FAQ – Broadcasting Annual Return, Discretionary and On-Demand Services

What’s new for this year in the Discretionary and On-Demand Services Annual Return forms?

1360 - Discretionary and On-Demand – Programming and Operating Expenditures: Two new lines have been added under "Amounts included in Grand Total - Programming and Production expenses:" to capture "Royalties (excluding copyright fees)" and "Copyright fees (payments to SOCAN, Re:Sound, CMRRA, Connect, SOPROQ, Artisti)".

What forms do I need to complete?

For my company:

  • REP-B – Reporting Entity Profile – Broadcasting
  • REP-U – Contact Information – Response Manager and Executive Sponsor
  • 1420 COVID-19 Government Assistance

For each licensed service:

  • 1224 – Repayment of 2020 BY Canadian Programming Expenditure Shortfall
  • 1230 – Direct Operating Expenses – Programming and Production
  • 1235 – Tangible Benefit – Discretionary and On-Demand Services
  • 1310 – Program Expenditure Reconciliation
  • 1340 – Alcohol Advertising
  • 1350 – Discretionary and On-Demand Services Financial Summary
  • 1360 – Discretionary and On-Demand Services – Programming and Operating Expenses
  • 1370 – Discretionary and On-Demand Services – Subscribers

For each exempt service:

  • 1230 – Direct Operating Expenses – Programming and Production
  • 1350 – Discretionary and On-Demand Services Financial Summary
  • 1360 – Discretionary and On-Demand Services – Programming and Operating Expenses
  • 1370 – Discretionary and On-Demand Services – Subscribers

How do we calculate the contribution to Canadian programming of video-on-demand (VOD) television undertaking?

VOD undertakings are currently required to contribute 5% of their gross annual revenues to an existing Canadian program production fund administered independently of its undertaking. However, for BDU-affiliated VOD undertakings, the VOD undertaking’s gross annual revenues are deemed to be 50% of the total retail revenues received by the BDU from customers. For instance, if a BDU collects $10 from a subscriber for a VOD program, then $5 would be considered VOD revenues for the purpose of calculating the related VOD undertaking’s 5% contribution.

I have not received the usual forms assigned to my entity in DCS. What should I do?

If you believe to have receive certain forms in error or believe to have missing forms in our online Data Collection System (DCS), please contact the DCS Helpline at 819-997-4597 or at Toll-Free 1-866-845-6036 for assistance.

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