CFTU's history traces back to 1981, when a distance learning organization known as Télé-Université (the "TU" in the station's callsign) negotiated with Vidéotron, the local cable provider in Montreal, to take responsibility for running an educational television service in the province.
In the next three years, thirteen other educational institutions around Quebec, starting with the Université de Montréal, joined up with Télé-Université to provide administrative and technical support for the new television service.