U.S. streaming giants to face five percent levy on Canadian sales, says regulator

Streaming platforms operating in Canada will soon have to contribute five percent of their Canadian revenues to funds supporting local content, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission said on Tuesday, laying out rules for a controversial law that critics argue unfairly discriminates against U.S. companies and falls short of Ottawa’s trade obligations. Canada’s “Online Streaming Act,” which became law in spring 2023, directed the CRTC to ensure online streaming platforms promote Canadian content. In proposed regulations for the bill’s implementation,...