Regulatory developments: Germany 8% mandate, Canada fee scrapped, D.C. influence team
Key Questions
What new investment mandate did Germany impose on streamers?
Germany passed a law requiring Netflix, Prime, and Disney+ to invest 8% of local revenue in German film production, a plan Netflix has publicly criticized over rights and viability concerns.
What happened with Canada's streaming levy proposal?
Canada scrapped its planned 15% local spend rule after intervention, saving streaming companies billions and signaling geopolitical influence on regulation.
How is Netflix strengthening its regulatory engagement?
Netflix hired Disney's former crisis comms veteran Caitlin Conant for a new D.C. role, building on the prior Clete Willems hire amid post-WBD battles and DOJ scrutiny.
Germany passes law requiring Netflix, Prime, Disney+ to invest 8% of local revenue in German film production. Netflix publicly criticizes the plan over rights sharing and project viability concerns. Canada's 15% local spend rule scrapped after Carney intervention, saving billions and signaling geopolitical impact on streaming regulation. Netflix poaches Disney's crisis comms veteran Caitlin Conant for a new D.C.-based role, signaling proactive government relations investment amid post-WBD regulatory battles and DOJ scrutiny. This builds on the Clete Willems hire last year.