Geoid360
On-line streaming companies working in Canada can be required to contribute 5 per cent of their Canadian revenues to help the home broadcasting system, the nation’s telecoms regulator stated on Tuesday.
The cash will be used to spice up funding for native and Indigenous broadcasting, officers from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Fee (CRTC) stated in a briefing.
“Right this moment’s choice will assist make sure that on-line streaming companies make significant contributions to Canadian and Indigenous content material,” wrote CRTC chief govt and chair Vicky Eatrides in an announcement.
The measure was launched below the auspices of a regulation handed final yr designed to be sure that firms like Netflix make a extra important contribution to Canadian tradition.
The federal government says the laws will make sure that on-line streaming companies promote Canadian music and tales, and help Canadian jobs.
Minister of Canadian Heritage Pascale St-Onge advised reporters on Tuesday {that a} choice by the CRTC, which requires on-line streaming companies at hand over 5 per cent of home revenues, will assist stimulate funding in Canadian content material.
Funding may even be directed to French-language content material and content material created by official language minority communities, in addition to content material created by equity-deserving teams and Canadians of various backgrounds.
The discharge additionally stated that on-line streaming companies will “have some flexibility” to ship their revenues to help Canadian tv immediately.
The measure, which is able to begin within the 2024-2025 broadcasting yr, would elevate roughly $200 million yearly, CRTC officers stated. It’ll solely apply to companies that aren’t already affiliated with Canadian broadcasters.
Netflix, Apple TV+, Disney+, Spotify and Amazon didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
