TAGGED AS SPOTIFY AB

A court challenge has put the streaming act on hold — but some U.S. companies are still sending money to Canadian funds (and no one knows why)

| 03/09/2026 12:07 pm EDT

CRTC funding

As the North American cultural sector awaits a court ruling that could force U.S. streaming companies to redirect millions in annual revenue to help produce Canadian content,...

Appeal Court CRTC Online streaming act

Trump’s trade rep targets Online Streaming Act, Online News Act, raising questions about future of Canada’s cultural exemption

| 12/19/2025 5:30 pm EST

Trump’s trade rep targets Online Streaming Act, Online News Act, raising questions about future of Canada’s cultural exemption

On Dec. 17, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Canadian cultural laws 'discriminate against U.S. tech and media firms.' But Canadian cultural groups insist both the...

CRTC Online news act Online streaming act

Don’t slack on protecting artists’ work from AI, music industry reps tell heritage committee

| 10/09/2025 5:51 pm EDT

Don’t slack on protecting artists’ work from AI, music industry reps tell heritage committee

Groups representing music labels and artists told...

Artificial intelligence CHPC Copyright

Put time limit on CanCon libraries to revitalize playlists, CRTC told

| 09/30/2025 5:45 pm EDT

Put time limit on CanCon libraries to revitalize playlists, CRTC told

A talent manager is calling on the CRTC to establish time limits on what is...

CRTC Music streaming Online streaming act

UPDATED: Appeals court hears arguments against streaming act payments

| 06/10/2025 5:45 am EDT

Judge gavel on computer.

TORONTO–Several streaming companies kicked off a hearing at the Federal...

Appeal Court Cancon Online streaming act

Streamers challenge ‘restrictive’ CanCon definitions in audio proceeding

| 05/08/2025 4:25 pm EDT

Streamers challenge ‘restrictive’ CanCon definitions in audio proceeding

As the CRTC works on revising how it defines Canadian and Indigenous audio...

Cancon CRTC Online streaming act

UPDATED: Music Canada, SOCAN look to intervene in appeal against CRTC streaming service levy

| 04/25/2025 5:43 pm EDT

UPDATED: Music Canada, SOCAN look to intervene in appeal against CRTC streaming service levy

Groups representing music labels and creators have applied to the Federal Court of Appeal for leave to intervene in the ongoing argument against the CRTC’s decision...

Cancon CRTC Online streaming act

CRTC adds confidentiality concerns to ‘Path Forward’ broadcast proceeding

| 04/15/2025 3:05 pm EDT

CRTC logo graphic The Wire Report

The CRTC has received a joint application from the Foundation Assisting...

CRTC Online streaming act

Telus asks CRTC to go easy on vBDUs for initial base contributions into broadcasting system

Internet and Governance | 12/08/2023 9:34 am EST

Telus asks CRTC to go easy on vBDUs for initial base contributions into broadcasting system

Gatineau, Que. – Telus Corp. asked the CRTC to...

Cancon CRTC Online streaming act

Corus proposes contribution framework at CRTC, says time to regulate streamers is now

Internet and Governance | 11/30/2023 11:13 am EST

Corus proposes contribution framework at CRTC, says time to regulate streamers is now

Those who stand to benefit from the Online...

Cancon CRTC Online streaming act

Indigenous content is distinct from CanCon: Indigenous Screen Office

Media | 11/23/2023 8:29 am EST

Indigenous content is distinct from CanCon: Indigenous Screen Office

The Indigenous Screen Office (ISO), newly certified as an independent...

Cancon CRTC Online streaming act

Streamers tell CRTC to “take pause” before regulating CanCon contributions

Internet and Governance | 07/18/2023 3:04 pm EDT

Fast-track OTT review, clock ticking on CMF ‘top-up’: CMPA

Streaming platforms are saying it is too early to be discussing...

Broadcast CRTC Online streaming act

Social media platforms want total exclusion from new broadcasting regime

Internet and Governance | 06/16/2023 4:17 pm EDT

TikTok's logo on an iPhone.

Social media companies are asking the CRTC to be added to the list of...

Bill C-11 CRTC Online streaming act

Quebec and French Canadian artists will be the losers if social media is unregulated, conference hears

Media | 05/04/2022 6:15 pm EDT

44.5% of under-30 households don’t have TV: report

A Canadian cultural policy that adopts a...

