New Common Tariff S effective in 2026

On 24 September 2025, the Federal Arbitration Commission for the Exploitation of Copyrights and Related Rights (FACO) handed down a ruling approving a new Common Tariff S effective 1 January 2026 (CT S 2026 to 2028).

Collective management organisations SUISA and Swissperform negotiated the new CT S with seven leading user associations, namely: VSP, RRR, UNIKOM, TELESUISSE, ISI, VSPF and CORALL. The parties held seven ordinary rounds of negotiations between 26 September 2024 and 12 May 2025, alongside a number of meetings in smaller groups to resolve specific issues.

The negotiations led to convergence in several contentious areas, including, for example, the delimitation between revenue-based and cost-based invoicing, online revenues, the discount system and reporting requirements. Agreement was reached on a new tariff on 12 May 2025. Alongside a few adjustments in favour of broadcasters, slight increases in remuneration were agreed in two areas of use. With a few updates and simplifications, the new tariff otherwise largely resembles its predecessor. The new CT S is valid for three years (2026 to 2028); thereafter, and until 31 December 2031 save notice of termination, the term of validity will be automatically renewed from year to year.

Overview of the main changes effective in 2026:

• Clearer definition of tariff-relevant income, especially income from online advertising and allocations (point 8)
• Clearer definition of tariff-relevant costs, and introduction of certain exceptions in cases of hardship where cost-based accounting cannot be applied (point 9)
• Express inclusion of existing tariff practice for supplementary webcasting channels and stations (point 17)
• Revised discount system (points 18 to 21):
  .  the criterion “only local transmission” is no longer relevant for a discount under point 18
  .  slight easing of the discount hurdles under point 20 (tariff-compliant reporting) for small broadcasters
  .  association discounts expressly not lost for non-observance of reporting requirements only
• New requirement for broadcasters to report budgeted income and costs relating to broadcasting activities every year (point 27)
• Slight increase in remuneration for certain online uses (point 7.2) and for the use of commercially released audiovisual recordings (point 15.3)
• Changes in information in the log lists to be provided (points 31 to 42): templates now available for radio and TV reporting (Annex I and Annex II to CT S).

The new tariff is available on our website.