Edipresse publisher commits to free newspaper

French-speaking Switzerland is definitely getting a free daily newspaper. "A free newspaper will be launched in French-speaking Switzerland in the next few months," Edipresse publisher Pierre Lamunière confirmed to the weekly magazine L'Hebdo. He said Edipresse was determined to enter this sector, either together with another publisher if a satisfactory agreement could be reached, or with its own product. There is no fixed date, Lamunière said, but a launch before November or December would be difficult. He admitted that the launch of a free newspaper would not be favorable for the sales of the existing Edipresse titles, "but if we don't do it, sooner or later someone else will dare to do it." Jacques Richard, representative of the Hersant Group in Switzerland, was more reserved in his comments to L'Hebdo. So far, they have refrained from launching a free newspaper because the advertising market in French-speaking Switzerland is currently too sluggish. They do have projects in the drawer that could be implemented very quickly. "But at the moment I am extremely skeptical," said Richard.
 
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