Netflix, Disney, and other major streaming platforms are crying foul over a new Canadian regulation that requires foreign streamers to bankroll local content. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has ordered big digital platforms to contribute a chunk of their Canadian earnings to support homegrown shows and films—a move the industry says unfairly targets American companies.
Starting September 1, 2024, any foreign streaming service pulling in more than $25 million annually in Canada and without ties to a Canadian broadcaster must kick in 5% of their Canadian revenue. Regulators expect the rule to generate roughly $200 million per year that will flow into funds supporting Canadian and Indigenous productions, including initiatives like the Canada Media Fund and the Indigenous Screen Office Fund.
The Motion Picture Association–Canada, which represents Netflix, Disney, and other studios, pushed back hard against the decision. The group contends the policy singles out foreign streamers unfairly and strays from what Parliament originally intended. They also warned it could make it tougher for global platforms to work directly with Canadian creators.
Industry insiders say the fight signals a growing tension between streaming giants and regulators trying to protect domestic content in an increasingly global marketplace.
