This article discusses regulations for Canadian content in broadcasting and debates whether Netflix, as an online streaming service, should be subject to Canadian content regulations.

Appropriate Subject Area(s):

Entrepreneurship, marketing

Key Questions to Explore:

• What is the purpose of Canada’s Broadcasting Act? How inclusive do you think it should be?

Introduction to lesson and task:

This lesson introduces many concepts that students may be familiar with from a usage perspective but not a marketing perspective.  Once the concepts are discussed, there is an opportunity for a lively debate.

Action (lesson plan and task):

• Survey the class to see who subscribes to a streaming service.
• Record the reasons why they subscribe.
• Distribute the article for reading.
• Using Think-Pair-Share, ask students why Netflix is fighting back.
• Ask them to explain what is meant by “market forces”.
• Have students brainstorm other examples of market forces at work. What evidence is there that this is the case here?
• The article mentions the quality of the “ecosystem” in Canada. What is this referring to?
• Have the students discuss what Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission rules could be applied to Netflix.
• Have them write a brief paragraph stating their opinion, with rationale.

Consolidation of Learning:

• Divide the class in two. One side should argue in favour of Netflix achieving its goals, the other should argue to have Netflix regulated by the CRTC.  Have students work together to prepare their argument.  Instead of a verbal debate, have students prepare a poster debate, outlining their positions in diagrams, with words or pictures, then present their position to the rest of the class.

Success Criteria:

• Students understand why the Broadcasting Act is in place and the value it brings to Canadians.

Confirming Activity:

• The article mentions that Canadian content is “discoverable” on the Netflix streaming service. What does this mean? Are there other applications for “discoverable”?