Radio retransmission tariff 2019–2023

Summary#

The Copyright Board published the Radio Retransmission Tariff (2019-2023). It sets the yearly royalties and reporting rules that people who retransmit distant radio signals must pay and follow for the years 2019–2023.

What it does#

• Sets simple flat fees for small or unscreened systems:
  • Small retransmission systems pay $12.50 per year (a “small” system serves up to 2,000 premises).
  • Unscrambled Low Power TV stations (LPTV) and unscrambled multichannel multipoint distribution systems (MDS) pay $12.50 per year.
• Sets the standard rate for other systems at 8¢ per premises per year.
• Gives discounts or reduced rates:
  • Systems in a Francophone market pay 50% of the normal rate for certain services.
  • Premises in some categories get reduced royalties: health-care rooms 75% discount, schools 75%, hotels 40%.
• Explains when payments are due:
  • If a system was retransmitting on December 31, payment is due January 31 of the next year.
  • For new retransmitters, the payment is due on the last day of the month after the month they first retransmit a distant signal.
• Divides the money among collective societies: CBRA 36.605%, SOCAN 48.77%, CRRA 10.945%, FWS 3.68%.
• Requires annual reporting and record-keeping:
  • Retransmitters must supply detailed system and subscriber information by January 31 each year.
  • Records must be kept until December 31, 2029 and can be audited.
• Sets interest rules:
  • Late amounts accrue interest daily at a rate equal to 1% above the Bank Rate (no compounding).
• Deals with past payments and refunds:
  • Overpaid royalties for the covered years bear interest back to January 1, 2019.
  • The tariff names January 26, 2025 as the settlement date for certain refund rules.

Who's affected#

• Retransmitters such as small community cable operators, larger cable companies, DTH (direct-to-home satellite) operators, LPTV and MDS operators, and master antenna (MATV) systems.
• Buildings and businesses that receive retransmitted radio signals (residences, hospitals, hotels, schools), because discounts or fees depend on the type of premises.
• Collective societies that represent rights-holders: Canadian Broadcasters Rights Agency (CBRA), Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), Canadian Retransmission Right Association (CRRA), and FWS Joint Sports Claimants Inc. (FWS).
• Communities in Francophone markets (including Quebec and named towns) where the tariff offers lower rates.
• Consumers might notice indirect effects if operators pass costs on, but the tariff applies to retransmitters rather than individual listeners.

Why it matters#

• It decides how much operators pay to retransmit distant radio signals. For small community systems the fee is modest ($12.50), but for larger systems the 8¢ per-premises charge can add up across many subscribers.
• The money is a revenue stream for broadcasters and music creators; the tariff specifies exactly how that money is split among rights organizations.
• Retransmitters face new or continued administrative duties: annual reporting, keeping records until December 31, 2029, and possible audits. That can mean time and compliance costs.
• Francophone markets and certain public institutions get lower rates, which affects local access and the cost balance between English and French service areas.
• There is a defined process and timeline for refunds of any overpayments going back to January 1, 2019, with the January 26, 2025 settlement date noted in the tariff.