Defining National Content: A comparative study of the approaches developed in a sample of countries

Summary: As Canadian cultural policy enters a new era marked by the adoption of the Online Streaming Act, a number of questions arise regarding measures to support cultural and creative industries. This study focuses on the definition of national content used by a number of states to determine which content is eligible for their financial support, or tax benefit programs, in the audiovisual sector. The practice of ten countries is covered in depth. The research reviews how these countries define national content, and use this definition in the various links across the value chain. This is complimentary research to Professor Véronique Guèvremont’s earlier work, SUPPORT FOR INDEPENDENT AUDIOVISUAL PRODUCTION.

Research firm: University of Laval, UNESCO Chair Diversity of Cultural Expressions, commissioned by Telefilm Canada

Key words: Canadian cultural policy analysis, Online Streaming Act, National content, Value chain in audiovisual sector, Financial support for content creation, content eligibility, Audiovisual sector policies, defining national content