Canada’s federal broadcasting regulator has ordered major online streaming platforms to contribute 15% of their Canadian revenue to support local content production.

The new requirement, announced Thursday by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, is three times higher than the earlier 5% contribution rule introduced in 2024.

Several major US-based streaming companies, including Apple, Amazon and Spotify, are challenging the earlier rule in court.

The decision is part of Canada’s implementation of the Online Streaming Act, which the United States has already raised as a concern ahead of upcoming trade talks with Canada.

At the same time, the regulator said traditional Canadian broadcasters, which currently contribute between 30% and 45% of their revenues, will see their required contribution reduced to 25%.

According to the CRTC, the new rules are expected to maintain more than 2 billion Canadian dollars in funding for Canadian and Indigenous programming, including French-language content and news coverage.

The regulator also introduced new guidelines on how broadcasters and streaming companies must spend the money, including support for production funds and direct investment in Canadian-made programs.

Most of the streaming companies’ contributions can be used for content production, but the regulator has added extra conditions for the largest platforms.

Streaming services earning more than 100 million Canadian dollars annually in Canada will be required to direct 30% of their spending toward partnerships with Canadian broadcasters and independent producers.

The rules will apply to both streaming services and broadcasters that earn at least 25 million Canadian dollars a year from broadcasting activities in Canada.

The CRTC also announced plans to create a new fund to support selected television channels, including CPAC, which broadcasts live coverage of political events in Canada.