Independent Production Companies (IPC) licence
Who needs this licence
Independent Production Companies (IPCs) that make TV programmes for UK broadcasters, including Channel 4 and Channel 5, or programmes for online platforms.
What this licence covers
The copying of MCPS Commercial Music and Production Music into TV programmes for broadcast in the UK, or the copying of MCPS Production Music for broadcast on online platforms.
2023 licence fees for Commercial Music
| Commissioning Channel | Number of initial broadcasts | Use rate (per 30 seconds) |
Each additional broadcast charge as a percentage of 'use rate' |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBC1/ITV1 | 2 |
£249 |
50% |
| Channel 4/BBC2 | 2 |
£169 |
50% |
| Channel 5 | 2 |
£128 |
50% |
| Channel 5 | 3 |
£192 | 50% |
E4/More4/BBC4/ ITV2/ITV3/ITV4 |
Up to 2 broadcasts on each of 8 different play weeks | £124 | 50% |
| 5*/5USA/5Select/5Action | Up to 2 broadcasts on each of 8 different play weeks | £105 | 100% |
| 5*/5USA/5Select/5Action | Up to 2 broadcasts on each of 8 different play weeks, following the first 16 play weeks | £53 | 50% |
| Other satellite/digital terrestrial channels | Up to 2 broadcasts on each of 8 different play weeks | £103 | 100% |
2023 licence fees for MCPS Production Music
| Licence category | Worldwide (all media) | Worldwide excl. UK (all media) | UK (all media) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single cue (30s) | £95 |
£47 |
£47 |
| Single track | £202 |
£103 |
£103 |
| Single episode | £743 |
£371 |
£371 |
| Series deal (available for series containing 4+ episodes) | £250 (per ep.) |
£125 (per ep.) |
£125 (per ep.) |
| Annual deal* | £100 (per ep.) | £50 (per ep.) |
£50 (per ep.) |
| Annual deal - group IPC | Contact us on |
Contact us on |
Contact us on |
MCPS Production Music Notes
- Aggregation is permitted on all per 30 second rates. Aggregation allows various music cues to be added together to produce a cumulative total.
- If you are making a TV programme promo please call +44 (0)20 3741 3888 for a quote.
- Productions are covered in perpetuity.
- Radio, public location and theatrical uses are excluded from IPC rates.
Apply for a licence
Once we have received your application, we will assign you an account manager, who will be in contact to set up your licence. For further information please contact the General Entertainment Productions Team on +44 (0)20 3741 4101.
N.B. You will need to submit cuesheets within 14 days of delivering your production to the broadcaster.
