Our FAQ is designed to give performers the advice needed to ensure they are never out of pocket when it comes to royalties and secondary payments.

Distributing Secondary Payments

Equity Distribution Services (EDS)

Equity Distribution Services (EDS) ensure performers receive royalties and other secondary payments arising from the terms of the unions collective agreements.

Funds collected and distributed by EDS, in the region of £10 million per year, are additional to royalties issued by broadcasters and television companies, which are also due under the terms of the union’s agreements. Equity Distribution Services provide a hugely important source of secondary income for those working in film, television and radio. Payments cover:

  • cinema film and certain television royalties
  • collective licence monies for Equity-contracted performers in
  • programmes available on BBC, ITV, Channel Four and Sky online on-demand and catch-up services
  • cable retransmission monies for Equity-contracted performers in BBC, ITV and Channel Four channels which are picked up in neighbouring European countries
  • collectively negotiated funds for Equity-contracted contributors to radio programmes aired on BBC Radio 4Extra
  • royalties for sales of cast album recordings

Which payments does Equity Distribution Services deal with?

Film, Television & Audio Funds administered by Equity Distribution Services (EDS)

The Distributions Team issues royalty payments on a monthly basis. There is no set timetable for when different sources of revenue will be distributed. Distribution times for the different types of payments will be determined by when the Distributions Team receives revenue and reporting from broadcasters and producers. Delivery times can vary from year to year.

Collective licence revenues

Collective licence revenues are negotiated by Equity on top of standard network repeat fees. Unlike standard royalties, collective licence payments are administered on the basis of a full year's worth of programming schedules and they are issued annually.

BBC

  • BBC iPlayer for programmes available on the iPlayer service.
  • BBC cable retransmission for programmes broadcast on BBC One, Two, Three, Four, CBeebies & CBBC and relayed in Belgium, the Netherlands and Republic of Ireland by cable and satellite channels.
  • BBC Radio 4Extra for archive spoken word drama, comedy and entertainment programmes broadcast on the BBC's digital radio station.
  • BBC Online Clips for short clips of archive programmes available on YouTube

Channel 4

  • Channel 4 All4 for programmes available on Channel 4's on-demand and catch-up services.
  • Channel 4 cable retransmission for programmes on the main Channel 4 being relayed by cable companies in the Republic of Ireland.
  • 4Seven for programmes broadcast on Channel 4's 4Seven channel.

ITV

  • ITV Hub for programmes available on ITV's on-demand and catch-up services.
  • ITV cable retransmission for programmes broadcast on ITV Ulster and relayed by cable companies in the Republic of Ireland.

Sky

  • Sky TV on-demand for programmes available on Sky's on-demand and catch-up services.

Royalty and residual payments

Each year millions of pounds of royalties are secured under the terms of Equity's Cinema Film and PACT Television agreements with studios and production companies. Equity's Contract Enforcement Official carries out rigorous checks to ensure Equity-contracted artists receive all contractual sums due to them. Once funds are cleared for distribution, the Distributions Team process and issue regular monthly payments of royalties and residuals from the sources listed below:

  • Cinema feature film royalty payments from studios and film production companies, including MGM, NBC Universal, Warner Brothers, Disney and others;
  • PACT TV television royalties from, amongst others, HBO and Sony;
  • Cast album recording payments from the Really Useful Group, First Night Records, Sony Music, Warner Music and others.

Monies paid out by EDS since December 2017

The Distributions Team has paid out £65 million to performers since the first distribution of payments in late 2017


Film, Television & Audio Funds administered by Equity Distribution Services (EDS)

The Distributions Team issues royalty payments on a monthly basis. There is no set timetable for when different sources of revenue will be distributed. Distribution times for the different types of payments will be determined by when the Distributions Team receives revenue and reporting from broadcasters and producers. Delivery times can vary from year to year.


Royalties

Are you on top of your royalties?

Equity Distribution Services (EDS) collect over £10 million each year in secondary payments that the union negotiates for performers who have been engaged on Equity contracts. EDS payments are additional to the millions of pounds of standard repeats and royalties arising out of union agreements which are handled and paid out by broadcasters and production companies.

As there is no single payment point for royalties, it can be confusing knowing when different types of royalties are due and who is responsible for passing them onto agents and performers. Our FAQ is designed to give performers the advice and information needed to ensure they are never out of pocket when it comes to royalties and secondary payments.

Royalties FAQs


Contact details for organisations paying out royalties and secondary payments

A significant volume of royalties and secondary payments for productions made under Equity agreements are handled by broadcasters and production companies. Performers who have been self-represented for any of their film or television work, or who have a former agency that has ceased trading, should ensure that broadcasters and production companies have their up-to-date contact and banking details. Payment histories about previous payments can also be requested from the relevant broadcaster or production company.

All3 Media

Incorporating Bentley Productions.
E: royalty@all3media.com

BBC Contributor Payments

Network repeats, digital channel repeats and commercial exploitations (including dvd sales).

E: bbc.contributorpayments@bbc.co.uk
T: UK Toll Free: 0800 058 1870
T: International Access: +44 (0)203 9597352

Channel 4 Artist Payment Services

Network repeats, digital channel repeats and commercial exploitations (including DVD sales).
E: aps@channel4.co.uk
T: 0345 076 0191

Endemol Shine UK Artist Payments

E:royalties@endemolshineuk.com
T: 020 8222 4312

Equity Distribution Services

Film, cast album recording and BBC 4Extra radio drama royalties; collective licence television payments for catch-up and cable relay services; certain television royalties).
E: distributions@equity.org.uk
T: 020 7670 0206

Fremantle Media Artiste Payments

E: info.artistepayment@fremantlemedia.com
T: 020 7691 6000

ITV Talent Payments

Repeats on the main ITV channel.
E: tps@itv.com

Repeats on all other channels and commercial exploitations (including dvd sales).
E: royalties@itv.com
T: 0161 952 1910

STV Artist Payments

E: Lorna.Kelly@stv.tv
T: 0141 300 3784