Event associations reject SRG initiative

The Alliance of Event Organizers has taken a clear stance against the federal popular initiative "200 francs is enough! (SRG initiative)", which will be put to the vote on March 8. The initiative calls for the fees for radio and television to be halved from the current CHF 335 to CHF 200 per year and for companies to be completely exempt from the fee. The event industry sees this as a threat to Switzerland's cultural diversity and fears far-reaching economic consequences.

Media support as a success factor

Numerous live cultural and sporting events in Switzerland are dependent on media support from public service media. SRG plays a central role with its contributions to the promotion and thus indirectly to the financing of such events. On the one hand, this applies to live broadcasts of major sporting events such as ski races and wrestling competitions or major cultural events, which would no longer be financially viable with the impending cut in fees. On the other hand, medium-sized and smaller events in the areas of culture and sport are also dependent on broad media coverage, which is crucial for their visibility and success.

The presence and promotion by public broadcasters generates interest and attracts further sponsors and donors. Without this media support, many events would not receive the necessary attention, which would lead to a decline in sponsorship and financial support. With less funding, many of these events would no longer be able to take place to the usual extent or, in some cases, not at all. This would result in significant cuts to live cultural and sporting events and cause considerable damage to cultural diversity in Switzerland.

Infrastructure under pressure

The financial resources that SRG uses for its coverage of live cultural and sporting events also contribute to the maintenance and development of the cultural and sporting infrastructure in Switzerland. Venues, festivals and other cultural institutions in particular therefore also benefit indirectly from this support. A reduction in fees would jeopardize the long-term planning and implementation of many cultural projects.

Far-reaching economic consequences

The event industry would be particularly affected by the reduction in fees. Countless locally based Swiss SMEs and their suppliers are active in this wide-ranging industry: Concert, show and festival organizers, trade fair organizers, stadium operators, congress centers, concert and event locations, theaters, sports arenas, event agencies, event technicians, production companies, tent and exhibition stand builders, catering companies and many more. Less funding would lead to a decline in the number and quality of events - with direct and drastic consequences for the event industry and its suppliers. Jobs could be at risk and the economic basis of many companies could be significantly weakened.

It should not be forgotten that other sectors of the economy also benefit from major live events. For example, the ESC 2025 in Basel impressively demonstrated the economic effects of such major events on tourism, the hotel industry, gastronomy and the local economy. According to official figures from the Canton of Basel-Stadt, the ESC generated a turnover of CHF 248 million in Switzerland and brought CHF 53 million in added value to the Basel region.

This correlation is also underpinned by a study conducted by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences HWZ in collaboration with Ticketcorner in 2025. The study demonstrates the enormous importance of major international events for the Swiss economy using the example of a major event with international appeal. A concert experience with two shows in Zurich in summer 2024 generated a total value added of more than CHF 92 million - with positive effects for tourism, trade and gastronomy.

The Alliance of the Event Organizer Industry, founded at the beginning of the pandemic in 2021, bundles the interests of the entire industry and represents them externally. The aim is to ensure that the very heterogeneous industry can communicate its concerns to the authorities and media in a united manner. The associations represented in the alliance represent a wide network of companies, from trade fair organizers to event agencies, concert, show and festival organizers, stadium operators, concert and event venues, theaters, event technology and production companies, tent and exhibition stand builders and catering companies.