Under the federal Copyright Act, cable systems and satellite operators must pay license royalties to carry distant TV signals on their systems. Ultimately, the Copyright Royalty Board divides the royalties among those copyright owners who claim shares of the royalty fund. Stations that do not file claims by August 1, 2022 will not be able to collect royalties for carriage of their signals during 2021. While claims are typically due July 31, that date falls on a Sunday this year. Stations will therefore have until the first business day in August to file.
In order to file a cable royalty claim, a television station must have aired locally-produced programming of its own and had its signal carried outside of its local service area by at least one cable system in 2021. Television stations with locally produced programming whose signals were delivered to subscribers located outside the station’s Designated Market Area in 2021 by a satellite provider are also eligible to file royalty claims. A station’s distant signal status should be evaluated and confirmed by communications counsel.