Radio Retransmission Tariff 2019–2023

Summary#

This is the Radio Retransmission Tariff (2019-2023) issued by the Copyright Board. It sets the yearly fees and reporting rules that people or companies who retransmit distant radio signals must pay for the period covering 2019–2023, and lays out how those fees are split among rights organizations.

What it does#

• Defines which systems the tariff covers (cable systems, LPTV, MDS, DTH, master antenna systems, and other retransmitters) and what counts as a “small retransmission system” (no more than 2,000 premises).
• Sets the basic royalty amounts:
  • Small retransmission systems and unscrambled LPTV or unscrambled MDS: flat $12.50 per year.
  • All other retransmission systems: 8¢ per premises per year.
• Explains when payments are due:
  • For systems retransmitting a distant signal on December 31 of the previous year: due January 31.
  • For systems that start retransmitting during the year: due the last day of the month after the month they first retransmit.
• Gives discounts and special rates:
  • Systems in a Francophone market pay 50% of the normal per-premises rate in many cases (examples include systems in Quebec and certain named communities, or where >50% of population claims French as mother tongue).
  • Reduced royalties for specific non-residential premises: hospitals and educational institutions 75% off; hotel rooms 40% off.
• Shows how total royalties are divided among collective societies:
  • CBRA: 36.605%
  • CRRA: 10.945%
  • FWS: 3.68%
  • SOCAN: 48.77%
• Requires annual reporting and record-keeping:
  • Retransmitters must provide detailed system and subscriber information as of December 31 each year, with reports due January 31.
  • Records must be kept until December 31, 2029, and collective societies may audit them (with cost rules if understatements exceed 20%).
• Handles transitional issues for amounts paid under the earlier Interim Tariff, including refunds of overpaid royalties back to January 1, 2019, and a settlement deadline of January 26, 2025 for certain refunds and allocations.
• Sets interest rules:
  • Late payments or amounts found owing bear interest calculated daily; interest on late payments is set at 1% above the Bank Rate (no compounding).

Who's affected#

• Small and large retransmitters of radio signals, including:
  • Cable companies and community cable systems.
  • Operators of LPTV (low-power TV) and MDS systems.
  • DTH (direct-to-home) satellite operators.
  • Master antenna (MATV) systems and other local retransmission setups.
• Owners/operators of buildings that host retransmission services (hotels, hospitals, schools) because discount rules apply to those premises.
• The collective societies that receive the royalties: CBRA, CRRA, FWS, and SOCAN.
• Ordinary radio listeners are not charged directly by this tariff, but small costs could be absorbed by service providers and passed on indirectly.

Why it matters#

• For small local operators, the fee is small and predictable ($12.50 per year), which reduces complexity and cost for very small systems. For larger operators the charge scales with the number of premises (8¢ per premises), which can add up and affect operating costs.
• The 50% Francophone-market discount recognizes language-market differences and can meaningfully reduce fees in many Quebec or majority-French areas.
• Annual reporting, audits, and the requirement to keep records until December 31, 2029 create administrative work and compliance obligations for retransmitters.
• There are retroactive refund and interest rules back to January 1, 2019, and a January 26, 2025 settlement date for certain transitional refunds—so past payments may be adjusted and reimbursements or additional payments may still happen.