Major Streamers Must Pay 15% of Revenues To Canadian Content, CRTC Says

Canada's broadcast regulator says major streaming services such as Netflix must contribute 15% of their Canadian revenues to Canadian and Indigenous content. "That's three times the five-per-cent initial contribution requirement the CRTC set out in 2024, which is being challenged in court by major streamers, including Apple and Amazon," reports Global News. "Contribution requirements for traditional broadcasters, which currently pay between 30 and 45 percent, will be lowered to 25 percent." From the report: "The total contributions are expected to stabilize the funding at more than $2 billion in support of Canadian and Indigenous content, such as French-language content and news," the regulator said in a press release. The CRTC made the decisions as part of its implementation of the Online Streaming Act, which the U.S. has identified as a trade irritant ahead of trade negotiations with Canada.

The CRTC also set out rules on how the money must be spent for both streamers and broadcasters, including contributions toward production funds and direct spending on Canadian content. Most of the streamers' financial contributions can go toward content, though the CRTC is imposing rules on how that money must be spent for the largest streamers. For instance, streamers with Canadian revenues of more than $100 million annually must direct 30 percent of spending toward partnerships with Canadian broadcasters and independent producers. Large Canadian broadcasters will have to direct at least 15 percent of their contributions toward news.

The new financial contribution rules apply to streamers and broadcasters with at least $25 million in annual Canadian broadcasting revenues. The decision covers audiovisual programming, meaning it affects traditional TV broadcasters and online services that stream television content. The regulator also said Thursday online streamers will have to take steps to ensure Canadian and Indigenous content is available and visible to audiences. "This will make it easier for people to find this content on the platforms they use, while giving broadcasters flexibility in how they meet the new expectations," the CRTC said in the release. Details of those requirements will be determined at a later time.

Vancouver BC

[darkain]

Half of "Hollywood" content is filmed in Vancouver BC anyways. Problem solved!

Re:

[jonwil]

Just making the content in Canada is not enough, its about "preserving Canadian culture" or some BS...

Re:Vancouver BC

[PPH]

Welcome to Netflix's new streaming channel: Bob and Doug McKenzie , 24 hours per day.

Re:

[Tyr07]

Minority cultures, you mean.

Re:

[Baron_Yam]

I look to the south, and if a bit of Canadian cultural propaganda is required to counter the stuff that's been coming out of Hollywood for the last century... OK.

We value education more, guns less. We value cooperation more, greed less. We're OK with single-payer healthcare instead of letting the rich at the top get richer bleeding us to death, and you're not going to convince us that's wrong because somebody else is getting healthcare 'for free'.

There's a reason so many Americans have recently discovere

Everyone's gunna poop on this

[SirSlud]

But I'm Canadian. I'm happy for it. Put it in my bill, streamers, happy to pay it.

Re:

[dskoll]

Canadian too, and I agree with it. Supporting Canadian talent is worthwhile.

Though... I don't subscribe to any streaming services...

Major Streamers Raise Prices by 15%

[LondoMollari]

Canadians will end up paying their own taxes and streaming will become more expensive for all in Canada.

Re:

[sound+vision]

Why would they stop at Canadians? They can raise 15% across-the-board and pocket the surplus, which is what they do every 2 years anyway.

Some here on Slashdot would tell you this is not only likely, but a legally required outcome. Something about obligations to shareholders.

A long time ago in a galaxy far away

[rsilvergun]

There used to be this thing called competition that kept prices down. I know it sounds crazy but we had that.

Re:

[dskoll]

There's no First Amendment in Canada.

you can't make this shit up

[znrt]

Indigenous content, such as French-language

i'm a westerner, educated in western values which i have cherished all my life, but every day i fell more baffled, ashamed, angry and dismayed and just hope for the day our whole western "civilization" finally does one (1) single favor to the world and goes down the drain, not to be missed.

Re:

[dskoll]

intelligible speech

Hilarious, coming from an American. LOL.

Re:

[sound+vision]

Are you under the impression that Indigenous people can't speak French? Hard to tell because most of your post seems to be expressing some weird emotion(s) I can't quite identify in a jumbled-up way, and the quote seems suspiciously truncated.

Is that how people write after a year of ChatGPT'ing their brain?

Re:

[dskoll]

The excerpt you quoted completely changes the meaning. Nice try.

The full quote is: in support of Canadian and Indigenous content, such as French-language content and news

The "such as" refers to "Canadian and Indigenous content", not just to "Indigenous content"

Funny! "new financial contribution rules"

[oldgraybeard]

Governments always talk about contributions and such like paying is optional. This is a tax and that is what government does, tax anything that moves until it is dead. Then move on to their next victim.

Re:

[coopertempleclause]

Whereas corporations are so benevolent and spend sleepless nights worrying about providing their customers with the best possible value while never cutting corners, putting people in danger, causing environmental damage or being a detriment to society...