Our team offers fast turnaround times — please send your scripts, storyboards or mock-ups to codepub@radio-canada.ca.
  • Material Delivery:
    Submit your final creative assets and traffic instructions via the usual procedure no later than Wednesday, December 16, 2026. No additional file submissions are required specifically to enter the Bye Bye de la pub.

Important Conditions

  • Each brand is limited to a single competition entry. If multiple commercial spots air during the Bye Bye, they will be combined into a single reel for voting.
  • Only commercials aired during the original New Year's Eve broadcast of Bye Bye 2026 will be submitted for public voting. Any alternate spots aired during the January rerun will not be included in the competition.
  • Co-branded creative assets (such as contests or sponsored evening lineups) are excluded from the competition.

Key Next Steps for Agencies and Advertisers

Deadline Required Action

Immediate/Ongoing

Advertising Standards Clearance:

Ensure your creative assets comply with Radio-Canada standards.

Submit your material for approval to codepub@radio-canada.ca.

November 20, 2026

Registration Confirmation:

Submit the official online registration form .

December 16, 2026

Commercial asset delivery (Essential step)

Deliver your ad assets and traffic instructions via the usual procedure. Note: No additional file submissions are required for the competition.


Microsite Setup and Thumbnail Submission:

  • Send the following to byebyedelapub@radio-canada.ca.
  • Your campaign's total spot count.
  • A text- and logo-free 16:9 thumbnail image (1920×1080 px, JPG/PNG).

Note: Each brand receives one thumbnail on the microsite. Multi-spot campaigns will be combined into a single video reel so the public votes on the overall campaign rather than individual spots.


Credits and Testimonials:

Complete the credits form and submit a short quote (e.g., why you entered, key benefits for your brand or your experience working with us).

Winning brand testimonials may be featured in the official press release.


Pre-Approval for Promotional Campaigns (Optional):

If you plan to run self-promotional campaigns driving public votes for your commercial, submit all mock-ups and copy to byebyedelapub@radio-canada.ca prior to launch.

We will get back to you as quickly as possible!

December 22, 2026-January 5, 2027

Radio-Canada Promotional Blitz:

Radio-Canada launches its nationwide, cross-platform campaign to drive public voting participation.

Starting January 6, 2027

Winner Notifications: Winning agencies and brands are contacted directly.

January 11, 2027

Official press release announcing the winners is published.

Prize Terms and Restrictions

  • Transferability:
    Prizes are non-transferable (exceptions may be considered for non-profit organizations and registered charities, subject to prior approval by CBC & Radio-Canada Media Solutions).
  • Value and Inventory:
    Prize values are based on rate-card pricing. Inventory is guaranteed, but subject to rescheduling. CBC & Radio-Canada Media Solutions determines final broadcast schedules based on inventory availability and reserves the right to exclude specific programs.
  • Blackout Periods:
    Prize media packages cannot be redeemed during the months of April, May, September or October.
  • Broadcast Deadline:
    All prize media campaigns must complete their broadcast run before December 25, 2027.

How Public Voting Works

  • Voting Period (January 1–5, 2027):
    Viewers can browse all competing commercials on the dedicated microsite and vote for their top three favourite ads.
  • Winner Determination (January 6, 2027):
    Voting results are audited and compiled, and the three winning brands are notified directly.

Campaign Promotion Guidelines

Planning to rally your audience, employees, partners or clients to vote for your commercial? We encourage it! Just be sure to follow these ground rules:

Permitted Promotional Actions:

  • Ad Placements:
    Purchase ad space across any channel to drive votes. All creative assets must be pre-approved and comply with Bye Bye de la pub brand and talent usage rules to avoid disqualification.
  • Website Promotion:
    Feature the official competition link on your website to direct visitors to the voting page: Radio-Canada.ca/concours-byebye-pub-2026 Note: This URL goes live the week of December 7, 2026.
  • Social Media:
    Publish organic posts across your social channels featuring the official voting link to encourage your followers to vote.
  • Paid Reach and Influencers:
    Boost social media posts or partner with creators and influencers to expand your campaign's reach.
  • Content Sharing:
    Reshare official Radio-Canada competition posts on your social channels.

Messaging Guidelines:

  • Always refer to the competition by its official full name (Bye Bye de la pub) or use the official hashtag #BYEBYEPUB.
  • Use generic phrasing when referencing the broadcast itself (e.g., “New Year's Eve show,” “December 31 broadcast,” “New Year's Eve”).

Approved Examples:

  • “Vote for your favourite commercial in the Bye Bye de la pub competition.”
  • “Check out our New Year's Eve commercial in the Bye Bye de la pub competition.”
  • “Help our commercial win the Bye Bye de la pub competition! #BYEBYEPUB”

Prohibited Practices:

  • Using the Bye Bye show logo, Bye Bye de la pub logo or any official brand visuals without prior written authorization.
  • Requesting in-house production services from CBC & Radio-Canada Media Solutions to build your promotional materials.
  • Directly referencing the TV broadcast by name (e.g., Bye Bye or Bye Bye 2026) or using the hashtags #BYEBYE or #BYEBYE2026.

Prohibited Examples:

  • “Vote for your favourite Bye Bye 2026 commercial.”
  • “Check out our #BYEBYE commercial.”
  • “Help our #BYEBYE2026 commercial win the competition.”

Formatting Note:

  • Write Bye Bye de la pub or BYE BYE DE LA PUB.

How the Competition Microsite Works

  • Commercial Uploads:
    Commercials go live on the microsite at 12:30 a.m. on January 1, 2027, preserving broadcast exclusivity for the live Bye Bye telecast.
  • Campaign Presentation:
    Each brand is represented by a single thumbnail on the microsite. If your entry includes multiple commercial spots, they will be combined into a single video reel so the public votes on your overall campaign.
  • Randomized Display:
    To ensure equal exposure for all participants, campaign display order on the microsite is randomized (except for official sponsors).
  • Microsite URL:
    Radio-Canada.ca/concours-byebye-pub-2026. Note: The URL goes live the week of December 7, 2026.

Winner Announcement Process

  • The Bye Bye de la pub awards major media packages to the top three advertisers receiving the highest number of public votes.
  • Direct Notification: Winning brands will be contacted directly on January 6, 2027.
  • Press Release Clearance: Winning agencies and brands will be asked to promptly review and approve their quotes and brand mentions prior to official press release distribution.

Do you have more questions about the Bye Bye de la pub competition?

Contact the CBC & Radio-Canada Media Solutions team at byebyedelapub@radio-canada.ca.

Ready to Put Your Brand in the Spotlight?

Don't miss your chance to make a lasting impact.

Enter the Competition

Registration form must be submitted by November 20, 2026

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