CRTC asks digital giants for info, promises confidentiality

As part of its government-ordered proceeding on future content distribution models, the CRTC is asking a number of companies — including Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Netflix Inc. — for information about their digital media broadcasting revenues, subscribers and viewing in Canada. Several years ago, during its Let’s Talk TV proceeding, those two companies refused to provide such info to the regulator, triggering conflict with the commission that saw then-chairman Jean-Pierre Blais briefly walk out of a hearing and threaten to revoke the digital-media exemption order under which Netflix operates. Google and Netflix never provided the CRTC with the information and as a result, their input was removed from the hearing process. This time around — as part of a process triggered by the government's Creative Canada strategy — the CRTC asked for the information in separate letters dated Friday to companies including a number of Canada’s largest telecoms and broadcasters, as well as Stingray Digital Group Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Apple Inc., Facebook Inc., Spotify AB and Sirius XM Canada Holdings Inc. It said it would be ”varying its Rules of Procedure with respect to confidentiality” in order to designate the information as confidential, and that it expects it to be submitted by March 2. Normally, CRTC procedures allow the commission or another party to request information designated as confidential be disclosed. In the letter, the CRTC said it “will not disclose or require the disclosure of the information you submit and you will not be required to prepare or file an abridged version for the record. This decision of the Commission is final and conclusive.” The issue of confidentiality was at the heart of the conflict between Netflix and the CRTC back in 2014, when Blais told Corie Wright, Netflix’ director of global public policy, the company is “not entitled to a special treatment” and would not be guaranteed confidentiality. The CRTC is asking for a breakdown of subscription, advertising and other revenues for the previous two broadcast years, total “expenditures directed to Canadians for acquired or original content,” the total number of subscribers, and total viewing/listening hours by Canadians, as well as the viewing/listening hours for Canadian content.

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CRTC asks digital giants for info, promises confidentiality

Brief | February 5, 2018

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