Cancon CRTC Internet

Scott says CRTC will never regulate user-generated content under current Bill C-11

Media | 04/05/2022 3:30 pm EDT

Scott says CRTC will never regulate user-generated content under current Bill C-11

The CRTC is generally supportive of Bill C-11, the revised broadcasting...

CRTC

Bill C-11 a new bill with no new ideas, and a ‘legal pretzel’ for censorship: CPC

Media | 03/01/2022 5:05 pm EST

ARIN asks Parliament to require ISPs to maintain Whois info

For the second time in the span of a year, the Liberal government has introduced a new bill to update Canada’s broadcasting act but “what it doesn't bring is new ideas,”...

Cancon CRTC Netflix

Gov. reintroduces Broadcasting Act update, with social media exemption

Media | 02/02/2022 7:32 pm EST

Gov. reintroduces Broadcasting Act update, with social media exemption

OTTAWA -- Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodríguez called previous...

Cancon CRTC Internet

Canadian radio broadcasters ask CRTC for space to compete with streamers

Media | 03/30/2021 5:35 pm EDT

Canadian radio broadcasters ask CRTC for space to compete with streamers

The CRTC needs to do away with restrictive regulations, argue multiple...

Bell Cancon Corus

Half of Canadians want CanCon regs for music streaming services: CRTC survey

Media | 02/23/2021 5:19 pm EST

Half of Canadians want CanCon regs for music streaming services: CRTC survey

A new survey suggests that just over half of Canadians believe that...

Cancon CRTC Radio

Official language minority groups ask to be included in Broadcasting Act overhaul

Media | 02/01/2021 5:44 pm EST

The government’s draft legislation to reform Canada’s Broadcasting Act must be amended to explicitly include official language minority communities, stakeholders told the House of Commons heritage committee Monday, during its first hearing into Bill C-10. Representatives of the Fédération culturelle...

CanCon relief will help commercial radio compete with Spotify: Bell Media

Media | 11/19/2020 5:40 pm EST

CanCon relief will help commercial radio compete with Spotify: Bell Media

Canadian content programming relief from the CRTC would allow BCE Inc.'s radio stations to more effectively compete with streaming giants like Spotify AB, according to Bell...

BCE Inc. Cancon CRTC

Broadcast Act updates not comprehensive enough: NDP, Conservatives

Media | 11/03/2020 6:44 pm EST

Broadcaster pushes for new multilingual channel as COVID lobbying continues

The Liberal government’s proposed updates to the Broadcasting Act have...

Cancon CRTC Music streaming

New public safety minister, wireless prices on agenda in Liberal minority

Media | 10/22/2019 6:35 pm EDT

New public safety minister, wireless prices on agenda in Liberal minority

With the Liberal Party’s victory in the federal election Monday, its...

2019 election Huawei

Heritage committee calls for end of ISP safe harbour copyright rules

Media | 05/16/2019 1:10 pm EDT

Big telecoms fight calls for an ‘ISP tax’, pitch new OTT rules

The House heritage committee says the government should do more to fight...

Music streaming Netflix Ott

Few internet giants weighed in to BTLR, submission list shows

telecom | 03/08/2019 4:13 pm EST

Few internet giants weighed in to BTLR, submission list shows

The panel in charge of reviewing the broadcasting and telecom acts received...

BTLR EXCLUSIVE Internet

Don’t exclude online services from Broadcasting Act: Private radio

Media | 02/04/2019 12:00 pm EST

Don’t exclude online services from Broadcasting Act: Private radio

Canada’s private radio broadcasters are fighting against a push to keep...

Apple BTLR CRTC

Public music should feature Canadian content, Stingray says

Media | 02/01/2019 1:18 pm EST

Public music should feature Canadian content, Stingray says

Music in public establishments such as malls, bars and restaurants should...

BTLR Cancon Copyright

CRTC asks digital giants for info, promises confidentiality

Media | 02/05/2018 2:02 pm EST

As part of its government-ordered proceeding on future content distribution models, the CRTC is asking a number of companies — including Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Netflix Inc. — for information...

CRTC Facebook Google

SOCAN expects higher annual revenues for 2017

Media | 01/31/2018 5:44 pm EST

SOCAN expects higher annual revenues for 2017

The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) is estimating that it has broken...

