Tamedia in the year 2009
piazza.ch becomes part of the 20 Minuten online network. This step allows both platforms to strengthen their market position even more. The piazza.ch offers complement the online services of 20minuten.ch and 20minutes.ch perfectly. piazza.ch will maintain its independent brand and market appearance.
Tamedia announces on 6 January that the company will take-over a share in the online job search platform jobsuchmaschine.ch. This specialised online search portal enhances the market position of the online job ads platforms of Tamedia, with alpha.ch and jobwinner.ch presently. All job ads of alpha.ch and jobwinner.ch will be integrated in the jobsuchmaschine.ch search engine, and links from each platform to the others will be added as well. Thanks to the co-operation of alpha.ch, jobwinner.ch and jobsuchmaschine.ch, the second largest Swiss online job ads network in view of ads and coverage will emerge.
The Automobile Revue in German and the Revue Automobile in French are published in a more modern layout as of 7 January. Not only the visual appearance has been updated, also the editorial content was further developed. Without withdrawing the acclaimed technical competence of the magazine, emotional aspects and lifestyle topics are more focussed on than in the past.
The Finanz und Wirtschaft financial newspaper is being published in a new layout on 10 January for the first time. The new graphic appearance improves the reader guidance within the newspaper. The upgrade is a logical completion of the soft redesign process which was initiated three years ago. The present typography is still the same, but it is used moderately adapted, as well as the articles are highlighted better than before. Today all pictures are printed in colours with the exception of the journalist’s and editor’s portrait pictures. For the third time in the 80 years old history of the newspaper, the newspaper title is altered graphically as well.
Tamedia plans a new building on the Werd complex at the city center of Zurich. The submission is signed on 30 January at the Presseclub in the presence of the architect, the building application will be submitted to the engineering authorities of the city of Zurich on 2 February. The five story building project of the visionary Japanese architect Shigeru Ban will replace three old buildings along Werdstrasse 11, 13 and 15, and will offer space for additional 300 employees. An additional floor on top of the existing Stauffacherquai 8 building complements the project. Construction works are planned to begin by 2009. First office units will be transferred from various other locations in Zurich to the Werd complex as of 2011.
Tamedia announces on 11 February that a minority share of the online fashion site FashionFriends is taken over as of 30 January. The share will enrich the existing online activities with an innovative E-Commerce online platform. As of March 2009 the start-up company will offer selected brand fashion clothes and accessories of exclusive fashion and lifestyle labels at attractive prices. Membership is needed to have access to the shopping site and is rewarded upon invitation.
The Thurgauer Zeitung starts on 24 February with a new regular focus page called Mostindia. The page is dedicated to nightlife, lifestyle, travel, and music and is supposed to be of interest mainly for a younger readership. Mostindia is to be published every Thuesday, Thursday and Saturday within the Thurgau section. Introducing this new page, the Thurgauer Zeitung is creating space for the interests of the young readership on one hand side, while establishing at the same time a platform for a wide range of different articles and reports by talented young authors on the other side.
25 bears highlight the special edition of Berne’s largest free newspaper Bernerbär on 26 February at the occasion of its 25th anniversary. Hats of all kind are used to illustrate the entire special edition. Famous artist and Bernerbär cartoonist Ted Scapa created these bears with 25 different hats.
Edipresse and Tamedia announce on 3 March that they decided to merge their Swiss activities. During an initial stage, Tamedia will acquire a 49.9% shareholding in Edipresse’s Swiss business. At the beginning of 2013, Edipresse’s Swiss business will be totally merged with Tamedia. The Edipresse Group will thus ultimately become a major shareholder in Tamedia. The international activities of the Edipresse Group will not be affected by the agreement. The operation is subject to approval of the Swiss Competition Commission.
As of 5 March, the Thurgauer Zeitung is part of the Newsnetz internet news platform. This enables the Thurgauer Zeitung a competent presence in the growing internet news market. Two additional online journalists are in charge of the local and regional news within the Thurgau section. The two new colleagues work closely together with the print edition journalists team. Advertising customers have now the chance to complement their campaigns in the print edition with all the Newsnetz advertising opportunities mainly focussing onto a young readership.
