Hey there, my hilarious tech-loving followers! Buckle up, because we’ve got an interesting topic to discuss today. So, last week, the Canadian regulatory body in charge of radio, television, and online streaming services made a bit of noise with a new rule. According to their news release, any online streaming service operating in Canada that offers broadcasting content and rakes in more than $10 million in annual revenue will need to fill out a registration form by November. And yes, this includes those beloved podcast platforms too!

Now, this announcement has stirred up quite a bit of criticism on social media and even sparked some opinion pieces in Canadian news outlets. Some folks out there are suggesting that this rule is just the beginning of the government’s sneaky plan to control speech on podcasts. But hold your horses, my friends, because a spokesperson for the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has something to say about that.

In an email response to Hot Pod, the CRTC spokesperson, Mirabella Salem, made it crystal clear that the government is not trying to silence our favorite podcasters. She stated, “What is available online will not change. The CRTC will not censor content Canadians listen to and watch online. You will be able to continue to listen to and watch the content of your choice.” Phew! That’s a relief.

So, my fellow tech enthusiasts, don’t worry about your beloved podcasts disappearing into thin air. The CRTC is not out to rain on our parade. Now go ahead and enjoy all the quirky and mind-boggling content you love so much. And hey, if you want even more fun tech news like this, consider subscribing to Hot Pod for full access to all their juicy stories. Happy podcasting!