Cross-industry coalition calls for website-blocking

Media | 01/29/2018 6:21 pm EST

Cross-industry coalition calls for website-blocking

A broad coalition made up of Canada’s largest telecoms and broadcasters, as well as groups representing content creators, is asking the CRTC to put in place a system to block pirated content. The FairPlay Canada coalition represents 25 organizations and companies,...

Bell Copyright CRTC

Quebec ready to tax Netflix: culture minister

Media | 09/22/2017 3:55 pm EDT

If the federal government isn’t willing to impose taxes on foreign over-the-top (OTT) services, Quebec is willing to do so itself, Le Devoir quoted Quebec culture minister Luc Fortin as saying Thursday. He said Quebec would...

Apple Cancon Internet

BQ criticizes Joly over OTT tax policy

Media | 09/19/2017 4:56 pm EDT

BQ criticizes Joly over OTT tax policy

The Bloc Québécois has accused Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly of favouritism toward the likes...

Cancon Internet Netflix

32% of anglophones use music streaming services: MTM

Media | 07/20/2017 5:28 pm EDT

The popularity of music streaming platforms among anglophone Canadians has grown over the past year, with 32 per cent reporting using a music streaming service in the past month when surveyed in the spring of 2017. That’s...

Apple Cbc Music streaming

FCC’s net neutrality changes could affect Canada, some experts say

telecom | 07/12/2017 4:37 pm EDT

FCC’s net neutrality changes could affect Canada, some experts say

On Wednesday, major internet and tech companies teamed up to rally against...

Fcc Internet Net neutrality

‘Battle for the Net’ coming Wednesday

Media | 07/10/2017 2:23 pm EDT

‘Battle for the Net’ coming Wednesday

Major internet-based companies and organizations are preparing to participate in a Wednesday campaign advocating for the preservation of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Open Internet Order, also known as Title II. Billed Battle for the Net, the...

Fcc Internet Net neutrality

CRTC effectively bans most zero-rating in differential pricing decision

Media | 04/20/2017 8:04 pm EDT

As the CRTC banned most forms of differential pricing practices Thursday — including declaring that telecoms can’t pick and chose Internet content to zero-rate and...

CRTC Internet Net neutrality

Joly sitting down with foreign digital companies

Media | 03/03/2017 4:05 pm EST

Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly is meeting this week with digital platforms, telling a CBC morning radio show Friday that she was in the Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont., region Thursday meeting...

Cancon Facebook Google

CBC ‘dimmer star’ in media landscape, conservative event hears

Media | 02/27/2017 6:15 pm EST

OTTAWA — When talking about CBC/Radio-Canada’s role in the media landscape, the public broadcaster is a “pygmy amongst giants,” and more focus should be aimed at large...

Bell Cancon Cbc

U.S. tech companies oppose Trump travel ban

Media | 02/06/2017 6:09 pm EST

Almost 100 tech companies in the United States have filed a brief in a court case against U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order blocking entry of citizens from seven countries and all refugees into the United States....

Apple Facebook Google

Music streaming services part of daily routine: MTM

Media | 12/08/2016 9:21 pm EST

Among Canadians who stream music, such services are very much a part of daily life, according to the latest Media Technology Monitor (MTM) report. Thursday’s report from MTM, a project of CBC/Radio-Canada, is a companion to the one released last week on broader trends in music streaming habits. In this report, it noted that just...

Internet companies reach out to new U.S. leadership

Media | 11/14/2016 10:37 pm EST

An organization representing four-dozen major online-based companies has reached out to president-elect Donald Trump, congratulating him on his victory while proposing digital policy planks for his administration to consider....

Videotron goes on defence as differential pricing hearing wraps

Media | 11/04/2016 11:49 pm EDT

GATINEAU, Que. — Those who innovate shouldn’t be penalized because their competitors can’t keep up, the CRTC heard Friday from representatives of the telecom company...

CRTC Internet Music streaming

No proven harm from differential pricing: Bell

Media | 11/01/2016 9:41 pm EDT

GATINEAU — The CRTC shouldn’t take the non-participation in this week’s hearing by content providers who might eventually benefit from zero-rating and other differential pricing practices as non-interest, a...

