Canada Mandates 15% Streaming Revenue for Local Content

The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has announced that major streaming services in Canada must now allocate 15% of their Canadian revenues for Canadian content support. This is a significant jump from the previous 5% requirement for 2024, which is currently being challenged legally by U.S. firms like Apple, Amazon, and Spotify. This decision falls under the Online Streaming Act, which the U.S. has flagged as a trade issue ahead of negotiations. Additionally, traditional Canadian broadcasters’ contributions will drop from 30-45% to 25%. The CRTC expects these contributions to exceed $2 billion annually, benefiting Canadian and Indigenous content, including French-language media. For top streamers making over $100 million Canadian, 30% of their spending must go to partnerships with local broadcasters and independent producers. The new rules apply to any service earning at least $25 million Canadian a year. The CRTC will also create a fund to back specific channels, like CPAC, which covers political news.