Skip to Content Subscribe Our Offers My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Tech Style & Beauty Kitchen & Dining Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription HomeNewsCanadaCanadian PoliticsCRTC to require online streamers to pay 15% of annual revenues to support Canadian contentThe Online Streaming Act has become a major trade irritant for the U.S. You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.The Netflix logo is seen on top of their office building in Hollywood, California, March 2, 2022. Photo by CHRIS DELMAS /AFP via Getty ImagesOTTAWA — The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced on Thursday it will require online streamers to pay 15 per cent of its annual Canadian revenues towards Canadian and Indigenous content.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe decision was made following consultations on how to implement the Online Streaming Act; legislation passed in 2023 that obliges Netflix and other streaming services to financially support Canadian content and promote it on their platforms.In 2024, the CRTC required online streamers that generate more than $25 million in annual Canadian broadcasting revenues, to pay five per cent of its revenues towards funds that fostered Canadian content.U.S. tech giants such as Apple, Amazon, Spotify and the Motion Picture Association-Canada, which represents the largest American studios, are challenging the order in Canadian federal court.A decision is expected soon, with the payments paused in the meantime.The CTRC said the 15 per cent contribution includes the pre-existing 5 per cent base contribution, the majority of which can be spent on Canadian content productions. Nearly 30 per cent of that expenditure must go towards French content.The Online Streaming Act has become a major trade irritant for the U.S. In March, Republican lawmaker Lloyd Smucker a bill titled the Protecting American Streaming and Innovation Act, which if passed, could use Section 301 in the 1974 Trade Act to investigate whether Canada’s new broadcasting law discriminates against American companies.Canada has argued the streaming legislation falls within the cultural exemption laid out in the Canada-United-States-Mexico-Agreement (CUSMA).As part of Thursday’s decision, the broadcast regulator also decreased the level of financial contributions required from traditional broadcasters, who now only must spend 25 per cent of their annual revenues on Canadian and Indigenous content, down from the current 30-45 per-cent obligation.The CRTC also laid out a discoverability framework, which lays out expectations for online streamers to ensure Canadian and Indigenous content is visible to an audience.More to come.Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. 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