Netflix vs Canada Air Space
Netflix is not happy with Canada because of the Online Streaming Act passed this week. Nature made air for all animals to enjoy, not forgetting rain when air becomes too hot. For economic reasons dressed as patriotism, human animals divided it into flag air: Canadian, American, Russian, Korean (South and North) Brazilian etc.
This Act requires carriers like Netflix and Spotify to have Canadian content in order to be seen and heard in Canada. The country is using the airspace prerogative. Broadcasting air in Canada is controlled by the Canada Radio- television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). There’s a historical reason for it: American content.
Canada wanted to distinguish itself from its neighbour, but it was impossible because since the beginning of broadcasting, Canadians have listened to American radio, watched American television sitcoms, quiz and talent shows, and watched the Oscars and everything related to films.
The government put money where its mouth was and created a tool, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) to create and distribute Canadian content. The government also funded filmmakers, visual and other artists for the same purpose.
Therefore, Canadian content was country specific, ask all those famous actors and producers who crossed the border, and live in the U.S. for keeps. Then came the internet, which doesn’t recognize flag air space. I watch any content, as long as I pay my internet service provider.
Most Netflix producers do not use government money to produce films. They use their own. It’s a gamble or investment. Therefore, Netflix cannot be forced to produce Canadian content, in order to use Canadian air space.
The nation state is a thing of the past. Country air space is gone. The internet buried it. Canada cannot police borders it doesn’t own. The Online Streaming Act cannot be justified.
By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.
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