The Wemf AG für Werbemedienforschung, the Advertising Media Research Company, publishes on 24 March current readership figures. Switzerland remains a nation of newspaper readers. More than 90 percent of the population of 14 and more years are consuming newspapers on a regular basis. The tendency to reading free sheets is proceeding: 20 Minuten reaches some 1.36 million readers, which shows an increase of some 5 percent. On the other hand, the paid newspapers are still losing readers.
Tamedia informs on 31 March that Markus Eisenhut and Res Strehle will jointly take-over the lead of the Tages-Anzeiger editorial unit. The previous Deputy Editor-in-chief of the Tages-Anzeiger and the previous Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Berner Zeitung will follow Peter Hartmeier who was Editor-in-Chief of the Tages-Anzeiger for seven years.
Tamedia publishes the annual results on 8 April: During the financial year 2008, Tamedia once again increased its operating income significantly to CHF 897.5 million. The increase by CHF 154.3 million is for the most part a direct result of the merger with Espace Media Groupe that was taken into consideration for the first time for an entire year. Investments in new media projects resulted in a disproportionate increase in operating expenses. Operating income (EBIT) declined by 11 per cent or CHF 14.1 million and is being reported as CHF 119.4 million for 2008. All business divisions recorded positive figures at the EBIT category. The EBIT margin dropped significantly from 18 to 13 percent. Reported net profit for 2008 is at CHF 105.8 million and thus 30 percent or CHF 44.8 million below the value for the previous year reported at CHF 150.6 million.
Board of Directors, Management Board, editorial staff and publishing staff of the Tages-Anzeiger bid farewell to Peter Hartmeier. He looks back onto a career of 30 years in journalism and was, amongst other jobs, foreign affairs journalist at the Weltwoche, Editor-in-chief of the Politik und Wirtschaft as well as publisher and Co-Editor-in-chief of the Bilanz. As of 2001 he was a member of the corporate communications unit at Tamedia, in November 2002 be became Editor-in-chief of the Tages-Anzeiger. He looks forward to his new challenge as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Huber und Co. AG in Frauenfeld and therefore publisher of the Thurgauer Zeitung.
The annual retirees event on 28 April was attended by some 300 former colleagues. At this occasion, Annette Coninx Kull announces her stepping back from her position as responsible for the relation to the retirees, her going into retirement and handing over all duties involved to Käthi Strössel.
Some 300 stakeholders attend the Annual General Meeting of Tamedia AG on 12 May. One topic was of special interest: Tibère Adler, CEO of Edipresse, was introducing the media company Edipresse in French spreaking Switzerland. Shortly before, Pierre Lamunière was elected member of Tamedia’s Board of Directors.
On 14 May, Tamedia announces that the daily newspaper Der Bund will be continued, but will closely co-operate with the Tages-Anzeiger in the future. Both editorial units will see some job cuts. The Tages-Anzeiger reorganises the entire editorial unit, and will introduce a four bundle concept. The internet platform Newsnetz, the daily freesheet News and the Tages-Anzeiger will also co-operate much closer in the future.
Switzerland’s largest TV magazine TVtäglich is published in a new fresh layout as of 16 June. The redesign is set to freshen-up the TV magazine and make it look more modern. One of the significant changes is the new logo, now being placed vertically at the right hand page margin. Also the daily TV program is designed completely new.
On 26 June, the staff committee of Bund, staff representatives of Berner Zeitung and Espace Media agree on a social plan which offers more benefits than previous social plans of Espace Media. It applies to all layoffs because of restructuring actions at Espace Media until the end of 2010.
Tamedia announces on 29 June that Andreas Schaffner is set to become member of its executive management. The 46 years old Schaffner will become head of the Services division as of 1 November 2009. He follows Urs Schweizer in this position, who himself is about to leave the company by the end of 2009.
