Media Liability in Montana

For Montana print or broadcast publishing, keep a correction request and response record: a defamed person seeking punitive damages must first give specified media management a reasonable written opportunity to correct, and the detailed timing differs by format.

What Is Media Liability Insurance?

Media liability can help pay defense costs for claims about content you create or distribute, such as allegations of defamation or infringement. Consider it if you publish or produce content for your business or clients; match the quote to each activity. Read the national Media liability guide.

What Should You Watch for With Media Liability Insurance in Montana?

A punitive-damages request starts with specific written notice
Montana § 27-1-818 requires a person seeking punitive damages for covered defamatory material in a newspaper, magazine, periodical, radio or television station, or cable system to give responsible parties a reasonable opportunity to correct. Notice must identify the item and allegedly false statements and state the claimed true facts; sources may be included. ¹
The correction window depends on the medium
For print, § 27-1-819 treats the first issue published after one week from receipt of notice as a reasonable time. For radio, television, and cable, it specifies a same-time-of-day broadcast of at least equal duration within seven days. Section 27-1-820 distinguishes a retraction where the truth is ascertainable from publication of the claimant’s statement otherwise. Under § 27-1-820, only a retraction is a correction when true facts are reasonably and definitely ascertainable; § 27-1-821 makes a qualifying timely, no-comment correction an affirmative defense to punitive damages at trial only after an honest mistake. ^2,⁴
The correction procedure is not the two-year filing period
Montana separately allows two years for libel or slander actions under § 27-2-204(3). The correction statutes address an opportunity before punitive damages, not an extension of that filing period or a policy’s notice trigger. ^3,¹

Which Media Liability Providers Have Montana License Records?

These providers publish a national listing for Media liability; the license records below name the licensed entities and roles. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm the product is available in Montana. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

Coalition
Insurance producer, Surplus-lines broker · checked 2026-09-28
Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc.
Coalition’s license page lists producer and surplus-lines licenses for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc. in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The page separately lists insurers; this record covers the brokerage entity only. ²²
Coalition identifies media liability within its Active Cyber policy.
Corgi
Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28
Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.
Corgi’s company producer-license table lists 50 jurisdictions: 49 states and the District of Columbia, including DC license 3003091619. New Mexico does not appear in the table and is not included here; the omission does not establish that Corgi is unlicensed there. The company-reported table has no stated as-of date and does not establish product availability. ²³
Corgi lists media liability insurance among its coverage offerings.

Who Regulates Insurance in Montana?

Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance

The Commissioner of Securities and Insurance regulates Montana insurers and producers and acts as a consumer advocate. The office accepts written or online complaints about insurers and insurance professionals. ^6,^7,⁸

Website: Regulator website
License lookup: Search licensed producers
Complaints: File a complaint
Phone: 800-332-6148

Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in Montana

Reported tax rate. 2.75% of total premium (0.75% for legal professional liability) + 2.50% fire tax on applicable fire premium + 0.175% SLIP+ transaction fee on total premium ^9,^10,^12,¹³

Montana requires an eligible surplus-lines insurer and a statutory placement path when it is the insured’s home state. Before placement, the producing producer must advise you that the insurer is unauthorized in Montana and is not subject to the same supervision as an authorized insurer, and that if the surplus-lines insurer becomes insolvent, Montana’s property-and-casualty guaranty fund will not pay losses under the surplus-lines coverage. Confirm the applicable placement route and tax and fee bases with the producer.

Montana surplus-lines placement routes: When Montana is home state, §33-2-302 generally calls for an eligible insurer and evidence that the line or full amount is unavailable from authorized insurers (or, at renewal, has not become available). The evidence routes are a diligent search of at least three insurers actually writing that line in Montana (or the smaller actual market), the kind appearing on the current Approved Risk List, or natural-disaster multiperil coverage. The list names kinds and classes; it does not prove that a particular business or BOP qualifies. Section 302 separately waives search requirements for an authorized quote with a premium rate at least 10% above the eligible unauthorized quote, if commissioner-approved disclosure is provided; and for a qualifying exempt commercial purchaser (ECP), after disclosure that coverage may or may not be available from an authorized insurer that may provide greater protection with more regulatory oversight, followed by the purchaser’s later written request. Under §318, an ECP must employ or retain a qualified risk manager as defined in §319, have paid over $100,000 in nationwide commercial P&C premiums in the prior 12 months, and meet one additional §318(1)(c) criterion. Some financial thresholds adjust every five years. ^12,^13,^11,^15,^18,¹⁹
Check the fire-tax allocation on a commercial package: Section 33-2-311 generally requires the surplus-lines producer to collect and pay the tax when Montana is home state, subject to §33-2-323. For a single-state risk with Montana as home state, §33-2-323(4) requires submission to the Commissioner, who collects the tax. Ask the producer which filing and payment route applies. CSI’s July 2026 guide lists code 1005, Commercial Package (Property & Casualty), with a 50% presumptively reasonable allocation and a 1.25% effective fire-tax rate. Treat this as an example: verify the code and allocation used for the policy; do not assume every BOP is classified as code 1005. CSI’s current schedule sets annual tax due dates (quarterly tax payments are accepted) and separate quarterly SLIP+ transaction-fee deadlines. ^14,^17,^16,²⁰

