The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Streamers Head To Court To Stop Forced CanCon Contributions

**Posted by RadioActive** June 8, 2025 6:43 am

Most of us know the CRTC wants to force foreign streamers like Netflix, Disney+ and Spotify to pay into CanCon productions.

What's new is that they're now going to court to try to stop it from becoming the official policy of the Canadian government.

The Internet streamers argue the new charge amounts to a de facto tax and the CRTC has no authority to impose such a fee.

And that's just one of the legal arguments they'll put before the Federal Court of Appeal on Monday.

Global streamers fight CRTC’s rule requiring them to fund Canadian content

**Posted by Shorty Wave** June 8, 2025 6:56 am

As much as I enjoy streamers I do think it is our country, so our rules. They are all doing fairly decent business in Canada, so cough up! The only problem is that the cost will be passed on to the consumer.

**Posted by unclefester** June 8, 2025 7:54 am

Am I correct in saying this is a "policy" left over from Trudeau and his minions?

If so, then it should be easy to fix the situation and stop with this nonsense

**Posted by RadioActive** June 8, 2025 8:08 am

I'm not fond of this policy, either, but I suspect the government would never give it up in the face if our "51st State" provocations.

It might seem like surrendering to the U.S. at a time of renewed patriotism in this country. So I doubt they'd drop it - unless maybe it's part of a new trade deal.

Because I agree with Shorty Wave - it's subscribers that will wind up paying for it and there's no guarantee the shows they make will be anything you even want to watch.

Last edited by RadioActive (June 8, 2025 8:09 am)

**Posted by Forward Power** June 8, 2025 8:08 am

-d

Last edited by Forward Power (June 8, 2025 8:10 am)

**Posted by RadioActive** June 8, 2025 8:12 am

Forward Power wrote:
unclefester wrote:
Am I correct in saying this is a "policy" left over from Trudeau and his minions?

If so, then it should be easy to fix the situation and stop with this nonsense
That's it, RA and UF. I'm leaving. I'm serious.

I'll be sorry to see you go, but I don't find that comment so terrible in the context. It is a Trudeau government policy and it is still one they want to put into effect. It affects broadcasting and the price people here may be paying in the future, so to me, that makes it relevant.

Whatever your decision, I wish you well FP and hope you'll still check in once in a while.

**Posted by paterson1** June 8, 2025 9:17 am

RadioActive wrote:
I'm not fond of this policy, either, but I suspect the government would never give it up in the face if our "51st State" provocations.

It might seem like surrendering to the U.S. at a time of renewed patriotism in this country. So I doubt they'd drop it - unless maybe it's part of a new trade deal.

Because I agree with Shorty Wave - it's subscribers that will wind up paying for it and there's no guarantee the shows they make will be anything you even want to watch.

With any subscription service, customers always pay for material that they will never watch. Also worth noting that the request for contributions to promote and produce local material is not unique to Canada. Countries in Europe are asking for the same thing. And this is beyond any taxes that the companies pay. Also these "forced Cancon" productions are being shown internationally and some are having success. Sort of like any other show or movie...

**Posted by mic'em** June 9, 2025 6:32 am

Hey FP, did you take your ball with you ?

**Posted by RadioActive** June 9, 2025 9:41 am

Alan Cross does a good job of listing exactly what the big streamers arguments are in court:

The big streamers are in court today fighting the CRTC about funding Canadian content.