On 6 July, the staff committees of Tages-Anzeiger and the Bubenberg printing facility as well as the workers unions comedia and impressum agree with Tamedia on a social plan. It offers equal or even better benefits compared to other social plans agreed on in recent months within the media industry.
20 Minuten announces on 29 July that the print circulation within the German speaking part of Switzerland is optimised stepwise from 551’200 copies to 500’000 copies. 20 Minuten is able to do so because of a favourable and still growing reader per copy equivalent. The actual readership figures are therefore maintained with a slightly lower print circulation.
It is published on 17 August that 20 Minuten Friday already reaches 412’000 readers within only the first six months after its launch. The readership figure development is well beyond the editor’s expectations.
As of 31 August, News will concentrate on its Tages-Anzeiger edition. By doing so, News is strengthening its position within the Tages-Anzeiger media network, which includes also the subscribers newspaper Tages-Anzeiger as well as the online news platform. The Basler Zeitung as well as the Berner Zeitung editions of News are discontinued and are published the last time on 28 August.
Although the staff representation and the management of the early morning newspaper delivery company Zuvo agreed on a one-time compensation payment to all staff members with more that five years of service, early morning newspaper delivery if obstructed on 26 August because of a group of staff members’ actions.
Radio 24 is celebrating its 30 years of existence on 29 August with an open day. Visitors are invited to share an inside view into daily radio broadcasting, and are offered snacks, while having the chance to meet staff members of Radio 24 in the flesh.
Tamedia publishes the results of the first half of the year 2009. The results of the severe recession and also a collapse in advertising spending are significantly impacting Tamedia’s net income. Sales (operating revenues) dropped by 15.9 per cent to CHF 389.0 million (previous year CHF 462.8 million). Operating expenses were reduced during the same period by merely 1.7 per cent to CHF 368.4 million. As a consequence, operating income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBIDTA) showed a downturn by 76.6 per cent to CHF 20.6 million (previous year CHF 88.2 million). Thus, the EBITDA margin is now at 5.3 per cent (previous year: 19.1 per cent). At CHF 3.5 million (previous year CHF 71.8 million) Tamedia’s operating income after depreciation and amortisation (EBIT) reached a barely positive number. The EBIT margin is 0.9 per cent (previous year 15.5 per cent).
The new data of the WEMF readership research study Mach Basic 2009-2 are published on 9 September. The results are very favourable, especially for the subscribers newspaper – many titles gain readers within a low per cent margin. However, the Sunday newspapers reader figures increase even more significantly.
Tamedia announces on 9 September that it will take over a share in the online market place expert ProSeller. This company runs the price comparison platform finder.ch and the retailer’s wholesale platform concertopro.ch – two leading portals for IT products and consumer electronics in Switzerland. These portals should be further developed. Especially finder.ch aims to become the leading Swiss price comparison platform.
The Automobil Revue, reaching some 182'000 readers every week, announces on 15 September that it continues to be published on a weekly basis every Wednesday. However, the associated publication in French, Revue Automobile, will be published only every second week as of 2010, instead of every week. The online portals automobilrevue.ch and revueautomobil.ch will concentrate on additional services to the printed editions.
The Federal Competition Commission approves the merger between Edipresse’s Swiss activities and Tamedia without conditions. Tamedia takes over the quintessential Swiss media activities of Edipresse in three steps, the first one at the beginning of 2010. In return Edipresse will receive Tamedia’s capital shares, thus becoming a major shareholder of the company. This merger will create a big Swiss national media company able to grant its media a steady development and to stand up to an increasing international competition.
The Swiss Post as well as the NZZ Group and Tamedia welcome the Federal Competition Commission’s decision on 25 September to approve the assignment of the early morning newspaper delivery services to the Swiss Post. However, the three companies regret the fact that the NZZ Group and Tamedia will not be permitted to have stakes in the new company as originally planned. At the same time as this early delivery consolidation, Tamedia is acquiring a 75 per cent share in the leading directory and service portal search.ch from Swiss Post. Tamedia intends to further develop the portal in the directory field in particular. Swiss Post will retain a 25 per cent share in search.ch.
