At least one project will receive a production budget of £1.5 million (CHF1.84 million) and a guaranteed global distribution on the platform. However, the streaming service did recently team up with Creative UK to launch an initiative called Breakout External link, which aims to support the development and funding of debut feature films in the country. In the United Kingdom, there is no law regulating Netflix's relationship with the local film industry. Netflix declined to make the requisite payments between 20, arguing that it didn't have any real German presence since its European headquarters at the time were situated in the Netherlands. The rate is either 1.8% or 2.5%, depending on whether the revenue is up to or above €20 million. In Germany External link, streaming services are required to invest in the national film fund if their annual film-related revenue in the country exceeds €500,000 (CHF512,000). The proposed amendment, supporters say, would keep the Swiss film industry competitive on a European level. Similar laws are already in place in countries such as Spain and France.
As Comparitech revealed, despite the higher price, the catalogue of television shows and films available to Swiss consumers is smaller than in other markets.įilmmakers are firmly behind the amendment, with the consensus being that voting yes would put Switzerland on equal footing with other European countries. Supporters of the amendment argue that, since streaming services, including Netflix, are more expensive in Switzerland than in other countries, it’s only fair that these services give something back.Īccording to pro-consumer website Comparitech External link, Switzerland and Liechtenstein are, in fact, the two countries with the most expensive Netflix subscription rates – subscriptions cost CHF2-CHF5 more, depending on the country and/or subscription tier. In Switzerland, a “premium” subscription has gone up from CHF21.90 a month to CHF24.90. Netflix, however, is raising its prices only in certain territories, regardless of local legislation. Those behind the referendum also say the law would lead to higher prices for the various services’ subscription offers. The youth wings of Switzerland’s major centre-right and right-wing political parties (the Radical-Liberal Party, the Swiss People’s Party, the Liberal Green Party and the Centre Party) had already announced a referendum before the government decided to impose a 4% levy. Yet there was enough opposition at the political level to force a nationwide vote on the amendment. “I don’t understand how anyone could be against it,” said filmmaker Fred Baillif during a discussion at the most recent Think Cinema festival in Lausanne in March. Industry professionals are largely in favour of the proposal. This is expected to generate between CHF18 million ($19.3 million) and CHF30 million extra a year for the Swiss film industry, according to estimates from the Federal Office of Culture External link (BAK) and the Swiss parliament External link. With the proposed change, the government wants to regulate the presence of major international streaming platforms in Switzerland, requiring them to invest 4% of their domestic revenue in Swiss audiovisual productions. On May 15 the Swiss vote on an amendment to the federal cinematic culture and production law dubbed “Lex Netflix”. Italiano (it) Lex Netflix: Quo vadis, Helvetia?.Français (fr) Lex Netflix: Quo vadis, Helvetia?.Português (pt) Lex Netflix: Quo vadis, Helvetia?.Español (es) Lex Netflix: ¿Quo vadis, Helvetia?.Deutsch (de) Lex Netflix: Quo vadis, Helvetia?.