TV Networks That Pay Performance Royalties

Thanks to Music1234 for this spreadsheet. Please leave your comments if you have any information on networks/channels that we can designate as paying, or not paying, performance royalties. I will update the spreadsheet.

Genre/English Name Households Pays Owner (Subsidiary) Launched OTA East/West HD VOD SAP Notes
Variety A&E 90,343,000 Y The Walt Disney Company (50%) /Hearst Communications [50%] (A&E Networks) 1984 Yes Yes Yes Launched as Arts & Entertainment Network/1995 as A&E Network. Formed by merger of ‘ARTS’ and ‘The Entertainment Channel’ in 1984
ABC 114,848,000 Y The Walt Disney Company (Walt Disney Television) 1948 Yes Yes Yes Yes Major commercial network
Aspire Y Magic Johnson Enterprises 2012 Yes
AWE Herring Networks inc. 2004 Yes Launched as Wealth TV
AXS TV Anthem Sports & Entertainment (majority stake) /2929 Entertainment/AEG (AXS TV, LLC) 2001 Yes Yes Yes Launched as HDNet
BBC America 71,343,000 AMC Networks (49.99%)/BBC Studios (50.01%) 1998 Yes Yes Yes
BET 83,897,000 Y ViacomCBS (Domestic Media Networks) 1980 Yes Yes Yes
Bounce 28,000,000 E.W. Scripps Company (Katz Broadcasting) 2011
Bravo 87,213,000 Y NBCUniversal (Cable Entertainment Group) 1980 Yes Yes
CBS 114,848,000 Y ViacomCBS (CBS Entertainment Group) 1939 Yes Yes Yes Yes Major commercial network. Launched as Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc., and CBS, Inc.;
Cleo TV Urban One 2019 Yes
CMT 75,182,000 ViacomCBS (Domestic Media Networks) 1983 Yes Yes Yes Originally Country Music Television, Launched as CMTV
Discovery Channel 91,388,000 Y Discovery Inc. 1985 Yes Yes Yes Launched as The Discovery Channel
E! 89,488,000 Y NBCUniversal (Cable Entertainment Group) 1987 Yes Yes Yes Launched as Movie Time
ES.TV Entertainment Studios Networks 2009 Yes
FOLK TV NIA Broadcasting 2018
Fox 114,848,000 Y Fox Corporation (Fox Entertainment Media) 1986 Yes Yes Yes Yes Major commercial network.
Fuse Y Fuse Media, LLC 1994 Yes Yes Merged with NuvoTV in 2015
Game Show Network Y Sony Pictures Television 1994 Yes Yes Yes
GetTV 78,144,000 2013 Yes Classic movies & shows
Ion Plus 75,595,000 Ion Media 2007 Yes Commercial. Launched as Ion Life;
Ion Television 85,248,000 Ion Media 1998 Yes Yes Commercial/syndication service. Launched as Pax TV and i: Independent Television;
MeTV 99,456,000 Weigel Broadcasting 2005 Yes Yes Classic TV series
MTV 87,573,000 Y ViacomCBS (Domestic Media Networks) 1981 Yes Yes Yes Originally Music Television
MTV2 75,412,000 Y ViacomCBS (Domestic Media Networks) 1996 Yes Yes Yes Launched as M2/The Box
MyNetworkTV 100,640,000 Fox Corporation (Fox Entertainment Media) 2006 Yes Yes Yes Yes Commercial/syndication service
NBC 114,848,000 Y NBCUniversal (NBC Entertainment) 1929 Yes Yes Yes Major commercial network
Ovation Hubbard Broadcasting 1996 Yes Yes Called Ovation TV from 2007-2010
Oxygen 75,298,000 Y NBCUniversal (Cable Entertainment Group) 2000 Yes Yes Yes
PBS 113,664,000 Y Nonprofit organization 1969 Yes Yes Public. Replaced National Educational Television;
Pop 72,820,000 Y ViacomCBS (Domestic Media Networks) 1981 Yes Yes Launched as Electronic Program Guide, Prevue Guide, Prevue Channel, TV Guide Channel, TV Guide Network and TVGN
RFD-TV Rural Media Group 2000 Yes
TBS 91,671,000 WarnerMedia 1967 Yes Yes Yes Yes Launched as WJRJ-TV, WTCG-TV, SuperStation WTBS and TBS Superstation
The CW 114,848,000 WarnerMedia [50%]/ViacomCBS [50%] 2006 Yes Yes Yes Yes Major commercial network. Replaced UPN and The WB;
TruTV 86,832,000 Y WarnerMedia 1991 Yes Yes Yes Launched as Court TV from 1991 to December 31, 2007
TV One Y Urban One 2004 Yes
USA Network 91,429,000 Y NBCUniversal (Cable Entertainment Group) 1977 Yes Yes Yes Yes Launched as Madison Square Garden Sports Network
VH1 87,568,000 Y ViacomCBS (Domestic Media Networks) 1985 Yes Yes Yes Yes Launched as VH-1/VH-1: Video Hits One and VH1: Music First
Lifestyle Beauty Channel United Global Media Group, Inc. 2012 Launched as Salon TV
Cooking Channel 63,756,000 Discovery, Inc. 2010 Yes Yes Replaced Fine Living Network;
Create 87,616,000 American Public Television 2006 Yes Public TV/instructional
Destination America 52,687,000 Discovery, Inc. 2012 Yes Yes Yes Launched as Discovery Travel and Living, Discovery Home and Leisure, Discovery Home and Planet Green
Discovery Life 46,508,000 Discovery, Inc. 2011 Yes Replaced FitTV on February 1, 2011; a product of the merger of Discovery Health and FitTV. Launched as known as Discovery Fit & Health
DIY Network 58,368,000 Discovery, Inc. 1999 Yes Yes Do-It-Yourself Network; To be rebranded as Magnolia Network in 2021
Dog TV PTV Media 2012
Food Network 92,873,000 Discovery, Inc. 1993 Yes Yes Yes Launched as Television Food Network
FYI 63,338,000 Y The Walt Disney Company [50%]/Hearst Communications [50%] (A&E Networks) 1999 Yes Yes Yes Launched as The Biography Channel
HGTV 90,949,000 Discovery, Inc. 1994 Yes Yes Yes Launched as known as Home & Garden Television
Lifetime 90,296,000 Y The Walt Disney Company [50%]/Hearst Communications [50%] (A&E Networks) 1984 Yes Yes Yes Yes
Lifetime Movie Network 75,338,000 Y The Walt Disney Company [50%]/Hearst Communications [50%] (A&E Networks) 1998 Yes Yes Yes Launched as Lifetime Movie Network and Lifetime Movies
Lifetime Real Women 75,338,000 Y The Walt Disney Company [50%]/Hearst Communications [50%] (A&E Networks) 2001
Logo TV 48,270,000 Y ViacomCBS (Domestic Media Networks) 2005 Yes Yes Yes
MyDestination.TV Entertainment Studios Networks 2009
Oprah Winfrey Network 77,705,000 Y Discovery, Inc. [70%]/Harpo Productions [Minority] 2011 Yes Yes Yes
Pets.TV Entertainment Studios Networks 2009
Recipe.TV Entertainment Studios Networks 2009
TLC 89,764,000 Y Discovery, Inc. 1972 Yes Yes Yes Launched as Appalachian Community Service Network and The Learning Channel
Travel Channel 84,215,000 Discovery, Inc. 1987 Yes Yes Yes Launched as The Travel Channel
We TV 86,094,000 AMC Networks 1997 Yes Yes Yes Launched as Romance Classics and WE: Women’s Entertainment
Z Living NIA Broadcasting 2007 Yes Launched as Veria Living
Factual American Heroes Channel 53,890,000 Discovery Inc. 1998 Yes Launched as Discovery Wings and Military Channel
Animal Planet 88,859,000 Y Discovery Inc. 1996 Yes Yes Yes
Crime & Investigation Y The Walt Disney Company [50%]/Hearst Communications [50%] (A&E Networks) 2005 Yes Yes
History 90,888,000 Y The Walt Disney Company [50%]/Hearst Communications [50%] (A&E Networks) 1995 Yes Yes Yes Launched as The History Channel
Investigation Discovery 84,732,000 Discovery Inc. 1996 Yes Yes Yes Launched as Discovery Civilization Network: The World History and Geography Channel, Discovery Civilization Channel and Discovery Times
True Crime Network 92,936,000 Tegna Inc. 2014 Yes True Crime/Investigation
Military History The Walt Disney Company [50%]/Hearst Communications [50%] (A&E Networks) 2005 Launched as Military History Channel
Motor Trend 71,436,000 Y Discovery, Inc./Source Interlink (Motor Trend Group) 2002 Yes Launched as Discovery HD Theater, HD Theater, and Velocity
NASA TV NASA 1982
Nat Geo Wild 58,124,000 Y The Walt Disney Company (Walt Disney Television) [73%]/National Geographic Society [27%] 2010 Yes
National Geographic 89,348,000 Y The Walt Disney Company (Walt Disney Television) [73%]/National Geographic Society [27%] 2001 Yes Yes Yes Launched as National Geographic Channel
Science Channel 68,258,000 Y Discovery, Inc. 1996 Yes Launched as Discovery Science, Discovery Science Channel, The Science Channel and Science
Smithsonian Channel 36,830,000 Y ViacomCBS (ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks) [50%]/Smithsonian Institution [50%] 2007 Yes Yes Yes
Vice on TV 71,909,000 Y The Walt Disney Company [25%]/Hearst Communications [25%] (A&E Networks)/Vice Media [50%] 2016 Yes Yes Yes Launched as History International, H2 and Viceland