Questions to Ask Before You Buy Media Liability in Montana

Which policy definition of a claim applies to a written demand, subpoena, or suit?
Who selects counsel, and do defense expenses reduce the media limit?
Which content activities, formats, platforms, and client work are scheduled or excluded?

Media Liability Insurance in Montana: Frequently Asked Questions

Does Montana require the same correction for print and broadcast?

No. The statute gives separate timing and presentation rules for periodicals versus radio, television, and cable, and defines when a retraction is the only acceptable correction. ²

Does a Montana correction eliminate a libel claim?

The cited provisions govern the opportunity to correct before punitive damages and the extent to which correction can serve as a defense at trial. They do not promise dismissal or determine insurance coverage. ¹

Does a timely correction end every Montana claim?

No. Under § 27-1-821, a qualifying correction can be a defense to punitive damages at trial when an honest mistake is shown and the correction meets the format conditions. The correction rules do not promise dismissal or determine insurance coverage. ⁵

Sources for Media Liability Insurance in Montana

1
Montana Code Annotated § 27-1-818. Montana Legislative Services Division; Written correction notice and reasonable opportunity prerequisite for punitive damages in listed newspaper, periodical, broadcast, and cable contexts; current MCA 2025. Accessed 2026-09-28.
2
Montana Code Annotated § 27-1-819. Montana Legislative Services Division; 2025 MCA text: print one week from receipt; radio/TV/cable same time of day, equal duration within seven days. Accessed 2026-09-28.
3
Montana Code Annotated § 27-2-204. Montana Legislative Services Division; § 27-2-204(3): two years for libel/slander in the temporary version in effect 2026-09-28; the 2025 MCA page also shows future version effective 2026-10-01, which retains two years in subsection (3). Accessed 2026-09-28.
4
Montana Code Annotated § 27-1-820. Montana Legislative Services Division; Current 2025 MCA: only a retraction when true facts are reasonably and definitely ascertainable; otherwise qualifying claimant’s factual statement can be correction. Accessed 2026-09-28.
5
Montana Code Annotated § 27-1-821. Montana Legislative Services Division; Current 2025 MCA: timely, no-comment, equally prominent correction after honest mistake is a defense to punitive damages; broadcast matching conditions. Accessed 2026-09-28.
6
Insurance. Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance; Official insurance regulator page; describes CSI as regulator and consumer advocate. Accessed 2026-09-28.
7
Producer, Adjuster & Consultant Licensing. Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance; CSI page links to the state’s SBS Licensee Lookup and Company Lookup. Accessed 2026-09-28.
8
Insurance Complaints & Fraud. Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance; Official page accepts online or written complaints about companies, producers and others; consumer advocate lines 800-332-6148 / 406-444-2040. Accessed 2026-09-28.
9
Surplus Lines. Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance; CSI page: from 2026, Montana-home-state transactions use SLIP+; 2025 and earlier use the legacy portal. States the 2.75% total-premium tax (0.75% for legal professional liability), 2.50% fire tax on applicable fire premium and 0.175% total-premium SLIP+ fee; links to current Approved Risk List and eligible-surplus-lines-company list. Accessed 2026-09-29.
10
MCA §33-2-303: Filing and endorsement of contract -- submission form. Montana Legislature / Montana Code Annotated; MCA 2025, §33-2-303(2)(b)(i)-(ii): before placement the producer affirms notice that the insurer is unauthorized and not under the same supervision, and that Montana’s P&C guaranty fund will not pay surplus-lines losses. Accessed 2026-09-29.
11
MCA §33-2-301: Short title -- purpose -- definitions. Montana Legislature / Montana Code Annotated 2025; §33-2-301(3)(c), (h), (n): defines Approved Risk List, eligible surplus-lines insurer and natural-disaster multiperil insurance; definition only, not operative placement test or list contents. Accessed 2026-09-29.
12
