SOCAN TV Licence — Société de télédiffusion du Québec

Summary#

This Canada Gazette notice records a tariff set by the Copyright Board called SOCAN Tariff 2.C – Television – Société de télédiffusion du Québec (2018-2022). It fixes an annual licence fee of $216,000 that the broadcaster must pay for the right to use music on its TV station and related online platforms. The notice was published on August 8, 2020.

What it does#

• Establishes a licence that covers performing or communicating SOCAN repertoire for a station and related online platforms run by the Société de télédiffusion du Québec for the years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
• Sets the annual fee at $216,000, paid in equal quarterly instalments on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 15 of each licence year.
• Says the fees are exclusive of taxes (federal, provincial, or other government levies).
• Requires payment when the licence is granted and charges interest on late payments at a rate equal to 1% above the Bank Rate (as published by the Bank of Canada), calculated daily and not compounded.
• Allows SOCAN to terminate a licence for breach after 30 days’ written notice.
• Clarifies that this tariff does not apply to uses already covered by SOCAN Tariff 17 (Pay, Specialty and Other Television Services).

Who's affected#

• The main party affected is the Société de télédiffusion du Québec (its TV station and the websites/technological platforms it operates).
• SOCAN (the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada) is the collecting organization that will receive the fees.
• Other broadcasters are not directly changed by this notice, but similar tariff rules could affect other stations or streaming services in comparable situations.
• If the source text is unclear about a specific platform or use, the notice itself should be consulted for precise scope.

Why it matters#

• For the broadcaster, this is a predictable yearly cost of $216,000, split into four payments, for the right to use SOCAN-managed music on TV and online. That can affect budgets and how the broadcaster plans music use.
• For artists and rights holders represented by SOCAN, it provides a clear revenue stream from this broadcaster for the years covered.
• The notice defines how on-demand online access (making works available for users to choose time/place) is treated under the licence, which matters as TV stations move content online.
• The interest and termination rules make it clear there are financial and contract consequences for late payment or breach.