CRTC lays out Online Streaming Act timeline, PKP calls for flexibility

On the day the CRTC released its timeline for the public consultations that will shape how the regulator will implement the newly passed Online Streaming Act, Quebecor Inc. CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau renewed a call for increased flexibility for traditional Canadian broadcasters. In an open letter the CEO penned in La Presse Monday, Péladeau wrote that while the law is a "step in the right path," the "real solution is less and more flexible regulation that allows Canadian broadcasters and cable companies to compete effectively with their foreign rivals." The call echoes long standing calls from traditional Canadian broadcasters for increased Canadian content regulations, coupled with increased requirements for foreign streaming giants like Netflix Inc. "To protect the public interest, the federal government must stand up for Canadian enterprises, support them, and rein in the foreign companies that are threatening to bring down our entire ecosystem," Péladeau wrote, referring to the forthcoming policy direction from the Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez. Péladeau also used the open letter to call for the elimination of advertising from CBC/Radio-Canada. In its regulatory plan also published Monday, the CRTC outlined three different phases it will move through in implementing the legislation. Under the timeline laid out by the regulator, the CRTC will host a number of consultations: on "who should contribute, how much and how"; on "which online streaming services will need to be registered with the CRTC"; and on "changes to orders under which online services have operated in Canada." The CRTC also noted that there may be additional consultations including on whether or not to create a new fund to support the participation of public interest groups in broadcasting proceedings. Under phase two of the plan, expected to commence in the fall of 2023, the CRTC will launch a consultation that will "review fees paid by broadcasters and how they should be extended to online undertakings," and will launch "engagement sessions" that will "help design" the approach for consultations on the definitions of Canadian and Indigenous content under the act. A further set of consultations, to be held in the winter of 2023 and 2024, would "review the definition of Canadian content and examine possible changes"; "assess tools to support Canadian audio content"; "assess tools to develop, support, and promote Canadian and Indigenous content on all platforms"; "evaluate market access, news and local programming, and competitive behaviours"; and "review ways to protect consumers and include broadcaster codes of conduct and mechanisms for complaints." Under the timeline, the legislation would then be ready for launch in late 2024. The CRTC wrote in its release that more information would be included on this third phase in later updates of the timeline. "The views of all Canadians will be important at every step. We encourage everyone to participate, including traditional players and streaming services who will be regulated, as well as Canadians who will benefit from the modernized system," the CRTC wrote in a Monday statement accompanying the timeline. "The CRTC has no intention to regulate creators of user-generated content and their content," the CRTC wrote. – Reporting by Michael Lee-Murphy at mleemurphy@thewirereport.ca and editing by Paul Park at ppark@thewirereport.ca

CRTC lays out Online Streaming Act timeline, PKP calls for flexibility

News | May 8, 2023

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CRTC lays out Online Streaming Act timeline, PKP calls for flexibility

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