Scripted AMC 90,552,000 Y AMC Networks 1984 Yes Yes Yes Launched as American Movie Classics
Comedy Central 89,538,000 Y ViacomCBS (Domestic Media Networks) 1991 Yes Yes Yes Launched as CTV: The Comedy Network; A product of the merger of Viacom’s HA! TV Comedy Network and The Comedy Channel
Comedy.TV Entertainment Studios Networks 2009 Yes
Comet 78,144,000 Sinclair Broadcast Group 2015 Yes Science Fiction
Freeform 89,117,000 The Walt Disney Company (Walt Disney Television) 1977 Yes Yes Yes Launched as CBN Satellite Service, CBN Cable Network, The CBN Family Channel/1990 – The Family Channel/1998 – Fox Family Channel/2001 – ABC Family/2016 – Current Name
FX 90,060,000 The Walt Disney Company (Walt Disney Television) 1994 Yes Yes Yes Yes Launched as fX
FXX 85,573,000 The Walt Disney Company (Walt Disney Television) 2013 Yes Yes Yes
Grit 88,800,000 E.W. Scripps Company (Katz Broadcasting) 2014 Yes Yes Action/westerns/men’s Interest
Hallmark Channel 121,400,000 Hallmark Cards (Crown Media Holdings) 2001 Yes Yes Yes Launched as VISN/ACTS, Faith and Values, and Odyssey
Hallmark Drama Hallmark Cards (Crown Media Holdings) 2017
Hallmark Movies & Mysteries 63,900,000 Hallmark Cards (Crown Media Holdings) 2004 Yes Yes Launched as known as Hallmark Movie Channel
IFC 71,343,000 AMC Networks 1994 Yes Yes Yes Launched as Independent Film Channel
Laff E.W. Scripps Company (Katz Broadcasting) 2015
Paramount Network 83,416,000 Y ViacomCBS (Domestic Media Networks) 1983 Yes Yes Yes Launched as The Nashville Network, The National Network, and Spike; to relaunch next year as Paramount Movie Network
Reelz Hubbard Broadcasting 2006 Yes Yes Yes Launched as ReelzChannel
Syfy 89,742,000 Y NBCUniversal (Cable Entertainment Group) 1992 Yes Yes Yes Launched as Sci-Fi Channel and Sci Fi
TNT 90,332,000 Y WarnerMedia (WarnerMedia Entertainment) 1988 Yes Yes Yes Yes Launched as Turner Network Television. Shows mostly drama
TOKU Olympusat, Inc. 2005 Launched as FUNimation Channel; Asian-Pacific programming. Anime, movies and series.
TV Land 87,617,000 Y ViacomCBS (Domestic Media Networks) 1996 Yes Yes
Movies Cinémoi Cinemoi North America 2009 Shows French movies; DirecTV ceased transmission July 1, 2013. Airs on Verizon FiOS.
FX Movie Channel 55,729,000 The Walt Disney Company (Walt Disney Television) 1994 Yes Yes Launched as fXM – Movies from Fox; rebranded as Fox Movie Channel in 2000 and FXM on January 1, 2012.
HDNet Movies Anthem Sports & Entertainment [majority stake] + 2929 Entertainment + AEG (AXS TV, LLC) 2003 Yes Yes
MGM HD Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 2007 Yes Yes
PixL PixL Inc. 2010 Yes Yes
ShortsHD AMC Networks International (25%)/Shorts International (75%) Yes Yes
Sony Movie Channel Sony Pictures Television Yes Yes
Sundance TV 65,505,000 Y AMC Networks 1996 Yes Yes Yes Launched as Sundance Channel
Turner Classic Movies Y WarnerMedia (Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics) 1994 Yes Yes Also referred to as TCM.
Music BET Gospel Y ViacomCBS (Domestic Media Networks) 2002 Yes
BET Her Y ViacomCBS (Domestic Media Networks) 1996 Yes Launched as BET on Jazz, BET Jazz, BET J, and Centric.
BET Hip-Hop Y ViacomCBS (Domestic Media Networks) 2005
BET Jams Y ViacomCBS (Domestic Media Networks) 2002 Launched as MTVX and MTV Jams
BET Soul Y ViacomCBS (Domestic Media Networks) 1998 Launched as VH1 Soul
CMT Music Y ViacomCBS (Domestic Media Networks) Launched as VH1 Country and CMT Pure Country
FM Y Fuse Media, LLC. 2015 Yes
Great American Country 56,352,000 Discovery, Inc. 1995 Yes
MTV Classic 52,266,000 Y ViacomCBS (Domestic Media Networks) 1998 Yes Launched as VH1 Smooth, VH1 Classic Rock and VH1 Classic
MTV Live Y ViacomCBS (Domestic Media Networks) 2006 Yes Yes Launched as MHD and Palladia
MTVU Y ViacomCBS (Domestic Media Networks) 2000 Launched as College Television Network
Revolt Revolt Media & TV 2013 Yes Features live concerts, documentaries, music videos and hip-hop themed feature films.
Kids 3ABN Kids Network Three Angels Broadcasting Network 24/7 religious-based children’s television network, formerly named as SonBeam Channel.
BabyFirst First Media 2006 Yes
BabyTV The Walt Disney Company (Walt Disney Television) 2003 Yes Yes
Boomerang 42,585,000 WarnerMedia (Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics) 2000 Yes Yes
Cartoon Network/Adult Swim/Toonami 90,788,000 Y WarnerMedia (Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics) 1992 [CN] Yes Yes Yes Yes The ‘Cartoon Network’ portion of the network airs from 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM ET/PT, during the daytime. The ‘Adult Swim’ portion of the network airs from 9:00 PM – 6:00 AM, during nightime when most children are asleep. In addition to this, ‘Toonami’ airs English dubbed anime and action cartoons for mature audiences, which is considered a part of Adult Swim and currently airs every Saturday nights through Sunday mornings on a flexible late night schedule.
2001 [AS] Yes Yes Yes Yes
Discovery Family 62,169,000 Y Discovery, Inc. [60%]/Hasbro [40%] 1996 Yes Launched as Discovery Kids Channel, Discovery Channel Kids, Discovery Kids, The Hub and Hub Network
Disney Channel 91,312,000 Y The Walt Disney Company (Walt Disney Television) 1983 Yes Yes Yes Yes Launched as The Disney Channel
Disney Junior 72,167,000 The Walt Disney Company (Walt Disney Television) 2012 Yes Yes Yes Yes Programming and branding also included in morning preschool block aired on Disney Channel;
Disney XD 74,710,000 The Walt Disney Company (Walt Disney Television) 1998 Yes Yes Yes Yes Launched as Toon Disney/Jetix until February 13, 2009
INSP 67,400,00 The Inspiration Networks 1978 Launched as known as PTL Network, PTL Satellite Network, PTL – The Inspirational Network and The Inspiration Network.
Nick Jr. 71,946,000 Y ViacomCBS (Domestic Media Networks) 1999 Yes Yes Yes Noggin. Became a 24-hour channel on December 31, 2007
Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite 89,108,000 Y ViacomCBS (Domestic Media Networks) 1977 Yes Yes Yes Yes Launched as Pinwheel. ‘Nick at Nite’ is the primary nighttime programming block on Nickelodeon
NickMusic Y ViacomCBS (Domestic Media Networks) 2002 Launched as MTV Hits
Nicktoons 62,095,000 Y ViacomCBS (Domestic Media Networks) 2002 Yes Yes Yes Launched as Nicktoons TV and Nicktoons Network.
PBS Kids 98,272,000 Y PBS 1996 Yes Yes Children’s programming
Primo TV V-me Media 2017
Smile Trinity Broadcasting Network 2005 24/7 religious-based children’s television network Launched as Smile of a Child TV
TeenNick/NickRewind 68,472,000 ViacomCBS (Domestic Media Networks) 2007 Yes Yes Became a 24-hour channel on December 31, 2007, after Nick GAS was shut down; Launched as The N from April 2002 to September 2009; Network carries vintage programming block NickRewind nightly from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. ET
Universal Kids 58,266,000 NBCUniversal (Cable Entertainment Group) 2005 Yes Launched as PBS Kids Sprout and Sprout.
Up InterMedia Partners 2004 Yes Uplifting, family-friendly entertainment; Launched as Gospel Music Channel and GMC TV
V-me V-Me Media inc. 2010 replaced by V-me Kids
ZooMoo Blue Ant Media 2013
News AccuWeather Network AccuWeather 2015 Yes
BBC World News BBC Studios 1991 Yes Yes Launched as BBC World Service Television / 1995 – BBC World/2008 – BBC World News
Bloomberg Television Bloomberg L.P. 1994 Yes Launched as Bloomberg Information TV
China Global Television Network China Media Group 1997
China Global Television Network Espanol China Media Group 2007
Cheddar Altice USA 2016 Yes
CNBC 87,947,000 Y NBCUniversal (NBCUniversal News Group) 1989 Yes Launched as Consumer News and Business Channel
CNBC World Y NBCUniversal (NBCUniversal News Group) 2001
