Quebec to Implement French-Language Content Quotas on Streaming Platforms

Quebec is taking steps to ensure that streaming platforms like Netflix and Spotify provide more French-language content for their users. The bill tabled by the Quebec government aims to increase access to francophone music, films, and television series on these platforms. It also requires that this content be more prominent and easier to find for consumers.

According to Quebec Culture Minister Mathieu Lacombe, this bill is crucial for preserving francophone culture in the face of competition from streaming giants. Lacombe emphasized the importance of making French-language content readily available to Quebec residents, stating that people cannot appreciate what they cannot access.

In 2023, only five percent of the 10,000 most-streamed songs in Quebec were in French. To address this imbalance, the proposed legislation would enshrine the right to access French-language cultural content in the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. Specific quotas for original French-language content would be determined by the government through regulations.

Although the exact quotas have not been specified, Lacombe stressed the need for more French content on digital platforms to ensure that Quebecers can easily enjoy films, TV shows, and music in their native language. The bill signals Quebec’s commitment to safeguarding its unique cultural heritage by promoting and prioritizing French content on streaming services.