The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday edition that some of the world's biggest streaming companies are arguing in court that having to pay $1.25-million each to support Canadian content and local TV news is onerous and unlawful. A Canadian Press dispatch to The Globe says the companies are fighting an order from the broadcast regulator that they pay 5 per cent of their annual Canadian revenues to media funds for distribution. The case, which consolidates several appeals by streamers, will be heard by the Federal Court of Appeal in Toronto today. Apple, Amazon and Spotify are fighting the CRTC's 2024 order. Motion Picture Association Canada, which represents such companies as Netflix and Paramount, is challenging a section of the CRTC's order on local news contributions. In December, the court put a pause on the payments -- estimated to be at least $1.25-million annually per company. Amazon, Apple and Spotify had argued that if they made the payments and then won the appeal and overturned the CRTC order, they would not be able to recover the money. The streamers put forward a long list of arguments on why they should not have to pay, including technical points regarding the CRTC's powers under the Broadcasting Act.