CNN 91,567,000 Y WarnerMedia (WarnerMedia News & Sports) 1980 Yes National news and opinion
CNN International Y WarnerMedia (WarnerMedia News & Sports) 1985 World news and opinion
Court TV 95,300,160  E.W. Scripps Company (Katz Broadcasting) 1990 [as pay television network] Yes True crime/court news
Court TV  E.W. Scripps Company (Katz Broadcasting) 2019 [as OTA multicast network] Yes True crime/court news
C-SPAN National Cable Satellite Corporation 1979 Yes Yes Covers the United States House of Representatives
C-SPAN 2 1986 Covers the United States Senate and airs Book TV on weekends
C-SPAN 3 2001 Covers other live events and airs archived historical programming
Fox Business 83,791,000 Y Fox Corporation (Fox News Media) 2007 Yes
Fox News 89,433,000 Y 1996 National news and opinion
France 24 French Republic 2006
Free Speech TV Public Communicators Inc. 1995 Public, non-profit channel
Fusion TV Univision Communications (Fusion Media Group) 2013 Launched as ABC News Now
HLN 90,651,000 WarnerMedia (WarnerMedia News & Sports) 1982 Yes Launched as CNN2, and later known as Headline News, CNN Headline News and HLN: Headline News.
i24NEWS Altice USA 2017 Yes United States cut in channel of i24NEWS; an International news channel based in New York City.
Justice Central Entertainment Studios Networks 2009
Link TV Public Media Group of Southern California 1999 Launched as World Link TV
Local Now Entertainment Studios Networks 2016 Yes Local news and weather, national news and sports (available through 207 localized feeds; localized content varies depending on market); distributed via over-the-top MVPD services
MSNBC 85,317,000 Y NBCUniversal (NBCUniversal News Group) 1996 Yes National news and opinion
MSNBC World Y 1996 Yes
Newsmax TV 14,208,000 Newsmax Media 2014 Yes News/Documentaries/Conservative Talk
NewsNation Nexstar Media Group 1978 Yes Launched as WGN, WGN Superstation and Superstation WGN, Rebranded as NewsNation March 1 2021
Newsy E.W. Scripps Company 2008
NHK World Japan NHK (Japanese Government) 1998 Yes replaced by NHK World
One America News Network Herring Networks inc. 2013 In cooperation with The Washington Times.
Real America’s Voice Performance One Media 2018 News and conservative opinion. Launched as America’s Voice News
RT America (ANO) TV-Novosti 2010 United States cut in channel of RT; an international news channel based in Washington, D.C.
TheBlaze Blaze Media Inc. 2018
The Weather Channel Entertainment Studios Networks 1982 Yes Yes IntelliStar 2
WeatherNation TV 19,788,000 WeatherNation TV Inc. 2011 Yes Weather network
Weatherscan Entertainment Studios Networks 1999
Sports ACC Network The Walt Disney Company [80%]/Hearst Communications [20%] (ESPN Inc.) 2019 Yes
BeIN Sports beIN Media Group 2012 Yes
Big Ten Network (BTN) Y Fox Corporation (Fox Sports Media Group) [51%]/Big Ten Conference [49%] 2007 Yes Multiplex Channels
Cars.TV Entertainment Studios Networks 2009
CBS Sports Network ViacomCBS (ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks) 2002 Yes Launched as National College Sports Network, CSTV and CBS College Sports Network
Cowboy Channel Rural Media Group 1979 Launched as National Christian Network and FamilyNet
Eleven Sports Network Eleven Sports Network 2017 Yes replaced ONE World Sports
ESPN 87,437,000 The Walt Disney Company [80%]/Hearst Communications [20%] (ESPN Inc.) 1979 Yes 2 Overflow Channels
ESPN Classic 1995 Launched as Classic Sports Network, Plans to become a Video on Demand channel
ESPN College Extra 2015 Yes 8 Multiplex channels
ESPN2 87,349,000 1993 2 Overflow Channels
ESPNews 1996
ESPNU 68,574,000 2005 Yes
Fox College Sports Atlantic Y Sinclair Broadcast Group 2004 Launched as Fox Sports Atlantic
Fox College Sports Central Y Launched as Fox Sports Central
Fox College Sports Pacific Y Launched as Fox Sports Pacific
Fox Soccer Plus Fox Corporation (Fox Sports Media Group) 2005 Yes Launched as Fox Sports Digital Networks, Replaced Setanta Sports USA on March 1, 2010.
Fox Sports 1 84,159,000 Y 2013 Yes Replaced Speed
Fox Sports 2 50,164,000 Y Launched as Fuel TV
Golf Channel 75,678,000 Y NBCUniversal (NBCUniversal Sports Group) 1995 Launched as The Golf Channel
Longhorn Network The Walt Disney Company [80%]/Hearst Communications [20%] (ESPN Inc.)/University of Texas at Austin 2011
MAVTV Lucas Oil 2004 Yes Launched as Maverick Television
MLB Extra Innings Y Major League Baseball 1996
MLB Network Y 2009 2 Overflow Channels
MLB Strike Zone Y 2012
MLS Direct Kick Major League Soccer 2005 10 Multiplex Channels
NBA League Pass Y National Basketball Association 1995 19 Multiplex Channels
NBA TV Y National Basketball Association 1999 Yes Launched as NBA.com TV; Turner Sports operates the channel in association with the NBA.
NBCSN 83,790,000 Y NBCUniversal (NBCUniversal Sports Group) 1995 Yes 2 Overflow channels. Launched as Outdoor Life Network, Versus, and NBC Sports Network
NFL Network Y National Football League 2003 Yes
NFL RedZone Y 2009 NFL Football (airs 1-8PM Sundays only) NFL Network Version of red zone
NFL Sunday Ticket Y 1994 Yes Exclusive to DirecTV; 14 Multiplex channels
NFL Sunday Ticket Fantasy Zone Y 2005 Exclusive to DirecTV
NFL Sunday Ticket Multiview Fan Y Exclusive to DirecTV; 2 Multiplex channels
NFL Sunday Ticket RedZone Y Exclusive to DirecTV
NHL Center Ice Y 2009 Yes 19 Multiplex Channels
NHL Network NBCUniversal (NBCUniversal Sports Group) [15.6%]/National Hockey League [84.4%] 2007 Yes
Olympic Channel NBCUniversal (NBCUniversal Sports Group) 2003 Launched as Bravo HD+ and Universal HD
Outdoor Channel Kroenke Sports & Entertainment 1994 Yes Launched as The Outdoor Channel
Outside TV Mariah Media 1994 Launched as RSN Television
Pac-12 Network Pac-12 Conference 2012 Yes
Pursuit Channel 716,644 Anthem Media Group 2008 Yes Hunting and fishing adventure programming
Ride TV Ride Television Network, Inc. 2014 Equestrian programming
SEC Network The Walt Disney Company [80%]/Hearst Communications [20%] (ESPN Inc.) 2014 Yes 1 overflow channel
Sportsman Channel Kroenke Sports & Entertainment 2003
Tennis Channel Y Sinclair Broadcast Group Yes
TVG Betfair 1999 The Interactive Horse Racing Network
TVG2 Betfair 2003 Launched as HRTV
Untamed Sports TV 4,021,177 Olympusat, Inc. 2008 Yes Sports/outdoors
World Fishing Network Keywest Marketing (80.1%)/Altitude Sports and Entertainment (19.9%) 2007
Premium Epix Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 2009 Yes
Epix 2 2010
Epix Drive-in 2011 Yes Yes
Epix Hits 2012 Yes
ScreenPix 2019
ScreenPix Action
ScreenPix Westerns
ScreenPix Voices
HBO 38,700,000 Y WarnerMedia (Home Box Office, Inc.) 1972 Yes
HBO2 Y 1991
HBO Comedy Y 1999
HBO Family Y 1996
HBO Signature Y 1991
HBO Zone Y 1999
5StarMax 2001
ActionMax 1995
Cinemax 1980
MoreMax 1991
MovieMax 2001
OuterMax 2001
ThrillerMax 1998
Flix ViacomCBS: (Showtime Networks) 1992 Yes Yes
Showtime 1976 Yes
Showtime 2 1991
SHO×BET 2020
Showtime Extreme 1998
Showtime Family Zone 2001 Yes
Showtime Next
Showtime Showcase Yes
Showtime Women
The Movie Channel 1973 Yes Launched as Warner Star Channel, and later known as Star Channel
The Movie Channel Xtra 1997 Yes Launched as The Movie Channel 2
Starz Lionsgate (Starz Inc.) 1994
Starz Cinema 1999
Starz Comedy 2005
Starz Edge 1996
Starz in Black 1997
Starz Kids & Family 1999
Starz Encore 1991 Launched as Encore
Starz Encore Action 1994
Starz Encore Black 2005 Yes Yes
Starz Encore Classic 2013
Starz Encore Family 1994
Starz Encore Suspense Yes
Starz Encore Westerns
IndiePlex 2006
MoviePlex 1997 Formerly Plex
RetroPlex 2006
Shopping America’s Auction Channel Jeremiah Hartman 2002
Gem Shopping Network Gem Shopping Network 2006
HSN Qurate Retail Group 1977 Yes Launched as Home Shopping Club
HSN2 Qurate Retail Group 1982
Jewelry Television Multimedia Commerce Group 1993 Launched as America’s Collectibles Network/1993 – Current Name
