LED screen hire for events

A big screen at a fete, a club ground or a fan zone lets a crowd watch together. What goes on the screen can need permission, and so can the place you show it. The power behind it comes with duties too.

Films and TV need permission

GOV.UK says, "You need permission if you want to show films or TV shows in public." One-off events and social groups' film nights are among its examples, and it adds, "You still need permission whether you sell tickets or not."

The type of permission depends on what you show and where. GOV.UK says you may need one or more of these:

To show a sports channel, it says you need a commercial or business subscription from each service whose content you show.

Streaming accounts and the TV licence

GOV.UK says, "A TV Licence does not automatically give you permission to show a film in public." That includes content you have bought, rented or paid to stream. It also says that using a personal streaming account to show content in public "may breach the terms of use for that service".

Music through the speakers

GOV.UK says you usually need a licence to play recorded music in public. "The licence you need is called ‘TheMusicLicence’." GOV.UK points to PPL PRS to check whether you need one.

Asking the council

The government's entertainment licensing guidance says, "A licence is needed to screen a film or exhibit moving pictures." It lists exemptions in defined circumstances, such as village halls and church halls, and television broadcasts. It also says a licence may be needed for any entertainment between 11pm and 8am. Your council's licensing team can tell you what applies to your event.

Power for the screen

HSE says event organisers, contractors and others using electrical equipment "must do all that is reasonably practicable to ensure that electrical installations and equipment at an event are properly selected, installed and maintained so as not to cause death or injury". Its planning list for an event includes the use of generators and the routing of temporary cables.

Screens that show adverts

Displaying advertisements has its own consent process within the planning system in England. GOV.UK says some advertisements need no consent, some have deemed consent, and some need the express consent of the local planning authority. If a screen will show adverts where the public can see them, ask the council which applies.

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