At a Canadian media production industry conference in Ottawa, the creators of the popular Canadian TV show “Heated Rivalry” stood by the Online Streaming Act, which the United States has flagged as a trade concern. Jacob Tierney, the show’s creator, emphasized the importance of retaining the act despite potential negotiations. The show, originally produced for Bell Media’s Crave streaming service and later acquired by HBO Max, has gained international acclaim with its lead actors making appearances at prestigious events like the Golden Globes and Milan Fashion Week.
Tierney expressed that requiring foreign platforms to contribute five percent towards Canadian content is a reasonable request. Meanwhile, Brendan Brady, another mind behind “Heated Rivalry,” encouraged streamers to embrace the opportunity for more competition and global exposure within the Canadian system.
The ongoing Prime Time media production conference coincides with challenges from global streamers against Canadian content contribution regulations enforced by the CRTC through the Online Streaming Act. The legislation was updated to encompass online platforms like Netflix.
In a recent development, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer raised concerns about the act impacting American digital service providers, ahead of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement review. The conference also featured insights from Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon, who assured creators of the government’s attention to their concerns regarding the Online Streaming Act.
The CRTC has mandated large foreign streaming companies to allocate five percent of their annual Canadian revenues towards producing Canadian content, including local TV news. Despite resistance from some streamers challenging this directive in court, the CRTC’s efforts aim to boost Canadian content creation and uphold transparency within the industry.