The Netflix/Streaming tax is incomming.

Mal-Adjusted · 17-01-2022 1:42pm #1

https://www.newstalk.com/news/the-netflix-levy-is-coming-larry-bass-on-changes-to-streaming-platforms-1298499

It's been mooted for the past year, but here it is. How do we feel about money from our Netflix, Prime and Disney+ subs going to fund local projects?

Good thing? more Irish films/television being made.

Bad thing? zombie companies that aren't comercially viable kept afloat by state subvention?

The host and guest were at pains to say that it was ringfenced and not just going into plugging leaks in the RTE salery/cocaine budget, but you's have to assume that they would be just as eligable to apply for a slice as anyone else. The guest claims that this won't affect price.

"All of the platforms built the levy into their current subscriptions - so it's not going to affect the price you're paying, it's already there"

Frankly, i think that's BS. Either the price will go up to maintain profit levels or, if its already built in as the guest says, then we've already been overcharged for years to cover it.

blanch152 · 17-01-2022 1:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058228473/the-netflix-streaming-tax-is-incomming

Already, the Irish film industry gets huge tax incentives, so why should they get money from ordinary taxpayers as well. One or the other, but not both.

TomTomTim · 17-01-2022 2:12pm

Looking at what Larry Bass and his company have produced, they should be getting less money not more. I'd support this if there was some budding talents, great directors, or writers, who simply can't get funding for their projects, but that doesn't seem to be the case at all. The Irish entertain industry produces nothing worth talking about, so why do they deserve more money?

Ubbquittious · 17-01-2022 2:30pm

Makes sense to bring this in as long as it's not a drop in for funding the RTE dead duck. If it would go into funding local homegrown programmes it would be great. Keeping the TV license in place will just drive people to streaming & sending more money to America/Hollywood

Varik · 17-01-2022 2:37pm

"Squid Games' is a case and point; it's a South Korean show, it's playing right around the world, but the producers in Korea - if they can't get access to funding in the future, no more 'Squid Games'".

Comments like that make it seem they see no correlation between sucess and future funding.

blanch152 · 17-01-2022 2:41pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118489092#Comment_118489092

The likes of Larry Bass and others have a lifestyle to protect.

DaTown · 17-01-2022 2:42pm

Defund the RTE

Pa ElGrande · 17-01-2022 3:10pm

Lets read the bill first and see what they are at: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill

17-01-2022 4:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118489443#Comment_118489443

Notice how they put both the Online Safty and Media Regulation Tax bill together in the one bill. If they were seperate you could vote for the online safty bill and not vote for the tax levy bill but seeing as they're both in the one bill, If someone wants to vote against say the tax part you'll have people coming out and saying stuff like "Why are you against online safety laws" etc. They mashed bills together like this all the time to sneak stuff in.

BringingSexyBack · 17-01-2022 5:20pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058228473/the-netflix-streaming-tax-is-incomming

No !

We already pay a fee for these services. Netflix and co , naturally , are not going to take a cut so that these scum seek a slice. It has been a long way from getting people to stop downloading films on the internet illegally to agreeing to pay for streaming .

People could be using Netflix and co in protest as to how crap RTE and co are .

Why should like State groups get a cent, unless it is royalties for films that they part funded ? They don't even have a role in the broadband service

With the whole of Europe (the continent ) and legendary groups like Channel 4 / Film 4 and co.............if a film group can not get some funding for their film project, the film is probably not worth making in the first place.

fly_agaric · 17-01-2022 8:37pm

Article says it has happened already..."The levy is coming - that's a European criteria - so that decision's already done" and when I google I see there are articles about that EU directive (about mandating a fixed % of locally produced content etc. on the streamers) from 2018. Unless the opening post was about something else and I'm mixing things up (article wasn't really that clear). So presume it is just a case of Ireland getting around to transposing the directive.

What has it got to do with either RTE or "state groups" (?) getting money?

(I think) the idea is the streamers, mostly US MNCs, will have to plow funding into local production and then show what is produced on their platforms. They can't just use some generic "US" or "Global" catalog of content to show to European subscribers to save themselves hassle and funnel the subscriber fees outside Europe to fund production elsewhere where it might be more cost effective/useful for them (i.e. back to the USA or maybe to Asia). I assume they (streamers) will decide who gets the money here as it will be them commissioning the content (?) so up to them to make sure it gets used for something decent and not "wasted".

Buddy Bubs · 17-01-2022 10:51pm

I subscribe to Netflix in India or Thailand or something, can't remember where now exactly. I presume I won't be paying the tax

Fallout2022 · 17-01-2022 11:40pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118491914#Comment_118491914

You might be needed to funded the Indian movie industry.

cnocbui · 17-01-2022 11:48pm

US ambassador will have a chat with someone to explain why it wouldn't be in the countrie's interest.

Manach · 19-01-2022 4:41pm

Given that the creative types are often the multi-hued cheerleaders for state command and control as well as progressive policies: think of it instead as a tithe to our intellectual betters.

TomTomTim · 19-01-2022 5:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118492146#Comment_118492146

They'd deserve it more than Ireland, because at the least Indians produce a few good movies here and there, which can't be said for us.

AckwelFoley · 19-01-2022 5:58pm

Well, if its going towards paying RTEs nonsense salaries then it's a hard pass from me

drivingmissdaisy · 20-01-2022 1:44am

Are they trying to encourage people to pirate video?

Why would you pay an inflated Irish price for these services when you could sign up in another country with a VPN and get them for 20% of the cost?

Varik · 21-01-2022 4:42pm

No sign in the actual bill but the Dail questions yesterday they put a number on something.

25% of the money is to be spent on Irish langue content.