QVC 68,204,000 Qurate Retail Group 1986 Yes Yes Yes
QVC2 36,704,000 2013 Launched as QVC Plus
QVC3 5,920,000 2016
Shop LC 9,472,000 Vaibhav Global 2007 Launched as The Jewelry Channel and Liquidation Channel
ShopHQ 13,024,000 Evine Inc. 1991 Launched as ValueVision, ShopNBC, Evine and Evine Live
Faith 3ABN Three Angels Broadcasting Network 1986
3ABN International Three Angels Broadcasting Network 2000 Programming as seen on 3ABN including other programming produced by 3ABN Australia
3ABN Praise Him Music Network Three Angels Broadcasting Network 2019 Christian music videos and programming
3ABN Proclaim! 15,392,000 Three Angels Broadcasting Network 2010 Yes Preaching and teaching programming
Believer’s Voice of Victory Network Kenneth Copeland Ministries 2015
BYU TV Brigham Young University 2000 Latter-day Saint audience.
Catholic Faith Network Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre 2018 Launched as known as Telecare
CatholicTV CatholicTV.com 1955 24/7 faith-based entertainment
Christian Television Network 5,780,000 Christian Television Network 1979 Yes
Dare to Dream Network Three Angels Broadcasting Network 2011 Christian programming for African-American viewers
Daystar Word of God Fellowship 1993
EWTN 10,928,781 Eternal Word Television Network 1981 Yes Catholic
FETV LeSEA Broadcasting 2013
GEB America Oral Roberts University 1996
GOD TV 5,780,000 The Angel Foundation 1995 Yes worldwide Broadcast Licence is held by Angel Christian Television Trust Inc.
God’s Learning Channel Prime Time Christian Broadcasting 1982
Hillsong Channel Trinity Broadcasting Network 2002 Yes Launched as The Church Channel (2002–16)
Hope Channel 21,058,587 Seventh-day Adventist Church 2003
Jewish Broadcasting Service Mark S. Golub 2006 Yes
Jewish Life Television Jewish Life Television 2007
LeSEA LeSEA Broadcasting 1972 Also known as World Harvest Television
Loveworld USA Believers Love World Inc 2017
NRB Network National Religious Broadcasters 2005
Positiv Trinity Broadcasting Network 2002 Yes Launched as JCTV & JUCE TV.
Scientology Network Church of Scientology 2018 Yes
Sonlife Broadcasting Network (SBN) Jimmy Swaggart Ministries 2010 Yes
TBN 47,360,000 Trinity Broadcasting Network 1973 Yes
Tri-State Christian Television 27,992,924 TCT Ministries 1977
The Word Network 1,734,000 Adell Broadcasting 2000
The Worship Network Christian Network, Inc. 1992 Ceased operations in 2013.
Uplifting Entertainmet Pastor Greg Robbins 1999
Adult Climax MindGeek 2007 PPV – 3 Multiplex Channels
Hot Choice In Demand 1988 PPV
Hustler TV Pramer International Group 1995 Yes
Penthouse TV Penthouse Media 2007
Playboy TV MindGeek 1982 PPV. Launched as The Playboy Channel
Spice Networks MindGeek 1994 PPV – 6 Multiplex channels
The Erotic Network New Frontier Media 2007
 Genre/Spanish  Name  Households  Owner (Subsidiary)  Launch Date  OTA  East/West  HD  VOD  SAP  Notes
Variety Atreseries Atresmedia 2015
Azteca América Azteca International Corporation 2000 Yes Yes
Estrella TV Estrella Media (Liberman Broadcasting) 2009
Galavisión Univision Communications 1979 Yes
HTV WarnerMedia 1995
Universo 42,378,000 Y NBCUniversal (NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises) 1993 Yes Launched as mun2, and later known as NBC Universo
Ritmoson Latino Televisa 2006
UniMás 59,600,000 Univision Communications 2002 Yes Spanish commercial. Launched as TeleFutura
Univision 94,100,000 Univision Communications 1962 Spanish commercial. Launched as Spanish International Network
Lifestyle Fox Life The Walt Disney Company (Walt Disney Television) 2004
Hogar de HGTV Discovery Inc. 2020 Yes An American-Spanish Version of HGTV and Food Network
Factual Discovery en Español 6,278,000 Discovery Inc. 1998
History en Español The Walt Disney Company [50%] / Hearst Communications [50%] (A&E Networks) 2004
HITN Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network Inc. 1981
Nat Geo Mundo The Walt Disney Company (Walt Disney Television) [73%]/National Geographic Society [27%] 2011
Scripted TeleHit Televisa Networks 1993
Telemundo 92,476,422 NBCUniversal (NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises) 1984 Yes Spanish commercial. Launched as NetSpan
Univision tlnovelas Univision Communications 2012 Yes
Movies Cine Mexicano Olympusat, Inc.
Cine Sony Television Sony Pictures Television 2018 Yes
Cinelatino MVS Comunicaciones 1993
De Película Televisa 1991
De Película Clásico Televisa 1991
Gran Cine Olympusat, Inc. Yes
TeleXitos 32,661,468 NBCUniversal (NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises) 2012 Yes Spanish commercial
ViendoMovies SomosTV 2006 Yes
Music MTV Tres ViacomCBS (Domestic Media Networks) 1998 Yes Yes Launched as MTV en Español.
Kids CBeebies BBC Studios 2010
Discovery Familia 5,515,000 Discovery, Inc. [60%]/Hasbro [40%] 2007 Launched as Discovery Kids en Español
News CNN en Español WarnerMedia (WarnerMedia News & Sports) 1997
FOROtv Televisa 2010
TeleFórumla Radio Fórmula 2000 Yes Only Available for cable providers like Spectrum on Channel 845 in HD and also Xfinity by Comcast
Sports beIN Sports en Español beIN Media Group 2012 Yes
ESPN Deportes ESPN Inc. 2004 Yes Spanish-language sports network
Fox Deportes 21,282,000 Fox Corporation 2010 Launched as Fox en Español from until 2010, Fox Sports Américas
GOL TV Gol TV Inc. 2003 Yes
TUDN Univision Communications 2012
TyC Sports Torneos y Competencias/Clarín Group 1994
Premium HBO Latino Y WarnerMedia (Home Box Office, Inc.) 2000 Yes
Cinemáx WarnerMedia (Home Box Office, Inc.) 2001
Starz Encore Español Lionsgate (Starz Inc.) 2013 Yes Yes Launched as Encore
Ultra Banda Olympusat, Inc. Ultra HD
Ultra Cine Olympusat, Inc.
Ultra Clasico Olympusat, Inc.
Ultra Docu Olympusat, Inc.
Ultra Familia Olympusat, Inc.
Ultra Fiesta Olympusat, Inc.
Ultra Film Olympusat, Inc.
Ultra Kidz Olympusat, Inc.
Ultra Luna Olympusat, Inc.
Ultra Macho Olympusat, Inc.
Ultra Mex Olympusat, Inc.
Ultratainment Olympusat, Inc.
Faith 3ABN Latino 23,680,000 Three Angels Broadcasting Network 2003 Yes Spanish and Portuguese TV channel based in West Frankfort, Illinois
Enlace Trinity Broadcasting Network 1988
Esperanza TV Seventh-day Adventist Church 2003
EWTN Español Eternal Word Television Network 1992
World ¡Sorpresa! Olympusat, Inc. Yes Available at VEMOX
Antena 3 Internacional Atresmedia Spanish TV channel from Spain
Bandamax Televisa
Canal 22 Internacional Secretariat of Culture Yes Only Available at Directv on Channel 446 and cable providers like Spectrum on 841 in HD
Canal Once Instituto Politécnico Nacional Only Available at Directv on Channel 447 and cable providers like Spectrum on Channel 844
Caracol TV Julio Mario Santo Domingo Available at VIVOPlay
Centroamérica TV
CubaMAX Available at Dish Network
CubaPlay+ Olympusat, Inc. Yes Available at VEMOX
Ecuador TV Only Available at Directv on Channel 457
Ecuavisa Internacional Only Available at Directv on Channel 438
Hola! TV Only Available at Directv on Channel 430
LATV 37,248,000 LATV Networks 2001 Yes Yes Bilingual (English/Spanish) entertainment
Mega TV 6,984,000 Spanish Broadcasting System 2006 Yes Spanish commercial
Mexicanal Castalia Communications & Cablecom 2005
Multimedios Televisión 6,942,039 Grupo Multimedios 1968 Yes Yes Spanish commercial
Pasiones Hemisphere Media Group 2008
PXTV Available at VEMOX
RCN Nuestra Tele RCN Group Launched as TV Colombia until October 8, 2012
TELE N Olympusat, Inc. Yes Launched as Latele Novela.
Telefe Internacional Telefe Available at Directv on Channel 411
TV Chile Televisión Nacional de Chile Available at Directv on Channel 437 Also available at VEMOX and VIVOPlay
TV Venezuela Globovisión/Canal Sur Available at Directv on Channel 409 Also available at VIVOPlay
TVE Internacional Televisión Española
VePlus
Adult Playboy TV en Español MindGeek 1997 Yes PPV

