CBRA Media Monitoring Tariff (2027–2029)

Summary#

• This notice publishes the CBRA Commercial Media Monitoring Tariff (2027-2029). It was published on May 30, 2026 by the Copyright Board.
• The tariff sets when and how media‑monitoring businesses (monitors) may copy, sell or provide clips, transcripts and summaries of broadcasters’ radio and TV programs, and it establishes a royalty rate and record‑keeping rules.

What it does#

• Defines who the rules cover and what a “CBRA program” or “CBRA signal” is. It also says the tariff does not cover third‑party elements (for example, music) that a broadcaster does not control.
• Limits on clips:
  • A monitor may make up to two excerpts of up to 10 minutes each from any program.
  • In a year, up to 10% of items delivered in various formats may exceed those excerpt limits.
• Delivery and access rules:
  • Monitors can let a customer listen immediately by phone or send a low‑resolution video by email (max 320 pixels by 240 pixels, 15 frames per second). These immediate deliveries are limited to 10% of a monitor’s annual items.
  • Password‑protected databases may hold excerpts and transcripts only under strict conditions (excerpts removed within 10 days, access generally limited to customers who have been clients at least three months and to PR/communications teams).
  • Customers who open a file must pay for it; downloads are limited (downloads cannot exceed 10% of annual items).
• Sales and content types:
  • Monitors may sell or rent excerpts, transcripts, monitoring notes and summary notes.
  • Monitoring and summary notes may be kept indefinitely; most other copied material must be destroyed within 31 days. Transcripts may be kept up to 12 months.
• Customer restrictions:
  • Monitors may only sell to corporations or public‑sector organizations.
  • Customers must sign a written agreement limiting use to private, internal, non‑commercial purposes and prohibiting uses like legal filings, political campaigning, marketing, or public rebroadcasting.
• Royalties and small‑business option:
  • Monitors must pay a royalty equal to 14% of their “CBRA‑related gross income,” calculated monthly on the income from the second month before the payment; payments are due by the first day of the month.
  • A monitor with expected total monitoring revenues under $100,000 can opt into a simplified schedule by submitting a certified statement by January 31 and pay quarterly instead.
• Reporting, records and audits:
  • Monitors must report detailed income and program data, keep records for six years, and allow audits. If an audit finds underpayments over 5%, the monitor pays the audit costs.
• Corrections and liability:
  • If a broadcaster issues a correction, the monitor must promptly send that correction to customers who received the related item. No royalties are payable for items for which a correction is supplied.
  • The tariff includes indemnities: monitors must cover certain legal costs and liabilities, and the CBRA must cover losses that result from its own errors in information it supplies.
• Miscellaneous administrative rules cover confidentiality, notice addresses, interest on late payments (interest rate is 1% above the Bank Rate), and the CBRA’s right to restrict a monitor’s sales if legal concerns arise.

Who's affected#

• Media‑monitoring companies (monitors) that copy and sell radio/TV clips, transcripts or summaries.
• Broadcasters that belong to the Canadian Broadcasters Rights Agency (CBRA), since the tariff governs use of their programs.
• Customers who buy monitoring services: mainly corporations, public‑sector organizations, public relations firms and communications departments.
• Small monitoring operations that expect less than $100,000 in revenues (they can use the quarterly option if they file by January 31).
• It is unclear from the notice how strictly third‑party rights (for music, wire feeds, etc.) will be enforced in practice; monitors remain responsible for obtaining those rights separately.

Why it matters#

• Cost and business model: the tariff sets a 14% royalty on relevant revenues. That changes the cost of selling clips and may affect prices for monitoring services.
• Limits on how clips can be used: customers are restricted to internal, non‑commercial use. That affects journalists, political actors or lawyers who might have relied on monitoring clips for public or legal uses.
• Delivery and technical limits: low‑resolution / short‑term access rules will shape how monitors deliver clips (for example, fewer high‑quality video clips by email or long‑term online access).
• Administrative burden: detailed reporting, record retention (six years) and potential audits increase paperwork for monitors.
• Small players: the $100,000 threshold gives some smaller monitors simpler reporting and quarterly payments, which may help them manage costs.