Court hits pause on Netflix’s upcoming Canadian content payments [Video]

Big streaming companies like Netflix won’t have to pay for Canadian content until the court hears their appeal of a CRTC decision ordering them to pay, the Federal Court of Appeal says.

In June, the CRTC said that foreign streamers must contribute five per cent of their annual Canadian revenues to a fund devoted to producing Canadian content, including local TV and radio news.

Big global streamers like Netflix and Disney Plus launched court challenges of that order, which the regulator made under the Online Streaming Act.

Earlier this month, the Federal Court of Appeal agreed to hear the case.

A judge said Monday the streamers won’t have to make the payments, estimated to be at least $1.25 million each annually, until that court process plays out.

The parties have agreed to an expedited schedule, meaning the court hearing would take place in June before the bulk of the money …