41 thoughts on “TV Networks That Pay Performance Royalties”

  1. The bottom line is, the networks that don’t pay performance income are claiming they have enough direct licenses to cover all of their music. They actually show the contracts the libraries have signed that include the direct licenses to the PROs. I have confirmed this with ASCAP, BMI and SESAC.
    If writers are not getting paid, they need to bring it up with the libraries they wrote for – not the PROs. The PROs require if a licensor issue a direct license, they need to let the PRO know. That’s in the contract that publishers and composers sign with the PRO. Remember, the libraries are not able to receive any publishing performance income either. They do these deals for (1) the upfront money (2) in case they show is broadcast or streamed outside of the network they were produced for so they can receive that income and (3) to get the relationships. Some production companies produce content for shows that air on both non-paying networks and paying networks. For instance, a house might produce for Discovery (who owns Scripps) and Discovery’s networks that do pay. Also, it’s not just libraries doing the direct licenses. Composers who create theme songs also issue direct licenses. I personally know of 2 of them. Same deal – Upfront money, syndication which allows distribution off the non-paying channel and relationships. The PROs are just as frustrated because they cannot collect income from that network unless the network pays them a blanket license (and remember they get a big percentage of the publisher and composer royalty income).

    • More of a reason why this issue needs to be escalated to lawmakers who can re-write the rules to protect rights holders. The situation now is this: Artist spends time creating a piece of intellectual property that has value to a TV network. The only path to renting the intellectual property is through a publisher. Publisher signs a direct license deal giving TOTAL ACCESS to all PRO REGISTERED works in their library. Library makes a profit. TV Network apparently saves a small chunk of cash because the only reason they do this would be to avoid paying PRO’s annual blanket license fees which may be more expensive than direct license blanket deals.

