Registration for online streaming services

As part of the modernization of Canada’s broadcasting framework, certain online streaming services need to provide information about their activities in Canada. Registration collects basic information, is only required once and can be completed in just a few steps.

The list of registered broadcasting ownership groups is now available. The list of online streaming services operated by those groups will be published at a later date.

Criteria to register

Online streaming services that meet the following criteria must complete a registration form:

operate in Canada;
offer broadcasting content; and
earn $10 million or more in annual broadcasting revenues.

1. Operate in Canada

Registration applies to Canadian and foreign online streaming services operating in Canada.

2. Offer broadcasting content

Broadcast content can be audio programs or audiovisual programs that are intended to inform, enlighten or entertain. Content can be offered online in a number of ways, for example, through:

streaming services;
social media;
subscription television services available online;
radio stations that live stream over the Internet;
podcasts (free or paid subscription); or
unique transactions that allow the user to stream or download content.

3. Earn $10 million or more in annual broadcasting revenues

This applies to online streaming services that alone, or as part of a broadcasting ownership group, earn $10 million or more in annual revenue from broadcasting activities. It includes revenue collected in the Canadian market during the previous broadcast year from both online and licensed broadcasting services.

Sources of revenue include:

licensed broadcasting activities (for example, licensed radio and television services);
streaming of online programming in Canada (for example, subscription revenues);
subscription and advertising revenues collected by social media services;
other revenues, such as donations and government appropriations;
revenue generated from a podcast service (excludes revenue earned by a user who has created content and uploaded it to a social media service); and
selling or leasing of software or hardware that is essential to access online programming.

Excluded revenue

Revenue generated from the following are excluded from the total:

providing video game services;
providing audiobook services; and
broadcasting activities by traditional services exempt from holding a licence.

See Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2023-329: Online Undertakings Registration Regulations, and exemption order regarding those regulations for details on registration requirements.

Exemptions

Online streaming services don’t need to register if:

they operate an online audio or video service that alone, or if it forms part of a group of broadcasting services, earn less than $10 million in broadcasting revenues in Canada;
they upload content only on social media; or
the sole purpose of their service consists of providing:
- video game services; or
- audiobook services.

See Broadcasting Order CRTC 2023-330 Exemption order for classes of online undertakings in respect of the Online Undertakings Registration Regulations for details on exemptions.

How to register

Fill out and submit the registration form

The registration form asks you to provide information about your online streaming services.

Services that have filled form 157 for the Annual Digital Media Survey in 2022 have the option to complete a simplified attestation form through the registration process.

Registration deadlines

Services already in operation had to register by November 28, 2023.
For new services beginning after September 29, 2023:
- services that operate within a broadcasting group that generate $10 million or more in annual revenue: 30 days after the new service launches;
- services that operate alone and that generate $10 million or more in annual revenue: 30 days after the end of the broadcast year in which those revenue were generated.

Start the registration process

Registration support

If you need help with the registration process, we are here to answer your questions.

Please give us a call: 1-866-781-1911

Open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Eastern time)

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