Golden triangle silver plating
Commuter newspapers Before satisfying any desire for expansion, Tamedia first wants (and needs) to make 20 Minuten profitable.
Commuter newspapers Before satisfying any desire for expansion, Tamedia wants (and needs) to make 20 Minuten profitable.The fact that the expected blessing of the Competition Commission for the marriage of 20 Minuten with Tamedia is at least four weeks away should suit the Werdsträssler in particular. Because until then, the personnel and strategic course must be set that will lead Tamedia's hard-won commuter paper quickly and sustainably into the profit zone.According to Tamedia spokeswoman Franziska Hügli, who from the two management teams that were still competing until a week ago will shoulder this Herculean task "will only be decided after the conclusion of the Weko investigations". However, the personnel carousel is already turning today. According to Hügli, the aim of the merger is to avoid "internal factions like those that existed at Crossair and Swissair". It can therefore be speculated that the aim would be a dual leadership with equal representation. This could, for example, consist of Rolf Bollmann, who is highly regarded by Tamedia, as Managing Director and Marco Boselli as the new Editor-in-Chief. The latter has reportedly scored points with Tamedia management with his "Express" concept.
In terms of content, the one or other stillborn editorial "Express" baby will probably be resurrected in 20 minutes one way or another. Strategically, however, Hügli currently sees little potential for optimization. He does not want to think about expanding the distribution area, new distribution channels or regional alliances until 20 Minuten is firmly in the black. Attractive combined discounts for three-city bookings and the utilization of Tamedia's cross-media marketing power could help. In any case, the declared aim of Tamedia and the existing shareholders is "to convert the constantly increasing reader potential into market success by all means".
The only explicit exceptions to this are currently advertising combinations with the paid newspapers Tages-Anzeiger and SonntagsZeitung. "The fact that we want to expand commuter newspapers as a promising print genre does not mean that we are commercially short-circuiting our subscription titles," emphasizes Hügli. According to former "Express" boss Marius Hagger, the same also applies to the venerable Tagblatt, albeit for a different reason. In future, its USP will once again be home delivery in Zurich. Accordingly, the Tagblatt is aimed at "a different audience that is incompatible with 20 Minuten in terms of advertising".
Not available on Monday: "Express".
Tamedia Group Consolidated Income Statement2002 2001 Change
Selected key balance sheet figures in sFr million in sFr million in %
Operating income 640.3 756.1 - 15.3
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) 71.1 145.7 - 50.8
Operating result (EBIT) 17.6 79.2 - 77.8
Group result
continuing operations 20.2 43.4 - 53.5
discontinued operations 15.4 (55.2) --
Total 35.6 (11.8) -
Oliver Classen
In terms of content, the one or other stillborn editorial "Express" baby will probably be resurrected in 20 minutes one way or another. Strategically, however, Hügli currently sees little potential for optimization. He does not want to think about expanding the distribution area, new distribution channels or regional alliances until 20 Minuten is firmly in the black. Attractive combined discounts for three-city bookings and the utilization of Tamedia's cross-media marketing power could help. In any case, the declared aim of Tamedia and the existing shareholders is "to convert the constantly increasing reader potential into market success by all means".
The only explicit exceptions to this are currently advertising combinations with the paid newspapers Tages-Anzeiger and SonntagsZeitung. "The fact that we want to expand commuter newspapers as a promising print genre does not mean that we are commercially short-circuiting our subscription titles," emphasizes Hügli. According to former "Express" boss Marius Hagger, the same also applies to the venerable Tagblatt, albeit for a different reason. In future, its USP will once again be home delivery in Zurich. Accordingly, the Tagblatt is aimed at "a different audience that is incompatible with 20 Minuten in terms of advertising".
Not available on Monday: "Express".
Tamedia Group Consolidated Income Statement2002 2001 Change
Selected key balance sheet figures in sFr million in sFr million in %
Operating income 640.3 756.1 - 15.3
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) 71.1 145.7 - 50.8
Operating result (EBIT) 17.6 79.2 - 77.8
Group result
continuing operations 20.2 43.4 - 53.5
discontinued operations 15.4 (55.2) --
Total 35.6 (11.8) -
Oliver Classen