      Artist earns NOTHING as original supplier of the music product TV Network “rents”.

      But here is the real crime here: These TV networks owned by Warner, Discovery, Disney, CBS Viacom, FOX – These are the “big 5” – they are getting away with picking and choosing which channels (DIY, GAC, Food Network, HGTV, ESPN, etc.) do NOT pay PRO’s and others do have to pay PRO’s – ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, MTV, CNN, (See list above)

      This loophole and backdoor deal needs to be closed because Artists are getting screwed! Again! As always! When the Fudge does this stop?

      Also, why is it that we get paid performance royalties for TV spot usages on these networks and not background cue usages?

      None of this ads up.

      Are you guys lobbying ASCAP, BMI, SESAC to raise awareness about this issue? Are you e-mailing links to this thread to all PRO board members, the President of each PRO, and Your Reps at your PROS?

      If not, please take 5 minutes today and e-mail a link to this thread. We have to end this bogus practice. I am sick and tired of seeing hundreds of TUNESAT detections on these stations (that reach 90 million households)knowing that not even a penny is coming my way.

      It’s just wrong!

      • This is not a PRO issue. It’s all about what paperwork the composer signed with the library (or network directly in the case of custom music). If a composer wrote for a library or has a contract with one, they have to take it up with the library. If the composer is commissioned and the contract states they can do a direct license for the money they bought out your works, you signed your rights away. If your contract says they can do it, BUT they have to pay the composer from the upfront money they collect and they haven’t, the composer can take legal action. This is not a PRO issue.

        • I have to disagree with you. The PRO’s job is to collect performance royalties of PRO registered music when it is broadcast to the public on television networks. The Big five conglomerates I mentioned seem to want their cake and eat it too.

          Artists can “direct license” music if they want to. I agree with that. They can engage in “buy outs” and “Work for hires”.

          Most of us signed with libraries like JP and SK and M so that they’d feed the cues to TV shows and we’d get paid on the back end. We know that they have packaged up 200,000 to 1,000,000 titles and are now selling “Direct License” blanket deals to these conglomerates who get away with avoiding the PRO issue on “some” of their networks.

          This is just wrong dachtyl.

          The Artist is NOT getting paid, yet these 5 corporate conglomerates are getting our music form libraries who are also profiting.

          I don’t give a shet what the contract says, there probably are a couple of tucked away sentences that give the library a chance at these sleezy deals without accounting back to writers.

          It’s just wrong and it needs to stop immediately because this precedent can really spin out of control and disrupt the entire business as we know it.

          Do you agree that Artists should be getting paid for TV broadcast performances on TV networks owned by these big 5 conglomerates? I am seeing Tunesat scenarios where it looks like my music is underscoring 25% of the entire show and I am not getting paid a single cent. This is simply wrong!

          • I agree that it’s wrong. I agree that artists should get paid for public performance income. I am not being antagonistic. I also agree that if you signed an agreement allowing a third party to enter your cues into a direct license without paying to you, that is a terrible choice. It’s a choice that was made by so many composers for so long, that the genie is out of the bottle. So is rev-share, but that’s another topic.

            The contract between the writer and the PRO states that if the PRO has income from a source, it will pay for the public performance. If it does not have the income – the network doesn’t pay them – they can’t pay out of money they do not have. Which sector that paid them would you suggest them taking it from?

            “I don’t give a shet what the contract says, there probably are a couple of tucked away sentences that give the library a chance at these sleezy deals without accounting back to writers.”

            Sadly if composers miss that fine print and sign, this is what gives the network the leverage to tell the PROs they don’t have to pay a broadcast blanket license – because the music they are broadcasting is already covered under a direct performance license by publishers and composers who waived their rights. If the contract you signed did not allow the libraries you mentioned to do this, without being the bank (internal PRO) and paying you your estimated earned performance income in quarterly or bi-annual checks, you have a legal case with the library. In fact, you could get out of your deal for breach and go to someone that holds a higher value in the market.

            I have heard a lot of my music on Netflix, DIY and HGTV and have never seen a penny from the library that commissioned me to write for them and those contracts actually stated that they are supposed to pay me. The crappy thing is, I would have to deal with the headache of trying to pursue legal action and I don’t want to deal with it over 60 cues. I won’t write for them again.

            I am also saddened by composers or artists who give their music to companies on a gratis license, hoping the backend will make it worth it. I have seen enough statements for over 20 years as both a publisher as well as a composer, to know that will put a composer out of business. I think the best ammunition is education and the willingness to hold back your value for someone who will pay for it. Same with decent contracts. I’ve seen plenty that will – enough to have made a living for some time now.

            I think you mentioned something about commercials paying while BG cues aren’t? That is from a different pot paid by the network to the PROs.

            I hear you and I am with you on this, I am only pointing out the facts in the hopes that it will educate others following this thread not to enter into these deals and that will actually help the PROs. The offerings to the networks will be smaller and crappy, forcing them to seek better music. The problem again is that there are too many composers willing to do these things because they don’t know better. I also think composers need to reporting the issue to their PRO when they hear their music. We are all supposed to, contractually if we didn’t waive our rights and are not being paid. At the end of the day though, the PRO will point the problem back to the library that issued the DL and they will be right. It’s happened to me. Cutting them out, hurts them too.

            So what can composers do to fix this? Don’t enter into deals that allow it. Hold libraries that are supposed to be paying you directly, accountable and make a stink. Circulate a petition against them. Tie them up with legal headaches and a hassle. Notify your PRO each and every time it happens.

