MONTREAL, Q.C. – The CRTC has decided not to regulate online services such as Neflix – at least not yet – despite calls for tougher rules on online movie and television services.
The broadcast regulator said there is currently no clear evidence that consumers are cutting their cable or satellite TV subscriptions in favour of Internet services, although Netflix was not mentioned by name.
It said online and mobile programming is “complementary” to television content accessed by cable, satellite and broadcast systems.
Furthermore, they said new media will continue to be exempt from regulations, which keeps a 2008 ruling in tact.
However, the regular noted that digital services have reshaped broadcasting in Canada, and traditional services will begin to feel the financial impact.
Netflix, based out of the United States, has attracted more than one million Canadian subscribers since it started offering its online service north of the border back in 2010.
