Canada rolls back Netflix funding levy to curb subscriber costs
Ottawa will rewrite the Online Streaming Act to roll back a rule that would have forced U.S. streamers to fund Canadian programming, arguing the levy would raise subscription costs for Canadians. The change would shrink funding from about C$2 billion per year to roughly C$600 million while the government provides targeted support to the sector. Critics say the move cedes cultural leverage to U.S. tech giants and could keep prices rising, while Netflix and other streamers oppose the reversal and industry groups watch the impact amid ongoing trade tensions.