            • You clearly offer great wisdom on this issue and we do agree on a lot. I too am a big fan of increased education because the lack of it, is certainly not helping writers’ working conditions and compensation. Let’s study the potential “hole” in this contract that allows for “NO PAY TO WRITERS” under these BLANKET Direct License (access to entire library) deal with HGTV, ESPN, DIY, GAC, Food Network, etc….When most of signed our deals 12 years back, we all understood that we’d earn 50% of all direct licenses sold, where if our music was licensed into a project, tv spot, show, corporate video, movie, radio spot, etc…., we’d get 50% of the sync fee, and all the “writers share” of the performance royalties paid by PRO’s. The concept of “BLANKET DIRECT LICENSING” (of the entire music library to DIY, HGTV, GAC, ESPN, etc) was not really clarified during the 2008 to 2014 era. What do you think? Read below:

              9. Compensation to Licensor for a Direct License.
              (a) music publisher hereby agrees to pay to Licensor, as provided in Section 14 below, Fifty percent (50%) of any up-front fee paid by a Third Party User and received by music publisher for the Direct License of a specified Track (such fee, a “Direct License Fee”), upon the terms and conditions
              set forth herein. Without limiting the rights granted to music publisher in Sections 2 and 3 above, Licensor hereby agrees and acknowledges that the amount of any Direct License Fees charged to Third Document Integrity Verified EchoSign Transaction Number: XENFLXQ8XV97C2B

              5 Party Users and the terms of such Direct License shall be determined by music publisher in its sole discretion, subject to the rights granted to music publisher pursuant to this Agreement.

              10. Collection of Gross Administrative Receipts. music publisher shall collect all Gross Administrative Receipts earned by and derived from the Licensed Tracks pursuant to or as a result of any Licensed Use in perpetuity. “Gross Administrative Receipts” is defined as any and all revenue
              (other than Direct License Fees) derived from any such Licensed Use (less amounts paid to or deducted by sub publishers, sub licensees, agents, collection agencies, local performing and mechanical rights societies, applicable taxing authorities and any insurance or commission payments), and
              includes, without limitation, fees paid by third parties (including Third Party Users) (i) in connection with music supervision, research and curation services provided by music publisher; and (ii) in connection with any license to exploit a specific quantity of the Tracks together with other master recordings (and the compositions embodied therein) not owned or controlled by the Licensor (so called “blanket fees”); provided, however, that music publisher shall not collect any so-called “songwriter royalties” or any “writer’s share” of public performance income payable to Licensor, or such other royalties as specified below.

              In no event shall music publisher be responsible for the payment or collection of any third party royalties or other payments, including but not limited to songwriter royalties or the “writer’s share” of any royalties or other payments with respect to any Track, and Licensor shall only look to music publisher for the payment of such Direct License Fees received by music publisher as provided in Section 9(a) above. Licensor shall be solely responsible to monitor or
              engage in the maintenance or procurement of a valid license from ASCAP, BMI or any other performing rights society, and music publisher expressly disclaims any obligation to do so.

              11. Allocation of Gross Administrative Receipts.

              For its services hereunder, music publisher shall retain and be paid all of the Gross Administrative Receipts derived from the Licensed Tracks for the life of the subject use, which shall include, without limitation, the “publisher’s share”
              and “publisher royalties” of public performance income.

              (b) Music Publisher shall maintain true and complete books and records concerning payments of Direct License Fees due to Licensor hereunder. At any time within one (1) year after any payment statement is rendered to Licensor hereunder, Licensor shall have the right to give Music Publisher written notice of Licensor’s intention to examine Music Publisher’s books and records with respect to such
              statement. Such examination shall be commenced within three (3) months after the date of such notice, at Licensor’s sole cost and expense, by any certified public accountant or attorney designated by Licensor, provided he (or any member or associate of the firm within which he is affiliated) is not then engaged in an outstanding examination of Music Publisher’ s books and records on behalf of a Person
              other than Licensor. Such examination shall be made during Music Publisher’s usual business hours at the
              place where Music Publisher maintains the books and records which relate to Licensor and the applicable
              Direct License Fees and which are necessary to verify the accuracy of the statement or statements specified in Licensor’s notice to Music Publisher and the examination shall be limited to the foregoing.

              Licensor’s right to inspect Music Publisher’s books and records shall be only as set forth in this Section
              14(b), and Music Publisher shall have no obligation to produce such books and records more than once
              with respect to each statement rendered to Licensor. Any Person conducting an examination pursuant to this Agreement shall execute a confidentiality agreement prior to conducting such examination, in form and substance as determined by Music Publisher, in its sole discretion.

              • Happy to take a crack at this but first, you say: The concept of “BLANKET DIRECT LICENSING” (of the entire music library to DIY, HGTV, GAC, ESPN, etc) was not really clarified during the 2008 to 2014 era.” This is not true. Libraries have been doing Direct Licenses since ESPN launched. Scripps followed their model. I’ve been in the library business since 1995 and small handful of libraries around at that time were doing them.

                Para 9 refers to “Sections 2 and 3 above” which is not included in your comment, so I’m not clear there. That being said, for the rest of the included agreement, here are the holes.

                9. “Licensor hereby agrees and acknowledges that the amount of any Direct License Fees charged to Third Document Integrity Verified EchoSign Transaction Number: XENFLXQ8XV97C2B”
                What in the world is that? And what “Fees” is it referring to?

                “5 Party Users and the terms of such Direct License shall be determined by music publisher in its sole discretion, subject to the rights granted to music publisher pursuant to this Agreement.”

                I don’t know what a 5 Party User is, but this implies that the publisher can grant a “gratis license” and if so, there will be no licensing income to share with the composers.

                10. “Collection of Gross Administrative Receipts.” This sentence: “(“less amounts paid to or deducted by sub publishers…. “in connection with music supervision, research and curation services provided by music publisher;”……

                Are they actually deducting an admin fee from your earnings for doing music searches for clients IN ADDITION TO the 50% they are taking automatically? YIKES!!!! If they charged a Direct License portion of a blanket fee, which was to be allocated to the composers, they could say their music director/playlist curation fee was equalled or exceeded what they collected.

                “Licensor shall only look to music publisher for the payment of such Direct License Fees received by music publisher as provided in Section 9(a) above. “

                Same comment as above about the publisher having the right to grant a gratis license. Composer can contact them about not getting paid, but they can claim the license fee was $1 and therefore only .50 is the 50% split among all tracks included in the deal. Total crap.

                11. Looks like you have a window to examine the books. I can’t see the terms under which they allow you to do that though. They mention Section 14(b)

                Can’t you withdraw your tracks from this deal and take your tracks to a contract that is more transparent – or sell them to a library that has a reputation for deals that have integrity? Sounds like they have great value since they are being used so much. Surely there is a window for termination?

                • Hi dachtyl,

                  It’s great to have your input here. I have no incentive to dismantle my deal with this publisher because they do produce results. Yes, I can get out whenever I want through written notice. I’d advocate to all writers to make sure you never sign perpetual deals. We all never know when we have to take our property back and move onto other opportunities.

                  Anyway, it just would be great if these networks would not by pass PRO’s and have the ability to buy BLANKET DIRECT LICENSES to gain access to an entire catalog. It’s just a shame. It’s a never ending war against music artists. Corporate America just does everything in their power to not pay music artists fairly, Spotify included. It’s an unconscionable way to profit (for the supplying library) and create cost savings (for cheap TV network).

                  I do not know what else to say, the practice just feels…well…unjust, disgusting, and wrong. Shows get our soundtracks, Library is paid, Show gets the music they need, Artist gets ….hmmm…NOTHGING! or “exposure!” LOL!

