Major streaming platforms, including «Netflix», «Disney», and «Paramount», have filed an appeal in Canada against an order requiring them to contribute to the funding of Canadian broadcasting bodies, as announced by an association specialized in the film production sector yesterday Thursday.

The association stated that it filed an appeal before the federal court and a request for judicial review of the decision made by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to «force global entertainment streaming services to fund local Canadian news organizations».

Additionally, platforms managing music streaming services, including «Apple» and «Amazon», have also filed similar legal appeals this week.

These companies are seeking to prevent a decision made by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission last month, which requires them starting in September to financially contribute to the creation and distribution of Canadian television content, as well as its promotion.

This measure, which places streaming platform operators under the same rules followed by traditional Canadian broadcasters, is expected to inject CAD 200 million (USD 147 million) annually into the country's broadcasting sector.

The Online Streaming Act, which was enacted in 2023, established a legal framework for the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to regulate digital platforms. This was part of a series of measures recently taken by Ottawa to improve the regulation of internet giants.

Wendy Noss, the head of the Canadian branch of the Motion Picture Association, stated that the commission's decision was «discriminatory and contrary to the goal of establishing a modern and flexible framework that recognizes the nature of the services provided by global streaming companies».

She added that global studios and streaming services spent more than CAD 6.7 billion (USD 4.9 billion) annually on production in Canada.

Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale Saint-Onge confirmed last month that this measure would ultimately benefit those operating streaming services.

She said, «This money will return to Canadian creativity, whether in music, television series, or films, which will likely return to their platform».