CBRA Media Monitoring Tariff (2027–2029)

Summary#

The Canada Gazette published the CBRA Commercial Media Monitoring Tariff (2027-2029) on May 30, 2026. It sets rules and fees for companies that record, excerpt, sell or otherwise provide clips, transcripts or summaries of radio and TV news and public affairs programs owned or controlled by CBRA broadcasters.

What it does#

• Allows a monitor to reproduce and sell excerpts, transcripts and summary notes of broadcaster programs under specific limits.
• Limits excerpts to two excerpts of up to 10 minutes each per program, with some annual exceptions where up to 10% of items may exceed those limits.
• Lets monitors put transcripts and short video excerpts in a password-protected database, provided:
  • clips are low-resolution (no more than 320 × 240 pixels and 15 frames per second),
  • clips are removed no later than 10 days after broadcast,
  • most users must be customers of at least three months and be PR or communications departments, or be approved by CBRA.
• Requires transcripts to be destroyed within 12 months; other recorded material must be destroyed within 31 days unless the broadcaster authorizes retaining it.
• Charges royalties of 14% of a monitor’s CBRA-related gross income, paid monthly (due the first day of the month for the month’s calculation).
• Offers a simpler regime for small monitors whose total media monitoring revenues are under $100,000 if they file a certified statement by January 31; those monitors pay quarterly and have reduced reporting.
• Imposes reporting, record-keeping (retain records for six years), audit and confidentiality rules.
• Includes indemnity and default provisions that can suspend a monitor’s rights if it fails to pay or comply. Interest on late payments is charged at 1% above the Bank Rate published by the Bank of Canada.

Who's affected#

• Media monitoring companies and anyone that sells, rents or distributes clips, transcripts or summaries of radio and TV news programs (called “monitors” in the tariff).
• CBRA broadcasters, whose copyrights the tariff covers.
• Customers of monitors, especially public relations firms, corporate communications departments and public sector organizations (these groups face limits on how they can use clips).
• Small monitoring businesses that report under $100,000 in annual monitoring revenues may see lighter reporting requirements.

If any part of a program (for example, music or wire feeds) is owned by others, the monitor remains responsible for getting permission from those rights holders. The source does not clearly list which specific broadcasters are covered; the tariff refers to a list maintained by CBRA.

Why it matters#

• Cost: Monitors will owe 14% of related revenue to CBRA, which could raise prices for monitoring services or reduce profit margins.
• Access and use: Clients will be able to use clips only for private, internal, non‑commercial purposes under strict limits. Wider uses (broadcasting, legal filings, political campaigning, advertising, etc.) are prohibited without further permission.
• Operational changes: Monitors must change how long they keep clips, how they store and secure them, and who can access them. That may require new systems and processes.
• Small players: The $100,000 threshold gives small monitoring businesses a simpler option, but they must file the required statement by January 31 to qualify.
• Legal risk: Failure to follow the tariff or to get permissions for third‑party elements can lead to loss of authorization to provide clips, audits, indemnity claims, and interest on late payments.

If you work for a monitoring firm, a PR team, or a broadcaster, this tariff affects what you can legally record, sell or receive and what fees and restrictions apply.