Canadian PM Flips Streamer Revenue Raising Policy After US Industry Pressure

Mark Carney and his government insist their sudden shift today away from a regulatory reach into the pockets of Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and other U.S. streamers operating in Canada has nothing to do with ongoing trade negotiations with the Trump administration, but if you buy that, I have a Great Lake or two to sell you.

Two weeks ago the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission raised Canadian content contributions for streamers from 5% to 15% to create a $2 billion fund to “ensure that traditional and online broadcasters contribute to the creation of Canadian and Indigenous content in an equitable way that reflects their size and business models.” Wednesday, the Great North’s Heritage Department announced the new-ish policy would “impose costs” on the Yankee streamers that “could ultimately fall on Canadian consumers through higher prices.”

Fresh off a NYC visit last week with bankers, financiers and CEOs like Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, ex-Bank of Canada and Bank of England boss Carney added his voice to the U-turn by saying now “is not the time to raise the cost for Canadians.”

Among Opposition politicians and even some of Carney’s own MPs, today’s shift is seen as a cynical and perhaps ultimately useless effort ease some of the strain that the 2023 passed Online Streaming Act has brought to the quest for a new free trade agreement with tariff loving Trump.

While Carney likes to talk tough when it comes to America, it didn’t escape the attention of many that the new policy was unveiled less than 24 hours after Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc sat down with U.S. Trade Rep Jamieson Greer in DC. The already trimmed down Online Streaming Act, which orders all streamers that score revenues of more than $25 million annually in Canada to fork over some of that dough for Canadian flicks, shows like Heated Rivalry, and information program, has been designated as an impediment to any deal by MAGA officials.

Following a harsh criticism by industry water carriers the Motion Picture Association that the original May 21 percentage rise “undermines the open, market-based system,” today’s reversal of fortune by Team Carney pleased the Toronto branch plant of the MPA — a bit.

“Today’s announcement acknowledges that the CRTC’s proposed framework for investment obligations needs to change,” said MPA-Canada prez and Managing Director Michele Austin. “We are encouraged by the government’s commitment to new policy directions. While certain concerns about the Online Streaming Act’s framework for global streamers remain unresolved, we look forward to engaging with leaders in Ottawa to develop a new approach to supporting Canadian stories.”

Carney’s government intend to soon issue new guidelines to the semi-independent CRTC about how far they can and cannot go with the Online Streaming Act and raising money for CanCon. Not that it has anything to do with trade talks…I’m heading to the cottage.