Ottawa Requests CRTC to Reassess Streamer Contributions

Ottawa has announced it will ask the CRTC to revisit its recent decision that increased the financial contributions streamers must make to Canadian content.

The government indicated it will provide new guidance to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission on how it should apply the Online Streaming Act.

In May, the CRTC stated that major streaming platforms like Netflix would need to allocate 15 percent of their Canadian earnings towards local content.

The government has chosen instead to allocate $600 million for Canada’s audio and audiovisual industries.

The Motion Picture Association, representing streaming services in the U. S., urged cabinet members to reconsider their current strategy.

Additionally, the U. S. ambassador to Canada has requested that this policy be overturned.

According to the Broadcasting Act, cabinet cannot directly cancel the decision but must instruct the CRTC on how to generally implement the act.

In an email sent to , the CRTC acknowledged it will receive directions from the government regarding adjustments in applying the Online Streaming Act.

“The CRTC will review any new policy directions as they are released,” said the agency.

WATCH | Culture minister says Ottawa will direct CRTC to review decision on streamers’ Can Con contributions:

Culture minister says Ottawa will direct CRTC to review decision on streamers’ Can Con contributions

Minister of Identity and Culture Marc Miller mentioned that Ottawa plans to instruct the CRTC to reconsider its decision about increasing streamers’ financial contributions toward Canadian content. He stated ‘the industry is suffering’ while millions in government funding for Canada’s audio and audiovisual sectors remain ‘frozen in litigation.’

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