'Brexit and Chill'- Eurosceptic campaign suggests remaining will hinder streaming use
One of the leading the campaigns advocating the UK’s exit from the EU is attempting to win over voters by highlighting the dangers which remaining pose for the UK populations’ Netflix and chill ambitions.
Leave.EU, the unofficial Eurosceptic campaign backed by UKIP’s Nigel Farage, has chosen to highlight the possible introduction of an EU tax on video streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime as an impetus for a leave vote in the upcoming EU referendum.
A recent tweet from Leave.EU hijacked the popular cultural term of using Netflix as a euphemism for sex. Rather than using 'Netflix and Chill', Leave.EU ran with ‘Brexit and Chill'.
https://t.co/PrygdoMRwL pic.twitter.com/L3kG4XKn68
— LEAVE.EU (@LeaveEUOfficial) May 19, 2016
The tweet linked to an article on politics site Politico which reported that France has been lobbying for the introduction of a tax on online streaming services in order to help support its entertainment industry.
A draft of the regulation obtained by says: “member nations may require providers of on-demand audiovisual media services … to contribute financially to the production of European works.”
The potential reforms are part of the Commission's update of audiovisual media laws to reflect how people consume content and will be central to the creation of a Digital Single Market when it comes to streaming, online delivery, copyright and networks.
However, criticising the likely measures Netflix said: “Rigid numerical quotas risk suffocating the market for on-demand audiovisual media services,” Netflix wrote in its response to the commission. “An obligation to carry content to meet a numerical quota may cause new players to struggle to achieve a sustainable business model.”
Combating such moves from Leave.EU and the official Brexit campaign Vote Leave is David Cameron's Britain Stronger in Europe campaign which is being handled by M&C Saatchi.