Amazon Joins Netflix, Disney+ to Challenge France’s 20% Local Content Mandate
AMZN•Amazon joined Netflix and Disney+ in filing an appeal to France’s Council of State on July 3, contesting the new requirement to invest 20% of French subscription revenue into European productions. The mandate could force global streamers to channel over €600 million annually into local content, reshaping Prime Video’s budget.
1. Appeal Filed to Council of State
On July 3, Amazon, Netflix and Disney+ jointly lodged an appeal with France’s Council of State against the audiovisual law requiring on-demand platforms to invest 20% of their French subscription revenue into European productions. The companies argue this obligation violates EU service freedom principles and imposes disproportionate financial burdens.
2. Investment Mandate Details
Under the new regulation, streaming services must dedicate 20% of French sales—equating to more than €600 million across the three platforms—toward European and French content investments. Failure to comply carries fines and could limit service offerings in France.
3. Implications for Amazon
If the challenge is unsuccessful, Prime Video may need to reallocate a significant portion of its French revenue to local productions, potentially impacting global content budgets or leading to subscription price adjustments to offset the higher costs.
