Sacha Wigdorovits leaves .ch - new launch of the commuter newspaper
The free newspaper .ch, which has been published for a year, did not have the desired success. With a circulation of 430,000 copies, the paper had just 204,000 readers. Therefore, the commuter newspaper .ch will be launched at the end of October with a new distribution concept and a new layout. Newspaper founder Sacha Wigdorovits, who is responsible for the failed home delivery distribution concept, resigns as Delegate of the Board of Directors and leaves the publishing house.
After the business performance in the first nine months did not meet expectations, the Board of Directors concluded after an analysis that both the sales concept and the positioning of the title had to be changed. Home delivery had been particularly disappointing, reaching too few readers - an experience also made by similarly positioned titles abroad. According to WEMF media analysis, .ch reached an average of 204,000 readers in the first six months of 2008. Nevertheless, Ernst Buob, Chairman of the Board of Directors of .ch publisher Media Punkt AG, is convinced that "two free daily newspapers can be operated profitably in German-speaking Switzerland.
Wigdorovits leaves
In the course of the realignment, the management structures of the company will also be adjusted. The previous delegate of the Board of Directors, Sacha Wigdorovits, has informed the Board of Directors that he intends to step down from his functions and withdraw from the Board of Directors as of October 31, 2008, according to a Media Punkt AG statement on Tuesday. "Now that the pioneering phase of .ch has been completed, I want to devote myself fully to my own company Contract Media again," Sacha Wigdorovits is quoted as saying in the release. The board of directors of Media Punkt thanks Sacha Wigdorovits, who as an initiator has contributed significantly to the development of .ch, for his great commitment and for his extraordinary efforts in the development phase of .ch, it continues.
Home delivery is discontinued
.ch will only be distributed via boxes in public transport and via colporteurs from the end of October. With an additional 650 locations, the number of boxes will increase to 2,000 by the end of the year, which will lead to significantly higher readership figures. The average distributed circulation is now 370,000 copies. Home delivery will be discontinued in October 2008 and the contract with the Direct Mail Company responsible for this will be terminated by mutual agreement.
New "emotional" design of the newspaper
Together with the publisher and the editorial team, the Board Committee also fundamentally revised the newspaper concept. In the future, the focus will be on the commuter with his or her information and entertainment needs. Experienced newspaper designer Katja Hösli developed and implemented the new design, which, thanks above all to the color scheme, gives the newspaper an emotional appeal that clearly distinguishes it from its competitors. Editorially, the soft and hard news are systematically mixed and readers are actively involved. " the new layout (front page)
Increase in share capital
The Board of Directors, together with the main investors, has decided to provide the necessary financial resources for the re-launch. At the Extraordinary General Meeting on October 28, 2008, the share capital will be increased from CHF 10 million to CHF 18 million.
Wigdorovits leaves
In the course of the realignment, the management structures of the company will also be adjusted. The previous delegate of the Board of Directors, Sacha Wigdorovits, has informed the Board of Directors that he intends to step down from his functions and withdraw from the Board of Directors as of October 31, 2008, according to a Media Punkt AG statement on Tuesday. "Now that the pioneering phase of .ch has been completed, I want to devote myself fully to my own company Contract Media again," Sacha Wigdorovits is quoted as saying in the release. The board of directors of Media Punkt thanks Sacha Wigdorovits, who as an initiator has contributed significantly to the development of .ch, for his great commitment and for his extraordinary efforts in the development phase of .ch, it continues.
Home delivery is discontinued
.ch will only be distributed via boxes in public transport and via colporteurs from the end of October. With an additional 650 locations, the number of boxes will increase to 2,000 by the end of the year, which will lead to significantly higher readership figures. The average distributed circulation is now 370,000 copies. Home delivery will be discontinued in October 2008 and the contract with the Direct Mail Company responsible for this will be terminated by mutual agreement.
New "emotional" design of the newspaper
Together with the publisher and the editorial team, the Board Committee also fundamentally revised the newspaper concept. In the future, the focus will be on the commuter with his or her information and entertainment needs. Experienced newspaper designer Katja Hösli developed and implemented the new design, which, thanks above all to the color scheme, gives the newspaper an emotional appeal that clearly distinguishes it from its competitors. Editorially, the soft and hard news are systematically mixed and readers are actively involved. " the new layout (front page)
Increase in share capital
The Board of Directors, together with the main investors, has decided to provide the necessary financial resources for the re-launch. At the Extraordinary General Meeting on October 28, 2008, the share capital will be increased from CHF 10 million to CHF 18 million.
Wigdorovits on the day of the 1st issue of .ch
New management structure
The function of Delegate to the Board of Directors will be abolished. Managing Director Caroline Thoma will in future report directly to the Board of Directors. Ernst Buob, previously a member of the Board of Directors, was elected Chairman of the Board. He succeeds Hans Ziegler, who left the Board some time ago. The Board of Directors continues to include Eugen A. Russ and Michael Grabner, who together with Ernst Buob form the Board Committee, as well as Andy Rhis and Josef Follpracht.
(Pictures: Keystone)
New management structure
The function of Delegate to the Board of Directors will be abolished. Managing Director Caroline Thoma will in future report directly to the Board of Directors. Ernst Buob, previously a member of the Board of Directors, was elected Chairman of the Board. He succeeds Hans Ziegler, who left the Board some time ago. The Board of Directors continues to include Eugen A. Russ and Michael Grabner, who together with Ernst Buob form the Board Committee, as well as Andy Rhis and Josef Follpracht.
(Pictures: Keystone)
