Canadian Court Delays Streaming Platforms’ Content Payment Mandate

Federal Court of Appeal pauses enforcement of CRTC's 5% revenue contribution rule until legal challenges conclude.

The Federal Court of Appeal has temporarily blocked a CRTC order requiring global streaming platforms to contribute 5% of their Canadian revenues to fund domestic content production.
This decision comes as Netflix, Disney Plus, and other platforms challenge the CRTC's mandate under the Online Streaming Act in court.
The payments, estimated at $1.25 million annually per company, are on hold until the court hearing, scheduled for June 2025, with the bulk of payments originally due by August 31, 2025.
Streaming companies argue that making the payments before a final ruling would be irreversible if the court overturns the CRTC decision.
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters expressed disappointment but emphasized the urgency of resolving the case to support funding for Canadian media and news production.