BITRATE FIGHTS: Canadian authorities introduced the Online Streaming Act three years ago, imposing new funding obligations on major streaming platforms. The OSA is now being fully implemented, with financial commitments reportedly even higher than initially expected. The changes have drawn widespread criticism, particularly from US corporations and film industry representatives.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission recently introduced a significant update to the Online Streaming Act. The legislation, enacted in 2023, requires major streaming platforms such as Netflix to contribute funding toward Canadian content. The CRTC now says that these financial obligations are being further expanded for companies generating significant revenue from Canadian subscribers.
In 2024, the regulator said that streaming services earning more than $25 million annually in Canada would be required to allocate 5% of their Canadian revenue to support domestic content. Under its latest announcement, the CRTC is increasing the overall levy to 15%. This new framework incorporates the previously established 5% requirement, with most of the funds directed toward Canadian productions. In addition, 30% of the allocation will be reserved for French-language content.