MCA §33-2-302: Home state exclusive authority -- conditions precedent to sale of surplus lines insurance. Montana Legislature / Montana Code Annotated 2025; §33-2-302(1)-(2)(a)-(c): Montana home-state scope; eligible-insurer and unavailability conditions; diligent search (three actual Montana writers or smaller market), current list, natural-disaster multiperil; 10% price and ECP no-search routes with required disclosure and written request. Accessed 2026-09-29.
13
MCA §33-2-307: Requirements for eligible surplus lines insurers -- list of eligible surplus lines insurers. Montana Legislature / Montana Code Annotated 2025; §33-2-307(1)-(4): eligibility conditions for US-domiciled and alien unauthorized insurers; commissioner publishes an eligible-insurer list at least semiannually. No carrier-specific conclusion drawn. Accessed 2026-09-29.
14
MCA §33-2-311: Tax on surplus lines insurance. Montana Legislature / Montana Code Annotated 2025; §33-2-311(1)-(2): when Montana is the insured’s home state, surplus-lines producer collects tax from insured and pays Commissioner; when Montana is not home state, Commissioner generally may not collect Montana tax/stamping fee, subject to cited statutory arrangement. Accessed 2026-09-29.
15
Approved Risk List. Montana Surplus Lines Agents’ Association (current list linked from CSI Surplus Lines page); PDF header p.1: updated 2024-01-16, reviewed 2026-06-18. p.1 GL includes Contractors; pp.1-2 include Property and Builders Risk in Protection Class 9 & 10. The list names kinds/classes, not a blanket BOP or carrier guarantee. Accessed 2026-09-29.
16
Montana Surplus Lines Premium and Fire Tax Payment and Transaction Fee Schedule. Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance; February 2026 schedule p.1, lines 1-6: tax and fee rates/bases; lines 7-73: invoice and due-date schedule; lines 74-76: tax year 2025 and earlier legacy portal/OPTins. Accessed 2026-09-29.
17
How Fire Tax is Calculated in Montana. Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance; July 2026 guide p.1, lines 1-4 and 10-15: 2.50% fire tax is allocated by coverage; code 1005 Commercial Package (Property & Casualty) has a 50% presumptively reasonable allocation and 1.25% effective rate. Example only; does not establish BOP classification. Accessed 2026-09-29.
18
MCA §33-2-318: Exempt commercial purchaser defined. Montana Legislature / Montana Code Annotated 2025; §33-2-318(1)(a)-(c), (2): qualified risk manager, >$100,000 prior-12-month aggregate nationwide commercial P&C premium, and at least one criterion; financial thresholds in (c)(i),(ii),(iv) adjust every five years. Accessed 2026-09-29.
19
MCA §33-2-319: Qualified risk manager defined. Montana Legislature / Montana Code Annotated 2025; §33-2-319(1)-(2): QRM role and alternative education, experience, designation or graduate-degree qualifications; ECP note cites the defined term without summarizing those alternatives. Accessed 2026-09-29.
20
MCA 33-2-323: Authorization for agreements regarding multistate risks. Montana Legislature; 2025 MCA, subsections (1)–(5); subsection (4) single-state transaction submission and Commissioner tax collection; no assertion that a multistate agreement is in effect. Accessed 2026-09-29.
21
Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
22
Licenses and Carriers. Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535. Accessed 2026-09-22.
23
Insurance Producer Licenses. Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown. Accessed 2026-09-28.
24
About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
25
Licenses. ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885. Accessed 2026-09-28.
26
Insurance Licenses by State. TechInsurance; Current state table; identifies TechInsurance as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC d/b/a SPG Insurance Solutions; lists DC 3000041536 and labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses,” without an agency license number. Accessed 2026-09-28.
27
Licenses. Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict. Accessed 2026-09-15.

Media Liability in Montana

What Is Media Liability Insurance?

What Should You Watch for With Media Liability Insurance in Montana?

A punitive-damages request starts with specific written notice

The correction window depends on the medium

The correction procedure is not the two-year filing period

Which Media Liability Providers Have Montana License Records?

Coalition

Corgi