As of 29 September, the Tages-Anzeiger is published in a new graphic layout and a modern structure. It is the first overall redesign of the Tages-Anzeiger since 1997.
As of 15 October, also the Bund is published in a new graphic design, and in close editorial co-operation with the Tages-Anzeiger. Emphasizing the use of the Bund brand colour blue in titles, side headers as well as other graphic design elements strengthens the Bund’s identity despite the adapted layout from the Tages-Anzeiger. At the same time, editorial content can be easily exchanged. The famous and well established Bund logo, being introduced 1860, is still heading the newspaper front and bundle covers.
MotorMedia GmbH, a subsidiary of Druckerei Flawil AG, with its headquarter at Glattbrugg in the canton of Zurich is set to acquire the motorcycle magazines Moto Sport Schweiz and Moto Sport Suisse from Tamedia. MotorMedia already publishes TIR transNews, an independent special interest magazine for the commercial vehicles market in Switzerland, as well as others magazines in the transportation segment. By taking over the two motorcycle magazines as of 1 November, eight staff members sharing some 7.1 full-time positions are granted their jobs.
The Tamedia Board of Directors announces on 28 October that is plans to nominate Martin Bachem for election into the board at the next annual shareholders’ meeting. The 51-year-old specialist in economics is a member of the founding family of Ziegler Druck- und Verlags-AG of Winterthur, the company that publishes the regional newspaper Der Landbote, and is closely associated with the printing and publishing business. By electing Martin Bachem, Tamedia will make a step towards adding younger members to its board of directors as a part of its forward looking plan geared towards succession management.
20 Minuten and 20 minutes are published in a refreshed layout as of 2 November. Following the merger of 20 minutes and Le matin bleu in the French speaking part of Switzerland, editorial elements as well as parts of the graphic design of Le matin bleu have been integrated into 20 minutes, Le matin bleu itself being published for the last time on 25 September. This graphic redesign of 20 minutes is now being reflected in 20 Minuten in the German speaking part of Switzerland.
The Radio 24 aerial mast on Winterthur’s Brüelberg mountain is operational as of 3 November and guarantees an uninterrupted radio reception in and around Winterthur.
Some 50 daughters, sons, nieces and nephews of Tamedia employees are visiting the company at the Bern, Frauenfeld, and Zurich locations at the occasion of the 12th National Daughter’s Day.
The commuter newspaper News will be closed down as of 4 December. Despite the continuous development of its concepts and its success among readers, News was not able to accomplish its objectives in Switzerland’s saturated commuter newspaper market. The Tages-Anzeiger media network shall therefore concentrate on the further development of the Tages-Anzeiger main paper and of the successful tagesanzeiger.ch news portal as part of Newsnetz.
Tamedia announces on 11 December that the company is further expanding its online activities and will therefore take over, in a first step, a 15 per cent share of car4you Schweiz AG, operator of the online motor vehicle market and classifieds platform www.car4you.ch, by the beginning of 2010. By 2013, a full take-over will be possible in a second step. Tamedia plans, together with the present executive management, to further develop car4you.ch and intensify the co-operation with other media of Tamedia.
Tamedia and Olmero AG will enter a strategic partnership as of 11 Dezember, as Tamedia is taking over a 20 per cent share of Olmero AG. An over 51 per cent share in Olmero as of 2013 is an optional part of the agreement. Olmero is the leading provider of online based solutions for the Swiss construction and building industry, launching in the year 2000 on www.olmero.ch a professional internet platform enabling an easy and efficient bidding system for construction contracts. A major focus of the partnership will be the further developing of www.renovero.ch to become Switzerland’s leading online platform for handcraft services for both commercial as well as private customers.
20 Minuten is celebrating its 10th anniversary on 13 December. Having had a difficult start in the Switzerland, the free commuter newspaper is Switzerland’s mostly read newspaper today.