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Canadian Regulator Threatens To Impose New Netflix Regulation

Posted by Soulskill on from the play-ball-or-go-away dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Netflix appeared before the Canadian broadcast regulator today, resulting in a remarkably heated exchange, with threats of new regulation. The discussion was very hostile — the CRTC repeatedly ordered Netflix to provide subscriber information and other confidential data. As tempers frayed, the Canadian regulator expressed disappointment over the responses from a company that it said "takes hundreds of millions of dollars out of Canada." The CRTC implicitly threatened to regulate the company by taking away its ability to rely on the new media exception if it did not cooperate with its orders.

6 of 324 comments (clear)

  1. why does the CRTC need this list? by ganjadude · · Score: 5, Insightful

    why does anyone other than netflix need to know who their customers are?

    --
    have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
    1. Re:why does the CRTC need this list? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The CRTC is in the pockets of companies that don't like netflix, aka cable companies.

    2. Re:why does the CRTC need this list? by i+kan+reed · · Score: 5, Informative

      To clarify, in this case they claim that netflix doesn't do enough to encourage the production and consumption of Canadian entertainment, a requirement they place on other distributors.

      So they're, in theory, doing exactly what you say, just in less harsh terms. They want to ensure the continued interest of Canadian producers, and not American.

      And they're using arbitrary leverage like demanding subscriber lists to push netflix to obey. It's not neat or nice. But they're kinda being upfront that it's just leverage not genuine interest in the records.

    3. Re:why does the CRTC need this list? by JMJimmy · · Score: 5, Informative

      Check the facts before making snap judgements. This article is blatantly misleading to the events that actually occurred. Here's the actual video from the hearing:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

      Summary: Commission is seeking information to make a decision - even in its conversation with Netflix they state they are not leaning in any direction (regulation or deregulation). The commission requested information, Netflix rep refused to commit to provide it. This pissed off the head of the CRTC because Netflix doesn't have a choice - by operating in Canada they must provide the information. The CRTC repeatedly had to make it an order for Netflix to provide the information it was requesting to backup assertions made by Netflix to the commission with actual facts/data.

    4. Re:why does the CRTC need this list? by JMJimmy · · Score: 5, Informative

      Except Netflix is **not** a Canadian company.

      Your point? ABC/NBC/Fox/etc are not Canadian companies, they still have to comply with CanCon rules within Canada. Netflix is operating under an exemption from those rules right now.

    5. Re:why does the CRTC need this list? by kristianbrigman · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Except.... cable companies program what they are going to play. Netflix plays what their subscribers want to see. What are they supposed to do, put up a notice saying 'You can't watch the next episode of "Under the Dome" until you first watch your quota of 3 of these other Canadian shows?' The rules don't even make sense for the Netflix model.