For the first time in 36 years, the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) will be held in Switzerland again this year. Thanks to Nemo’s victory at last year’s ESC with “The Code”. The song had been written by SUISA members Nemo and Benji Alasu together with Linda Dale and Lasse Nymann at the 2023 SUISA Songwriting Camp. Between 13 and 17 May 2025, it is not just Basel that will be in the grip of the ESC fever – elsewhere in Switzerland, music lovers and ESC fans will be able to follow the major event in public viewing events.
Just a few weeks after that, the European Women’s Football Championships will be held in eight Swiss cities. Here, too, football fans will come together in pubs, bars or public places to cheer on their teams in front of small and large screens.
Here are the most important FAQs on what event organisers of public viewings must take into consideration:
1. I would like to show the broadcast of the ESC final and some matches of the Women’s EURO 2025 in my bar. Do I need a licence from SUISA and how much does this cost?
Yes. As soon as you organise a public viewing of an event beyond your private use, you require a licence, in other words the permission, from SUISA. “Private use” is defined in the Swiss Copyright Act as “personal use of a work or use within a circle of persons closely connected to each other, such as relatives or friends”.
If you already are a SUISA customer and if you are paying a licence for showing TV broadcasts on your premises according to the Common Tariff 3a (CT 3a), you do not need to take any further action. If you want to show TV broadcasts only during the ESC or the European Women’s Football Championships, you can acquire a licence per calendar month. If the premises of the event area do not exceed 1,000 sqm, the SUISA licence is CHF 20.80 per month, that is CHF 41.60 for the ESC in May and the EURO 2025 in July altogether. If you do not just transmit the events but also want to play music in the background during that time, irrespective whether the music is played from the radio or a CD or a streaming platform, you need to pay an additional CHF 19.20 per month.
Details on the CT 3a, an overview of the cost and the form to apply for the licence are located at www.suisa.ch/3a
The CT 3a only covers screens or projection surfaces with an image diagonal of up to 3 metres. For image diagonals exceeding 3 metres, the Common Tariff 3c (CT 3c) applies. Information on this is shown in the answer to question 4.
2. Our association is organising a public viewing event for the ESC finals. We do not charge any admission fee and the drinks are free. Do we still have to pay SUISA fees?
Yes, because it is usually not just people who are closely connected to each other, such as relatives or friends that take part in events held by clubs or associations. Such events are therefore deemed to be held outside the private circle according to the Copyright Act. Even if the event itself, food and drinks may be free of charge for the guests, you require a licence from SUISA.
3. Do you also need a licence if a company is showing the EURO matches or the ESC shows?
Yes, in this case the use is outside the private use definition, even if it just includes staff from your own company who follow the match on the screen. The following rule applies here, too: If you are already a SUISA customer and pay a licence fee for the CT 3a for the transmission of audiovisual content, i.e. TV broadcasts or videos, you do not need any additional licences for the transmission of the ESC or the EURO 2025 matches. Otherwise, you can acquire a licence per calendar month as described under item 1 above.
4. We are organising a public viewing in a public square on a large screen. Do we also need a licence according to CT 3a for this?
The CT 3a covers screens or projection surfaces with an image diagonal of up to 3 metres. For larger projection surfaces, you require a licence according to the Common Tariff 3c (CT 3c). Several factors influence the amount you have to pay:
- Size of the screen or the projection surface
- Whether there is an admission fee or not, beverage surcharge or similar payments
- Number of days that the matches/shows are shown
If you show a public viewing on a large screen with an image diagonal of 6 metres and if you do not charge an admission fee or a beverage surcharge, you pay
- for the ESC final show and for one single football match: CHF 104
- for the two semi-finals and the ESC final: CHF 312
- for the entire EURO Championships in July: CHF 520
If you therefore organise a public viewing on a large screen during six or more days, the monthly blanket fee is worth your while.
If you do charge an entrance fee for the event, or ask for a beverage surcharge, the costs are double.
Details on the CT 3c are shown in this SUISA fact sheet.
5. We will be holding a party with a DJ after the public viewing. Do I need a separate licence for that?
Yes. If you combine a public viewing event with an event that involves a DJ or a band, you need an additional licence from SUISA for this type of supporting programme.
For the hospitality and catering industry, the Common Tariff H (CT H) applies
outside of hospitality and catering industry, the Common Tariff Hb (GT Hb) is applicable.
The latter also includes pop up bars that are open for no more than three months.
6. What other details do I need to consider regarding public viewing for the ESC?
As the SRG SSR has announced on 12 February 2025, ESC viewings with more than 300 expected guests must be reported up front. You can report the event on this platform: www.eurovision-basel.ch/en/public-viewings/
You need to consider the following:
- Free admission
All public viewings must be free of charge for the guests – no entrance fees or other costs must be charged. - Trademark protection
The Eurovision Song Contest is a protected trademark. The official ESC logo or other ESC commercial means must not be used for advertising purposes or promotion of the event. The official guidelines of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) must be taken into consideration.
www.eurovision.tv/mediacentre/logos-and-artwork - Sponsorship
It is not permitted to use your own sponsors. Only official ESC sponsors may be named or presented in connection with the event. Events using the broadcasting signal of the SRG SSR must not be combined with other sponsoring partnerships.
Example for a correct communication:
Permitted: “Event organiser Citylife invites you to take part in the public viewing of the Eurovision Song Contest.”
Not permitted: “This event is sponsored by the Holdeburg brewery and the Grünau shopping centre.”
Furthermore, event organisers are responsible for adhering to all legal regulations and provisions, including volume levels, outdoor sound systems and any catering licences.
