The caller said it live. Your signal carried it.

Media liability

Covers claims arising from what you publish (defamation, copyright and trademark infringement, invasion of privacy and misuse of a person’s likeness) on an annual policy for creators, podcasters, publishers and authors.

Without it — Defamation, privacy and copyright claims over programming, news, call-ins and advertising, on air and on the station’s streams, sites and podcasts.

General liability

Third-party bodily injury and property damage. It is the line nearly every contract names by default.

Without it — Remote broadcasts, contests, station events and visitors to the studio. Injury from a contest is a general liability question, not a media one.

Commercial property

Buildings and contents, valued at what it costs to rebuild today rather than what you paid.

Without it — The studio building, the transmitter site and the equipment in them.

Inland marine & equipment

Tools, equipment and property in transit. It picks up exactly where commercial property stops, which is the moment the item leaves the building.

Without it — Remote broadcast kits, cameras and news gear that leave the building every day.

Commercial auto

Vehicles the business owns and the people who drive them for work.

Without it — News vans and station vehicles, which are on the road in bad weather when everyone else is told to stay home.

Cyber & tech E&O

Breach response, ransomware and the notification costs that follow. Technology errors and omissions sits on the same policy and covers the software or service itself failing a client, which is the half most tech companies find out about too late.

Without it — Automation and playout systems, the stream and listener data. Ransomware can take a station off the air.

Workers compensation

Required in almost every state the moment you have employees. Priced on payroll and class code, which is why the class code is worth arguing about.

Without it — Hosts, engineers and crews, including the engineer climbing the tower.

What is broadcasters liability insurance?

It is media liability written for stations. It defends and pays claims over what the station airs and posts, chiefly defamation, invasion of privacy and copyright or trademark infringement, including programming, news, advertising and call-in shows, and the station’s streams and websites. It sits beside general liability, which covers injury and damage at events and contests, and the property and equipment policies.

What media liability covers

Is a station liable for what a caller says on air?

It can be, because the station published it. That is why underwriters ask about call-in and talk formats, contests and anyone they would call a shock jock, and whether a delay device lets the board operator drop a remark before it airs. A written policy for screening callers and a working delay system are the two answers that help most.

Are we liable for libel in a political ad?

For a legally qualified candidate’s own broadcast, no. In WDAY the Supreme Court held that a station may not censor a candidate’s use of airtime and is therefore immune from libel liability for it. An ad bought by anyone other than the candidate is not that kind of broadcast, so stations review those spots, and underwriters ask how you handle political advertising.

What will the underwriter ask a station?

Each station’s call letters, band and location, years on air, format, share of simulcast or original programming, revenue, language and, for television, network affiliation. Then whether you air talk, contests or controversial hosts and how you limit the risk, whether delay devices are used, whether music rights are cleared, whether you use media counsel, and how reporters handle hidden cameras, confidential sources and subpoenas.

We operate a cable system. What does the underwriter want to know?

Each system’s name, location, years and revenue, how much original programming you produce and for how many hours a week, and how many access channels you run. Then the contracts: whether channels are leased to third parties and whether lessees must indemnify you, whether access channels have usage agreements, and whether the access programmer must indemnify you and carry its own errors and omissions coverage.

We run AI voices in ads or on air. What is the exposure?

A cloned voice of a real person without a signed release is a right of publicity claim, and California bars a digital replica of a deceased performer’s voice in a sound recording without the estate’s consent. AI-written news copy that invents a fact about someone is defamation by the station. Check that your media form covers AI content, and look for CG 40 47 or CG 40 48 on the general liability.

What to check on an AI media liability policy

Someone has sued over our news coverage. Can it be ended early?

Often. A public official or public figure must prove actual malice, and many states let a defendant sued over speech on a public issue file an anti-SLAPP motion that stops discovery and, in some states, recovers legal fees. The media policy pays the defense of a covered claim, including the motion.

SLAPP suits and how media liability responds

What does broadcasters liability insurance cost?

We do not publish a range. The price follows the number of stations, revenue, the share of live talk and call-in programming, contests, news and investigative work, music clearance, whether delay devices and counsel review are in place, the limit and deductible, and claim history. A music format with automated playout and a talk station with open phone lines are priced very differently.