  2. Shows on networks that are owned by Scripps (DIY, HGTV, Travel, Food Network, etc.) generally don’t pay PRO, they do what’s called “direct licensing”. Interestingly “direct license” was originally created for the benefit of composers so that the PROs would not have a monopoly. Composers and publishers could go outside the PRO system and negotiate their own license deals. What happened was later on, music libraries started signing blanket deals with these shows (one fee for access to thousands of songs) and not sharing any of that money with their composers. So our songs pop up all over these channels and we don’t make a penny, at least not for US broadcast. International still pays PRO but it’s generally peanuts. Certain libraries are notorious for these deals.

    I’m not sure how it works, but some shows on a network like Scripps do pay PRO while most don’t. It could be a matter of whether it’s an outside, independent TV production company.

    • @Advice,

      “BTW, PRO money comes from TV production companies, not the networks. ”

      This is not true according to my sources. I had a face to face meeting with SESAC in Santa Monica, CA. two years ago and they told me point blank that TV networks pay the PROs to create the pot of royalty money for writers and publishers. This is logical. Disney (ABC), CBS/ Viacom, NBC Universal, and now the newly merged conglomerate which just happened today Warner and Discovery have merged…These are the companies that need to “rent music” to broadcast on their shows. They also collect all of the advertising revenue they sell, a percentage of their advertising revenue gets paid to the three USA PRO’s in the form of annual blanket license fees. This creates the pot of money to get distributed back to writers when their music is performed on air.

      The HGTV, DIY, Food Network, ESPN, BTN etc…workaround for these conglomerates still makes no sense. Bottom line: Artists are getting screwed in this back door deal with libraries selling blankets for access to the entire library, Cue sheets are not mandated, and writers are not getting paid at all.

      Everyone is benefitting nicely from this deal but the artists who supply the music. It is sickening. When you study the spreadsheet, pay attention to “number of households reached”. These TV networks are reaching close to 100 million households, only 15 to 20 million less than the Big networks: ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX.

      • Blankets themselves are not the problem, it’s libraries doing blanket deals for direct license and sharing none of that revenue with composers. That revenue split wouldn’t be huge but it would at least be something. The only thing you can do as a composer, it’s not provide music to libraries that do this. But of course, for every one of you, there are 10,000 willing. I’m not sure direct licensing itself will go away (should it?) as it was really created to prevent PROs from having a monopoly. What we have here is more a perversion of it’s purpose.

        • Write to the President and top executives and board members of BMI and ask that very question. This is the whole point of this thread. It would be nice if these networks (cooking channel, HGTV, DIY, WE atc….) paid performance royalties for all shows they air. Then again, why do they pay for TV spot performances, but not “in show” performances? Any opinions on Hallmark Channel?

          Also NY Composer, I have an opening theme of the local news on WPIX New York Channel 11. While this is “Local” , NYC also happens to be the largest city in the country with 15 million viewers as the total market size/ reach. The track opens the 7AM news, every single day. It will be interesting to see if my pro considers this. Any thoughts on that one?

          • Music1234,

            I speak to the Executive Office at BMI a few times a year. Their answer is very easy and convienent. They just say that BMI collects what the networks report. They can’t do much more. That’s total BS IMO. I truly believe it’s WHO you are at BMI, which determines payment amounts, etc.

            Do you think Danny Efman gets screwed on TV spots or ads? Is his team chasing down payments? No. All of our money is going to big time names.

            As far as Network payments. I got royaly screwed on a bunch of promos on CBS that played for 1:45. I got horrible payments for them. BMI looked into it and claimed the reason was that the Neilson ratings were low. Keep in mind that during the airings, the whole country was basically locked down and people stayed home. Poor ratings?… Uhhuhhh….

            • I don’t understand if Tunesat can capture every broadcast, why aren’t PRO using the same technology? This seems so simple. Also, why wait to get a payout every QUARTER? Technology can recognize songs instantly, and people can be paid instantly through Venmo and other services. It seems to me this industry is ripe for disruption…

              • Disruption is underway. BMAT detects and reports to many European PRO’s. I heard that some European PRO’s may eventually ignore manually produced “cue sheets” and rely solely on BMAT reports.

                Soundmouse detects and reports to PRO’s (ASCAP being one of them) but does not share the detection data with writers (They have data to hide from writers LOL!)

                Tunesat helps a lot but they do not pick up every station in every country. We still have a long way to go for full fingerprint detection transparency.

                Oh, and by the way, BMAT and Tunesat are not exactly cheap services for writers and publishers with larger catalogs.

                The entire business is designed to keep as much money away from artists as possible. Music Producers are ALWAYS the last to be paid in the food chain. We eat last. Always. Spotify, Apple and PRO’s eat first, Music Publishers eat second, writers eat left over scraps last. This is why I have said a million times ownership and control of your catalog is the only way forward.

                Frankly, if money is a motivation for anyone getting into this business, and it does seem like wall street and private equity investors have A LOT of interest in music royalties, just know that only crumbs on the floor will be served to you, last, as always.

                • Well in that case I am both disheartened AND encouraged by your reply. Disheartened because “producers are ALWAYS the last to be paid in the food chain… only crumbs on the floor will be served to you.”

                  But encouraged because technology is moving in our direction – removing the self-involved, self-dealing, dishonest middle man can only be good thing. The more technology can make our business transparent, the better.

                • Curious: Have folks found that BMI will accept Tunesat data? I’ve noticed that Tunesat often misses valuable seconds of performances (especially when the music’s low under VO).

                  I ask as I’ve heard anecdotes of BMI simply telling Tunesat claimers they need to contact the production company, who have no vested interest in helping you, unless they’re missing a publishing portion they own.

            • “They just say that BMI collects what the networks report. They can’t do much more. That’s total BS IMO. I truly believe it’s WHO you are at BMI, which determines payment amounts, etc.”

              I wonder if that actually translates to: “the libraries you’re writing for have to get off their asses and chase their clients down to submit accurate cue sheets. Or maybe they’re engaging in direct licensing.”

  3. “Also, for DIY, we do have a “Y” there for “yes” but only because for whatever reason, I seem to be paid for one show on that network, but others…..hmmm….I think not.”

    Same here and also for The Cooking Channel.

  4. The following networks found in the spreadsheet also pay performance royalties:

    TV One
    SYFY
    FYI
    Big Ten Network
    Paramount Network
    Tennis Channel
    MLB Network
    AMC
    POP
    Smithsonian Channel
    TV LAND

    TELEMUNDO
    UNIVERSO
    HBO Latino

    And here are some networks that also pay royalties but aren’t included in the spreadsheet:

    Sportsnet NY
    Womens Ent
    Pivot
    NECN
    Spike TV
    Lifetime Women
    FM
    Comcast Sports
    CMTV
    Direct TV Sports
    Echostar Sports
    Centric
    In Demand Sports
    Velocity
    Reelzchannel

    Data was taken from my BMI statements.

  5. Thanks for posting this Art. This should give all USA writers a lot of clarity in terms of which networks actually pay performance royalties. It would be great if some publishers can chime in and study this and add their opinions too.

    Also, for DIY, we do have a “Y” there for “yes” but only because for whatever reason, I seem to be paid for one show on that network, but others…..hmmm….I think not.

    I also think that makes the situation more frustrating. I’d love to ask BMI and ASCAP why some shows pay and others do not. Finally, I will add that PRO’s seemingly pay for TV spot performances on most networks, but some TV shows seem to get a pass for background cues which also is an inconsistent and confusing scenario.

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