CRTC Data charges Internet

Que. music industry wants CanCon rules for streaming services, ISPs

Media | 09/30/2016 8:38 pm EDT

The Association québécoise de l'industrie du disque, du spectacle et de la video (ADISQ) is asking for regulatory action to help support the music industry as it deals with the shift to streaming music services, including the imposition of new rules for both streaming services and Internet Service Providers (ISPs). “We are asking the Quebec government, the federal government, the CRTC, the Copyright Board, and other relevant bodies to put at the top of their...

Cancon CRTC Internet

Data analytics key to discoverability, CRTC hears

Media | 12/01/2015 8:50 pm EST

The use of data analytics to build a global audience steered much of the discussion around content discoverability at an event hosted by the CRTC in collaboration with the National Film Board of Canada (NFB). The panel of experts...

Cable CRTC Music streaming

CRTC merges complaints against Videotron music service

Media | 09/28/2015 7:36 pm EDT

The CRTC has merged two complaints against a service by Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron that exempts some music streaming services from counting against mobile customers’ data caps. Videotron...

CRTC Data charges Internet

Another complaint emerges against Videotron’s music service

Media | 09/08/2015 5:24 pm EDT

Another application has been submitted to the CRTC that protests an offer by Quebecor Inc.'s Videotron to not count data used by its mobile customers for certain music-streaming applications. Vaxination Informatique, a telecommunication consulting company, has launched its own undue-preference complaint about...

PIAC launches complaint against Videotron music service

Media | 09/01/2015 8:45 pm EDT

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) is asking the CRTC to direct Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron to change the price structure of its new music service, which exempts data consumed through some...

Net-neutrality advocates cry foul over Videotron music service

Media | 08/27/2015 8:15 pm EDT

MONTREAL — Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron is giving itself an undue preference with a new service that allows its mobile customers to listen to music streaming without it counting against their data caps, net neutrality advocates say. “The issue is known colloquially now as zero rating, where you treat certain packets from certain sources as not charged under your telecom billing plan,” John Lawford, executive director of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), said in a phone interview. “The idea behind net neutrality is that that kind of favouritism isn’t...

Apps CRTC Internet

Google launches free music-streaming service in U.S.

Media | 06/23/2015 7:55 pm EDT

Google Inc. announced in a blog post Tuesday it will be adding to its current Google Play Music offering a free, ad-supported music streaming service. It will give users “a new way to find just the right music and ......

Internet Music streaming Smartphones

Netflix’ share of bandwidth usage grows, BitTorrent’s falls

Media | 05/29/2015 6:11 pm EDT

In North America, Netflix Inc. now accounts for 36.5 per cent of peak period, downloaded network traffic, a new report from network management provider Sandvine Inc. said, up from 34.9 per cent...

Internet Ott

Spotify adds video content

Media | 05/20/2015 7:16 pm EDT

Music streaming provider Spotify AB said Wednesday that it has added video to its offerings, along with several other features. "We know there are times in the day you want to switch between music to catch up on the latest news, listen to your favourite podcast or simply watch something...

Little growth in music streaming services: MTM

Media | 04/22/2015 9:05 pm EDT

Media Technology Monitor (MTM), a project of CBC/Radio-Canada, said in report released Wednesday that the percentage of anglophones using "personalized" audio streaming services over the last year or so has been...

Rogers bundles Spotify with Fido

Media | 03/30/2015 4:19 pm EDT

Customers of Rogers Communications Inc.’s Fido subsidiary will receive free access to Spotify AB’s premium music-streaming service for two years, the company said Monday. “Plug in and escape, anytime, anywhere,...

Music streaming in Canada ramps up

Media | 01/20/2015 10:56 pm EST

In the past six months, Canadians’ usage of streaming music services seems to have jumped, in a trend that’s not only good news for streaming services, but wireless companies as well. Nielsen Co. only began...

Apps Copyright Data charges

Canada needs more music streaming services: music exec

Media | 05/01/2014 7:58 pm EDT

OTTAWA — Canada needs more online music streaming providers, though the regulatory environment here keeps them away, the president of Nettwerk Music Group told a parliamentary committee...

Streaming services need certainty to thrive: Songza exec

Media | 04/01/2014 9:23 pm EDT

OTTAWA — Canada’s regulatory environment doesn’t promote technological innovation in the music industry, and that’s part of the reason why streaming services here are lagging...