The Canadian Broadcasting Act
S.C. 1991, c. 11 — Last amended 2023
The Broadcasting Act (S.C. 1991, c. 11) is the foundational legislation governing all broadcasting activities in Canada. It establishes the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) as the regulatory body responsible for licensing and overseeing broadcasters and broadcasting distribution undertakings (BDUs).
IPTV Canada operates as a licensed BDU under this Act, meaning all content distributed through our platform has been authorized through legitimate carriage agreements with content creators and rights holders.
What this means for you: Every channel and VOD title on IPTV Canada is legally distributed. You're protected by the same consumer rights framework as Bell, Rogers, and Telus TV subscribers.
CRTC Licensing Requirements
What makes an IPTV provider legal in Canada
Broadcasting Licence or Exemption
ActiveAll BDUs must hold a valid broadcasting licence issued by the CRTC, or operate under an applicable exemption order.
Canadian Content Obligations
CompliantLicensed BDUs must ensure that a prescribed percentage of programming is Canadian content (CanCon), supporting Canada's cultural industries.
Accessibility Standards
CompliantBDUs must meet accessibility requirements including closed captioning, described video, and accessible customer service.
Consumer Protection
RegisteredLicensed services are subject to the CCTS (Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services), providing consumers with a formal complaints mechanism.
The Online Streaming Act
Bill C-11 — Royal Assent April 2023
In 2023, the Online Streaming Act (Bill C-11) amended the Broadcasting Act to extend CRTC authority to online streaming services. This legislation ensures that all services transmitting broadcasting content to Canadians — including IPTV platforms — fall under CRTC regulatory oversight.
Key Provisions
CRTC Registration
Mandatory for services meeting revenue or subscriber thresholds
Content Contributions
Financial support for Canadian content creation
Discoverability
Obligations to promote Canadian programming
Reporting
Subscriber data and content offering transparency
Copyright Act Compliance
R.S.C., 1985, c. C-42
In addition to broadcasting law, IPTV services must comply with the Copyright Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-42). IPTV Canada ensures full copyright compliance through the following measures:
Securing distribution rights for all content through direct agreements with rights holders
Paying applicable retransmission royalties through Access Copyright and other collective societies
Implementing digital rights management (DRM) to prevent unauthorized redistribution
Maintaining a robust notice-and-takedown process for any inadvertent copyright issues
Consumer Rights & Privacy
As a CRTC-licensed operator, IPTV Canada adheres to the following consumer protection standards.
CCTS
Complaints Resolution
Free, independent dispute resolution for billing, service, and contract issues.
PIPEDA
Privacy Protection
Personal information collected and used in strict accordance with federal privacy law.
AODA / ACA
Accessibility
Closed captions, described video, and fully accessible user interfaces.
CRTC Code
Pricing Transparency
All prices displayed in $CAD with applicable taxes clearly disclosed upfront.
Regulatory Resources
Verify our compliance directly through these official Canadian government resources.
CRTC Official Website
Search the public registry of licensed broadcasting undertakings
crtc.gc.ca →
Broadcasting Act Full Text
Read the complete legislation on the Justice Laws website
laws-lois.justice.gc.ca →
CCTS Complaints Commission
File a complaint or check our dispute resolution record
ccts-cprst.ca →
Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Learn about your rights under PIPEDA federal privacy law
priv.gc.ca →
Ready to stream with confidence?
Join thousands of Canadian households who trust IPTV Canada for legal, high-quality IPTV streaming.