CBRA Non-Commercial Media Monitoring Tariff

Summary#

The Canada Gazette published the CBRA Non-Commercial Media Monitoring Tariff (2027-2029) on May 30, 2026. It sets rules and fees for government bodies that monitor, copy or share short excerpts of broadcaster programs. One central cost rule is a royalty equal to 14% of a monitor’s relevant monitoring costs each semester.

What it does#

• Defines who counts as a “monitor” and a “government user” and which broadcaster material the tariff covers. The tariff applies only to material in which a CBRA broadcaster owns or controls copyright.
• Allows a monitor to make up to two excerpts of a program, each up to 10 minutes long. (Up to 10% of items in various delivery forms may exceed these limits in a year.)
• Allows short, low-resolution email clips and telephone listening for urgent needs (limits: 320×240 pixels and 15 fps for video; special caps mean only 10% of items per year can be delivered this way).
• Permits a password-protected database for transcripts and excerpts with conditions:
  • clips removed within six months of broadcast;
  • downloads limited and counted toward the 10% caps;
  • the CBRA can review and require security controls.
• Requires most items made under the tariff to be destroyed within six months; transcripts may be kept up to 10 years; monitoring notes and summary notes may be kept indefinitely.
• Sets a royalty of 14% of a monitor’s “CBRA-related monitoring costs” each semester, payable by the first day of the third month of the semester.
• Requires regular reporting, record-keeping for six years, and allows audits. Monitors must provide lists of government users and program details.
• Creates an exemption process for monitors whose total media monitoring costs are under $100,000 in a year (must file a certified statement by January 31 to claim it).
• Includes indemnity, confidentiality, default rules (loss of rights if royalties are late by five business days), and interest on late payments.

Who's affected#

• Government offices and departments that operate in-house media monitoring services. These are called “monitors” in the tariff.
• Government staff who receive monitoring products (called “government users”) and who must follow strict limits on internal use and sharing.
• Commercial media monitoring companies that provide items under a CBRA licence; monitors can use items obtained from licensed commercial suppliers.
• CBRA broadcasters (the copyright-owning broadcasters) because the tariff governs how their material can be used and how royalties are collected.
• Small monitoring operations with annual costs under $100,000 can apply for the simplified reporting/exemption but must meet the filing rules.

Why it matters#

• Practical cost: government-run media monitoring will likely become more expensive because of the royalty of 14% on monitoring costs. That could change budgets for communications, policy, and public affairs teams.
• Access and sharing limits: tighter rules on clip length, resolution, how long content can be stored, and strict internal-use-only rules affect how monitoring products can be used in briefings, reports and internal communication.
• Administrative burden: monitors must keep detailed records, meet reporting deadlines, and face audits and possible penalties if they don’t comply.
• Small operations: there is a clear threshold ($100,000) and a process to reduce reporting for very small monitoring services, but it requires timely certification.
• Legal risk: misuse or wider sharing of clips can trigger indemnity obligations and loss of the right to use the tariff’s permissions.

If you work in government communications or run a monitoring service, this tariff sets the practical rules and costs you will have to follow to use broadcaster material for internal, non-commercial purposes.