Zurich plans to ban commercial advertising in public space. Our position at Excom Media is clear: the city would lose out environmentally, economically and socially.
Digital Out of Home is environmentally friendly. Per contact, DOOH produces less CO₂ than TV, radio or online — no printing, no transport. A single screen reaches thousands efficiently and sustainably.
Advertising creates visibility — and stays independent. It brings brands, culture and opinions directly into people’s daily lives. Alongside radio and TV, out-of-home is one of the last major mass media not controlled by global platform corporations. A ban would only push advertising money further towards international tech giants — instead of into the local economy.
Advertising means jobs. The out-of-home sector creates employment in Switzerland — from engineering and the creative industries through to service and operations. Value that stays here.
Advertising is part of democracy. Parties and campaign committees use poster and DOOH space to address people directly — visible to everyone, transparent, and an indispensable part of democratic debate.
Symbolic politics helps no one. Rather than banning channels on populist grounds, we need fact-based discussion about energy efficiency and sustainable communication. We support the statement issued by IG DOOH and call for dialogue.
Because advertising is part of public space — and part of public debate.