Canada is imposing a 15% tax on streaming services to support local content

[Lionvibez]

Why would Netflix or any streaming platform be "required" to fund Canadian content? That doesn't make any sense. What a shitty way to steal money from the streaming companies.

This is what they do to fund dying Canadian media companies. Most canadians watch american content not much of the local crap. And instead of reading the room they do this. Either create good local content people want to see or move out of the way.

 

[RudyBob]

-Indeed, Murican propaganda is still the best propaganda.

If it's American it is the best. Thing is the current administration has made great inroads in cancelling the leftist propaganda. Everyone is a sinner

 

[RudyBob]

Not actually a bad idea. Could be used as a way to pay things like the TV licence in the UK so it’s funded off of levies on your Netflix, Amazon and disneys of the world rather than a fee per person

Do remember the ending of "Blast From the Past" ? Helen says to Calvin something like, No, Calvin this is different. So I am saying in the same tone Helen used...No, Lordy it's a bad idea

 

[LordVile95]

Do remember the ending of "Blast From the Past" ? Helen says to Calvin something like, No, Calvin this is different. So I am saying in the same tone Helen used...No, Lordy it's a bad idea

How isn’t it? It companies refuse to pay the correct taxes then levies to fund things in the sector are an effective way of getting some of it back

 

[GodisanAtheist]

If it's American it is the best. Thing is the current administration has made great inroads in cancelling the leftist propaganda. Everyone is a sinner

-God bless brother. No one gets brainwashed like true American Patriots get brainwashed.

 

[opckieran]

Anything to fund Learing Centers.

 

[Endymio]

Hmmm, I wonder why the anger against Canada.

It's not "anger" you're seeing, but amusement at such a laughably misdirected initiative. This won't harm foreign streaming services, but it will annoy plenty of Canadian consumers, as well as harming "local content" providers more than it helps.

I am reminded of French efforts to "protect their culture" by requiring all theaters to show a percentage of French films, or, more recently, their banning the use of English loan-terms like "eSports" and "streamer", requiring them to instead be referred to as "jeu video de competition" and "joueur-animateur en direct”.

 

[Axeia]

The changes have drawn widespread criticism, particularly from US corporations and film industry representatives.

Ah right, but when Trump wanted to impose a 100% tariff on foreign made movies that was a great idea according to the same people?

Bad idea in both cases imo, let the people watch what they want to watch and don't try to artificially control it.

 

[Beerfloat]

You can't really complain about this until all of the unilateral and illegal Trump tariffs are gone.
It seems prudent for countries to reciprocate and also slap random taxes on whatever they feel like as long as the trade war remains in effect

 

[RudyBob]

-God bless brother. No one gets brainwashed like true American Patriots get brainwashed.

I am proud to be a true American patriot. God bless America

 

[Carlos GarPov]

Canadians should improve their local content, instead.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

The TV licence funds a lot of things that aren’t doctor who such as independent journalism free of private owners or government influence. Children’s TV that isn’t riddled with ads or cocomelon style cuts is also provided as is radio. You not liking one program doesn’t really change that.

Funny how you believe private funding creates private influence but government funding does not create government influence.

(And my citing only one example doesn't change how incentives work.)

 

[LordVile95]

Funny how you believe private funding creates private influence but government funding does not create government influence.

(And my citing only one example doesn't change how incentives work.)

Aside from it’s not government funding

 

[Watzupken]

A tax on sources (Youtube, Amazon, et al) means that everyone will pay more, even those who are not streaming media "consumers". Even those the act purports to protect - the local artists, sponsors, platforms - will be charged higher fees.

And how will it help? Not much, because the money will be diverted into other channels, just as it always is.

I agree. I think the point is that there is no comparable alternative streaming service locally to switch to. So imposing any extra on a foreign streaming company will just conveniently be passed on to the subscribers in the form of higher prices. So on paper, the government is taxing the foreign corporation, but in reality, consumers will foot that bill.

 

[Underdog]

I agree. I think the point is that there is no comparable alternative streaming service locally to switch to. So imposing any extra on a foreign streaming company will just conveniently be passed on to the subscribers in the form of higher prices. So on paper, the government is taxing the foreign corporation, but in reality, consumers will foot that bill.

Just like when Trump slaps tariffs on goods from other countries,...........duh

 

[Endymio]

Just like when Trump slaps tariffs on goods from other countries,...........duh

Or when liberals raise taxes on corporations, believing magically that those higher costs don't get passed on to consumers?

The difference here is that tariffs on commodities like steel, for instance, actually do incentivize manufacturers to use domestic sources. But no one's going to watch Canadian streaming channels because they're now 15% cheaper than what they really wish to see.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

Aside from it’s not government funding

The government forcing people to pay for something is government funding.

 

[LordVile95]

The government forcing people to pay for something is government funding.

Not really as you don’t require it if you don’t watch BBC programming or live TV. You can sit and watch on demand programs from Netflix for example with the licence. It’s effectively an optional subscription, also enforcing it is effectively impossible